Are there any benefits to using nitrogen instead of air to fill tyres?
One claimed benefit is that nitrogen-filled tyres maintain a more consistent tyre pressure. This helps with wear, comfort, rolling resistance (hence fuel economy) and noise reduction, and lessens the chances of premature failure. The use of nitrogen in large truck fleets and the commercial tyre industry is well documented and supports these claims. Another benefit claim is that pressure loss is reduced over time. A recent study by Consumer’s Union, our equivalent organisation in the USA, looked at pressure loss over time and concluded that although the rate of pressure loss is reduced using nitrogen, all the tyres lost pressure over time. So using nitrogen is no substitute for checking your tyre pressures regularly.
