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If you are one of the 85%
of Americans who
don't regularly check tire pressure, you need
nitrogen.
We take in nitrogen with every breath. Air is composed of:
1% Water Vapor and Other Gases ?
Escapes up to 250 times faster than Nitrogen
21% Oxygen ? Escapes 3-4 times faster
than Nitrogen
78% Nitrogen ? The largest molecule
in
air, dry, non-flammable.
Because of their large size, nitrogen molecules are the
least permeable and stay in your tire longer.
It's not about the nitrogen. It's about reducing oxygen,
water vapor and other gases.
By reducing the percentage of oxygen, water vapor and other
gases in your tires from 22% to 7% or lower, your tires will maintain
proper pressure longer than if you use "plain old air." For example, with
95% nitrogen in your tires, they retain optimal pressure three to four
times longer.
Proper tire pressure is a big deal.
Maintain it with nitrogen, and you'll see
these three primary benefits:
·
Increased
Fuel Efficiency ? Correct tire pressure keeps the
manufacturer's recommended "contact patch" on the road. This lessens the
rolling resistance and maximizes fuel efficiency. Read On...
·
Longer
Tire Life ? When it comes in contact with other materials, oxygen
causes oxidation. Oxidation can make rubber brittle and cause it to lose
tensile strength. In addition, at high temperatures and pressures, oxygen
reacts and damages inner tire liners and belt packages; nitrogen does not. Read On...
·
Increased
Safety ? Under-inflated tires cause 90% of blowouts. Nitrogen
provides more reliable pressure for reduced blowout potential. Read On...
Other benefits:
·
Improved
TPMS Performance ? If you have a new car, you likely
are plagued by a flashing light telling you your tire pressure is low. For
example, one woman's light was going off every four to five weeks. After
inflating with nitrogen, her light didn't reappear for 53 weeks!
·
More
Predictable Pressure Fluctuation ? NASCAR teams use
nitrogen so they can more accurately predict tire pressure fluctuation. Regular compressed air can fluctuate considerably when water
vapor is present. Read On...
·
Longer
Rim Life ? Rim rust caused by condensation from water vapor and
other gases can get caught in valves and create slow leaks in tires.
Nitrogen is completely dry, so it eliminates the potential for
condensation.
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Why not eliminate all oxygen and
water vapor?
What's right for me ? 95% or 98%?
Numerous studies have proven that nitrogen in tires
reduces the volume of gases that escape more quickly and cause damaging
oxidation. However, research also has shown that nitrogen purity beyond a
certain point does not provide additional benefits. In fact, with a
nitrogen purity above 93.4%? in passenger tires, oxygen actually begins
to migrate back into the tire. You can get all the benefits of nitrogen
with a purity level between 93-98%.
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·
Bridgestone/Firestone
researchers say that 93-95% nitrogen is all you need. Read
On...
·
According to Ford
Motor Co., there is no difference between 96% and 99%
nitrogen purity. Read On...
Who Else Is Using Nitrogen?
·
NASCAR -
NASCAR teams use nitrogen because it allows them to more accurately predict
tire pressure fluctuation. Nitrogen fluctuates with temperature change, but
it does so less than when water vapor is present. Read On... In
addition, higher nitrogen levels eliminate the explosive properties of
oxygen (oxygen loses its explosive properties at around 9% or less) Read On...
NASCAR uses bottled nitrogen for portability. The bottles are delivered to
the track by Praxair. Read
On...
·
Commercial
Airlines ? The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires
nitrogen in all commercial aircraft tires to eliminate the potential for
water vapor (inherent in normal compressed air) from freezing at high
altitudes. In addition, aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing use nitrogen
membranes in their On-Board Inert Gas Generation Systems (OBIGGS) to
"top" fuel tanks with nitrogen - an inert gas that does not
support combustion.
·
U.S.
Government ? NASA and the U.S. military use nitrogen for many of the
same reasons it used in commercial aircraft.
·
Food
Processors and Packagers ? Oxygen hastens both the
chemical breakdown and microbial spoilage of many foods. Think meat, potato
chips, cookies, etc. To help preserve foods longer, processors and
packagers often use modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and controlled
atmosphere packaging (CAP) that replaces some or all of the oxygen in the
air inside the
package with nitrogen.
How is nitrogen separated from other gases in air?
Membranes are the heart of any
nitrogen system. Just like a tire, the membranes are permeable. When
thousands of these permeable tubes are filled with air at high pressures,
smaller molecules leak out while the larger nitrogen molecules travel
through the tubes into a holding tank to fill your tires or
for other uses.
Still have questions? Feel free to browse the rest of this site or
let us know your question and we will incorporate it into this page. info@getnitrogen.org
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