Why nitrogen in tires

Top it off! It's never a good idea to drive on an under-inflated tire. Using compressed air in tires that have previously been filled with nitrogen will not harm your tires.

While mixing the two won't result in an adverse chemical reaction, it will dilute the purity of the nitrogen and lessen its effectiveness. In the nitrogen vs. Whether you choose to fill your tires with nitrogen or compressed air, the most important aspect of tire maintenance is maintaining proper tire pressure. Tires that are properly inflated tend to wear more evenly, handle better, improve the fuel economy of your vehicle, and last much longer.

Get started by finding the recommended tire pressure for your specific vehicle. Head to our Recommended Tire Pressure page and select your vehicle make, model, and year from the drop-down menu.

Published May 11, Updated October 15, Tire Ratings. All-Season Tires. Performance All-Season Tires. All-Season Truck Tires. But do tires retain their inflation better with nitrogen than with regular air? How We Tested Air Loss. More on Tires. Best Tire Brands of How to Change a Car Tire. Bottom Line. Shopping for Replacement Tires? Jeff S. Bartlett A New England native, I have piloted a wide variety of vehicles, from a Segway to an aircraft carrier.

Myth: Nitrogen is not affected by temperature changes, and therefore maintains proper tire pressure regardless of climate. Fact: Tires filled with nitrogen maintain inflation pressure longer than compressed air-filled tires in fluctuating temperatures. This is why nitrogen is used to fill airplane tires, as temperatures can change dramatically between takeoff and landing.

Since nitrogen does not completely eliminate temperature-related pressure changes under normal driving conditions, it is of little benefit to vehicle owners who properly maintain their tires. Fact: The opposite is true. Even tires filled with nitrogen still require regular pressure checks to identify slow leaks. For further questions, consult your local Continental Tire dealer.

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