| One of the most important parts of your car is each | | | | known as "inertness". Simply put, nitrogen is an inert |
| of the four tires. They constitute the interface of your | | | | gas at less than extreme temperatures. The |
| car with the road. Given their importance, doesn't it | | | | compressed air you find at the gas station is not. |
| make sense to give some thought to what you put in | | | | Oxygen is a key component in its makeup. This means |
| the tires to inflate them? The issue boils down to | | | | the potential for oxidation is present. Over time, oxygen |
| nitrogen versus compressed air. | | | | will degrade the inside of the rim and it will attack the |
| Tire pressure and performance is one of the most | | | | steel belts in the tires. |
| abused elements of car by drivers. The vast majority | | | | Another difference between the two has to do with |
| of people never even test the pressure of the tires | | | | pressure maintenance. There are technical differences |
| unless the tire is visibly going flat. As a result, various | | | | between how the two gases are combined on a |
| studies have found that upwards of 90 percent of | | | | molecular level. For the purposes of this article, all you |
| cars are driving on underinflated tires. This impacts the | | | | need to know is nitrogen is bound in such a way that it |
| handling of your car and the tire wear. The next time | | | | tends to maintain the average pressure in the tire |
| you complain about the cost of replacing your tires, | | | | about three times as long as compressed air. It also |
| remind yourself that checking the pressure once a | | | | tends to maintain that pressure regardless of the |
| month would very likely have made them last much | | | | temperature of the tires, while compressed air will heat |
| longer! | | | | up and cool down. |
| In the world of auto racing, every little advantage can | | | | So, should you go with nitrogen over compressed air |
| make the difference between winning and finishing in | | | | for your tires? Nitrogen is definitely better than |
| the back of the pack. Given this fact, it probably is no | | | | compressed air, but the value of this improvement is |
| surprise that teams in the various championships have | | | | negligible on a commuter car. If you have expensive |
| given tires a lot of thought. Not only have the tires | | | | rims and/or tires, then it is probably worth it to protect |
| become very high tech, but they are not even filled | | | | them from oxidation. If you are just putting around in |
| with air anymore. Nope, teams go with nitrogen. The | | | | your Honda Civic, it probably isn't. Just make sure you |
| question for you and me is whether we should do the | | | | check the tire pressure each month to avoid |
| same in our street cars? | | | | unnecessary wear and tear. |
| Why nitrogen? The answer is found in something | | | | |