Save Gas – Nitrogen Filled Tires
Concept: When looking at ways to save gas, this is one of the more interesting ones I’ve come across. Tires inflated with nitrogen have been used for years on racing cars and with gas prices rising, the concept is starting to migrate over to normal cars and trucks. The concept is that nitrogen has larger molecules than oxygen and therefore will keep the tires of the car at the proper pressure much longer than filling them with air. Since under inflated tires are often sited as a waste of gas, having them stay filled at the proper pressure should improve gas mileage as they will stay at the proper pressure as much as three time longer.
Will You Save Money?: Maybe
Comments: While this is an interesting concept, there is currently one major problem with it. Filling a tire with nitrogen costs about $10 so to get all your tires done will set you back $40. The question is whether you drive enough to make the $40 investment pay off. For those who drive very little, it probably would not pay off, but for those who put a lot of miles on their car and don’t check tire pressure on a regular basis, this could save them a significant amount. This will likely become a more popular gas saving strategy as gas prices rise and makes the initial investment more worthwhile.
When I bought my car back in January, the 1st major think I did was go and have nitro put in my tires. What you didn’t mention, maybe because you didn’t ask (while pricing), or it’s different in your area, but the cost is lifetime.
Anotherwards, as long as I return to the tire place, that put the nitro in my tires, they will refill them for free. In addition, if I buy my new (replacement) tires from them, they will fill them with nitro for free also.
Of course, I am in Topeka, KS and you might want to check that out in your area. But that $40 becomes pretty cheap, when you consider that.
One more thing, if I am traveling and I need to add more “air” to my tire, I can stop at a local filling station, and add air. When I get back to Topeka, I just take it back to the tire place, and they will remove the air and replace it with nitro. Again at no extra cost.