Nitrogen gas to inflate car tyres is unheard of for most of us Indians. But in recent times, this concept has been receiving a lot of publicity, both in India and abroad. Nitrogen gas, which is generally used to inflate racing car tyres, aircraft and heavy commercial vehicles, is gradually becoming a favourable substitute for compressed air. Even when it comes to passenger cars it holds certain advantages over compressed air inflated tyres such as:
- Enhances ride quality
- Increases the durability of the tyre
- Facilitates constant tyre pressure
- Minimizes the running temperature of the tyre
- Slows the rate of pressure lost
But there are certain downsides to nitrogen gas as well like cost, maintenance and availability. Although the cost for nitrogen per tyre in India is not clear, in the US the rate stands at $5 to $10. So, its price in India is likely to be quite hefty. Another problem with nitrogen gas is that it is found only with specialist tyre dealers and not readily available. When it comes to maintenance, it is imperative that only nitrogen gas be used to inflate car tyres after using it once. Reverting back to compressed air will negate any benefits of nitrogen.
Nitrogen inflated tyres however are not immune to punctures and leaks, so one doesn’t escape the mundane chore of checking tyre pressure. |
