Should you get your tires filled with pure nitrogen? Maybe!

We are often asked the question:  "Is it worth filling my tires with nitrogen instead of air?"  We're here to shed some light on the topic.

First of all, we have to look at the terms in question.  "Air", meaning our natural atmosphere here on Earth, is actually mostly nitrogen anyway-- about 70-80% nitrogen, in fact.  The rest is oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other trace elements and compound.  Does that fraction of oxygen really make a difference in your tire pressure's reliability?

The answer is yes.  Sort of.  Although oxygen is the heavier element, nitrogen molecules (N₂) are actually slightly larger than oxygen molecules (O₂).  That means it's more difficult for nitrogen molecules to permeate the walls of your tires.

In reality, however, filling your tires with nitrogen is less about the nitrogen and more about removing oxygen, water vapor, and other contaminants from the mix.  Water in particular is a particularly malleable molecule that will create vast discrepancies in tire pressure as the temperature changes.

Long story short, filling with pure nitrogen will yield a more stable tire pressure, leading to better fuel economy, longer lasting tires, and more reliable ride quality!