Archive for April, 2013
Auto racing, commercial airlines, and long distance trucking have all been filling their tires with nitrogen for years; and though these industries would seem to have nothing in common, they do. All of these industries put major strain on their tires and seek out to increase safety, performance and convenience all while reducing costs. However, you can stop by an Arizona Hyundai dealer to see how nitrogen filled tires can benefit the average driver as well.
Most tires are filled with compressed air, which when dry consists of about 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, and 1 percent other gases by volume. Water vapor can make up as much as 5 percent of the volume of air under worst-case conditions. Oxygen is also immensely destructive to rubber and other tire materials. As soon as a tire is manufactured and exposed to air, the effects of “oxidation” begin to deteriorate the rubber. Over time it loses its elasticity and strength, much like an old rubber band. This same process occurs in tires inflated with air as the oxygen attacks the rubber molecules, working from the inside out until the oxygen, and its destructive properties, permeates the tire structure and ultimately the tread. To check the wear on your air-filled tires, visit Hyundai Phoenix.
Nitrogen, on the other hand is inert, non-combustible and non-corrosive than a compressed version of the air we breathe. By itself, nitrogen bunches in large molecules, keeping your tires properly inflated for longer. Nitrogen-filled tires also deliver more consistent inflation pressure, especially under temperature fluctuations. According to The Truth About Cars, nitrogen-filled tires will remain properly inflated three times longer than those filled with compressed air.
According to the EPA, under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Their theory is that since nitrogen loses pressure at a slower rate than air, you are more likely to be at the correct psi and therefore get better fuel economy.
To find out how you can convert your tires to nitrogen filled, visit Chapman Hyundai.
