Thread: Debate: Is Nitrogen really useful for tyres?

This thread is to discuss virtues (or perception thereof) of filling Nitrogen instead of air in your vehicle tyres.

Please discuss.

I would like you to solicit your views. I humbly request you not to:

• post offtopic posts in this thread. They will be deleted.
• post one liners like "I fill with air only". This adds no value. Please post meaningful posts and give your reasons.

Let this thread become a good debate.

Thank you.

Has anyone actually used nitrogen in their tyres in India?
So far I'm yet to come across any actual user.

If a tyre is filled with nitrogen gas it keeps the tyres cool from the heat generated by constant running and hot roads, resulting in less chances of tyre bursts.

Has anyone actually used nitrogen in their tyres in India?
So far I'm yet to come across any actual user.

The reason for this is that its still not so popular and its only available at few tyre shops and showrooms.

At last, one reply. I was thinking that this thread was a waste of space.

Yes. I have filled Nitrogen in my Santro tyres, some seven/eight months ago.

Here are my views:


About Nitrogen:

• Nitrogen is an almost inert gas. Nitrogen does not react easily with other elements.
• Its atomic number is 7 and it is part of group 15 of the Mendeleev's periodic table. It's companions in this group are Phosporous (P), Arsenic (As), Antimonu (Sb), Bismuth (Bi), etc. These elements are also noted for their stability in compounds due to their tendency for forming double and triple covalent bonds.
• When two nitrogen atoms combine to form the N2 molecule, they (atoms) are nearly inspearable and hence N2 gas is almost inert. The N2 triple bond is one of the strongest bonds in nature.
• Nitrogen forms 78% of the atmosphere. Oxygen forms about 21% and the rest by argon, CO2, and other gases. This does not include water vapour which may be upto 4% (do not confuse this with relative humidity).
• Since the real inert gases (the Noble gases such as He, Ne, Ar, Kr, etc. are rare, to create an inert atmosphere, Nitrogen is often used.
• Nitorgen is followed by Oxygen (atomic element 8).
• For the same volume, pure N2 will be lighter than air.

About Nitrogen in tyres:

• N2 has been in use of racing cars for quite some time.
• The N2 gas is less resistant to heating and when it heats, it will expand uniformly, unlike air which when heated, its individual constituents expand as per their properties.
• Water Vapour is a killer in tyres of fast cars.
• The N2 filled tyre gives a smoother ride, uniform tread, better grip and better handling, especially at high speeds.
• N2 will not react with rubber whereas Oxygen at high pressure and high temperature becomes very reactive and will degrade rubber.
• Water vapour will also corrode tyre rubber.
• The N2 gas is less permeable and is retained in the tyre for a longer time. This means less visits to the pump.
• Many petrol stations have started offering N2 filling and they claim all of the above plus that your kms per litre will increase.

What is the procedure/cost?

• If you wish to replace air with N2 in your car tyres, you will have to visit one of such filling stations.
• The ideal way is deflate the tyre completely, fill with N2, defalte it again and then refill with N2.
• Note that the N2 reservoir is not 100% N2. It is more like 95%. The above procedure will achieve about 90~93% N2 in the tyre (but many stations do the procedure only once resulting in only 85~88% N2 in the tyre).
• Stations are known to charge Rs. 200/- for the first fill (all tyres)and Rs. 20/- per top-up (all tyres). At least that is what I paid/am paying.

Is it worth it?

• I have been riding on N2 filled tyres in my Santro for the last 7/8 months. The Santro tyres are not tubeless and as you are aware that tubed tyres require pressure check at least every 15 days.
• I have topped up only twice in the last eight months. A top up is due next month.
• Ride quality does seem to be better.
• I cannot honestly claim better fuel average. If at all, it may have increased marginally by 0.5 km/litre and this may be because tyres have optimum pressure most of the times.
• The intial cost is high.
• The cost seems to be high for top up also. But even though air is free at pumps, I usually tip the guy some Rs. 5/- every time. Assuming that I filled air six times in three months, and tipped four times, the cost to me is the same.
• But air is 78% N2 anyway. If you are mostly riding in the city, there is not much advantage.

Hope you liked my views. I may have missed some points but do let me know and we could debate further.

@ just4kix

Thanks for teaching chemistry, i was weak in that i have came to know that for first year they will provide free top-up ....? i may be wrong.

Originally Posted by deepmohan

@ just4kix

Thanks for teaching chemistry, i was week in that i have came to know that for first year they will provide free top-up ....? i may be wrong.

week or weak?

I have also heard of free top-up's for six months (and not a year). But considering that you may have to check/refill twice or thrice only, it is a saving of a max Rs. 60/-.

After reading the entire post #4 , you cheat us by posting this...

But air is 78% N2 anyway. If you are mostly riding in the city, there is not much advantage.

Does 10% n2 make much difference ??

Yes and no. A balanced answer.

well i stil remember my friend in jaipur.. he went to a car acessories shop.. saw this can of nitrogen!!! He got facinated thinking of Nitrus as per they show us in movies like fast n furious... lol thinking tht asked for the money n how to install in FIAT!!! :lol:

At last the shop person told its nitrogen not Nitrus and can cost 800 rupees...!!!

What I meant by the previous answers was - for pure city riding, N2 in tyres will not help increase in tyre life or decrease fuel consumption (which I don't believe happens, anyway). But it will improve ride quality to a certain extent.

actually what i had a belief is nitrogen is lighter than air.. ( correct me if m wrong) so like when filled in tyres, keeps it cool and may hold down the weight of a car though minimally to the amount lighter than air.. but i think this is negligible as compared.. so in tht way car will run smooth n can give more average...but not sure for it. :lol:

Nitrogen is slightly lighter than air (read my detailed post) but just marginally. That in itself is not going to return better mileage. But because N2 permeates less than air, the tyres are likely to retain pressure much longer. This not only makes the ride smoother but increases average because tyres are optimally filled.

What N2 will do is make your tyres last longer.

On the whole, if you do not mind the slightly higher cost (especially upfront), there is no harm in going with N2. And I think as N2 becomes a more popular option, the price of refill may drop down.

On the other hand tubeless radials do not need filling for more than six months. With tubeless tyres and mostly city rides, you may as well stay with normal air.

how many times you have faced "tyre punctured" situation in these 7-8 months? I mean, does it really helps in reducing the % of your car's tyre getting puncture.

Originally Posted by Manish

how many times you have faced "tyre punctured" situation in these 7-8 months? I mean, does it really helps in reducing the % of your car's tyre getting puncture.

If you are asking me, then my car tyres never developed puncture in the last 15 months.

Sorry didn't quote you, yes I was asking you

Originally Posted by just4kix

If you are asking me, then my car tyres never developed puncture in the last 15 months.

that means 7-8 months with tube tyres and 7-8 month with nitrogen, so its difficult to guess that nitrogen helps in preventing punctures.

Originally Posted by Manish

Sorry didn't quote you, yes I was asking you



that means 7-8 months with tube tyres and 7-8 month with nitrogen, so its difficult to guess that nitrogen helps in preventing punctures.

I didn't say that N2 prevents punctures, did I?

Punctures cannot be prevented. However, N2 filled tyres do not require constant pressure checks.

Originally Posted by just4kix

I didn't say that N2 prevents punctures, did I?

Punctures cannot be prevented. However, N2 filled tyres do not require constant pressure checks.

I agree you didn't. Actually that was my question.

My car too got tubes and I am fed with regular pressure check.

I'll check out for N2 agencies in my city. It must be there in Delhi.

It will be worthwhile to check why you need to check tyre pressure so often. Maybe something wrong with the valves.

nothing wrong, as you said before, to maintain the right pressure need to get it checked in every 10-15 days

I used to check once a month earlier.

My car runs a lot, frequent long trip, already covered around 14k in 11 months, that's why.

Then I would suggest that you change to tubeless tyres after the current ones wear out. It will be expensive but worth it.

yup, that's what I am thinking, thankfully currently the tyres are in brand new condition.