Nitrogen vs. Compressed Air: Which One to Use on Your Tires?

More and more car owners are filling up their tires with nitrogen. Nitrogen tire inflation is often offered as an alternative to air, and it’s gaining popularity among average consumers in the country. Should you make the switch?

Like all things, using nitrogen in tires has its own set of pros and cons. Take a look at the arguments below so you can decide for yourself whether nitrogen or compressed air is the right choice for your tires.

Tire pressure

Nitrogen provides steadier tire pressure over the long term because nitrogen hardly goes through the microscopic holes in the rubber of tires. Nitrogen molecules are larger than air molecules, which allows it to move through tires at a slower rate, thus resulting in more consistent air pressure than conventional air. According to a test done by Consumer Reports, the average pressure loss for nitrogen is 2.2 psi. For air, 3.5 psi.

Winner: Nitrogen

Fuel economy

Consistent tire pressure comes with the benefit of better fuel efficiency. Underinflated tires can reduce gas mileage by about 0.2 percent for every 1 psi drop in the average pressure of all four tires. On the other hand, gas mileage can be improved by 0.6 to 3 percent when tires are inflated optimally.

Winner: Nitrogen

Lifespan

Regular air contains water vapor, which can cause pressure in tires to fluctuate as the weather changes. When the outside air is hot, you get over-inflation because the air inside your tires expands. On the other hand, your tires get underinflated when the air contracts during cold spells. Not only that, vapor in your tire air promotes rusting in your tire’s metal rim. Nitrogen is free of any water vapor, so tire pressure fluctuations and degradation issues are practically non-existent.

Winner: Nitrogen

Availability

Almost every gas station in the country has a tire air pump on standby. If you use air in your tires, you are virtually assured that you can inflate your tires soon enough, because an air pump is always just a gas station away. However, nitrogen tire inflation services are only available at selected filling stations. On certain occasions, you may find yourself forced to fill your nitrogen tires with regular air because of the unavailability of nitrogen.

Winner: Conventional air

Cost

Nitrogen tire inflation costs anywhere from P200 to P500, depending on the provider. While there are gas stations that charge P5 to P10 for a pump of air, most just offer them for free.

Winner: Conventional air

So there you have it. Hopefully the information here has made it clear which type of inflation is right for you. Regardless of your choice of gas though, be sure to check your tire pressure regularly. Once or twice a month is usually enough.