 |
|
 |
 |
|
According to Wikipedia, the atmospheric composition of the earth looks like this; • 78.08% nitrogen • 20.95% oxygen • 0.93% argon • 0.04% carbon dioxide • In minute trace amounts; neon, helium, methane, krypton, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, xenon, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, iodine, carbon monoxide, ammonia. • At the surface of the earth between 1% - 4% of the atmosphere is in the form of water vapor. The last time I had my vehicle serviced, the technician asked if I would like to put on a set that used pure nitrogen in tires instead of standard air. Being skeptical, I asked what the difference was. My car guy just kept saying, Nitrogen is dry and does not cause rotting. Remembering my high school chemistry days, (barely) I did remember that Nitrogen is lighter than oxygen and is an inert element. Oxygen on the other hand, reacts with everything. Oxygen breaks down organic compounds in food, oxygen fuels fire, and oxygen also causes metals to rust. By cleverly removing the oxygen from the composition and having nitrogen in tires eliminates the oxygen that over time will wear away at the rubber inside the tires. So far this sounds great, but what about the extra cost? Is it worth it? A nitrogen molecule is slightly larger than an oxygen molecule, which is one of the major selling points for dealerships selling nitrogen instead of a standard air pump. Properly inflated tires will reduce the wear on tires and in the long run, conserve fuel. Airplanes and race cars have their tires filled with nitrogen for this reason and also the fact that nitrogen on its own is non-flammable, making it safer for vehicles that routinely travel at break neck speeds. Since this is a fairly new concept, I would recommend the following; If you are purchasing a brand new car, go with the nitrogen in tires. From the start, your car is free of rust having your tires filled with nitrogen will keep the rust out of a mounted tire and wheel assembly. It is recommended however, that you still perform periodic checks of your tire pressure. Even though the molecules are larger, air may still dissipate from your tires. If your car is not a brand new car, chances are that within your wheel assembly, there will already be some damage due to rust. In this case, it will not matter because even tires filled with nitrogen will leak air. Regardless if you are a traditionalist and always get free air from the pump, or a pioneer who will in the future only use nitrogen in tires, one thing is for certain, be sure to routinely check your tire pressure. This is the best way to keep your car safe on the road and to economize on fuel.
|
|
