Inflate with nitrogen for improved performance and longer-lasting tyres

That solution is to inflate your tyres with nitrogen, rather than air. If this concept is new to you, then relax and know that it's a tried-and-tested practice that has been used for decades to inflate race car tyres as well as aircraft tyres, those on the US space shuttles and on industrial vehicles. It's also a service offered at all Tiger Wheel & Tyre stores, nationwide.

Cooler running temperature

The two most noteworthy benefits of inflating with nitrogen are a slower rate of pressure loss and a significantly cooler running temperature for the tyres. As a result, you need to inflate your tyres less frequently and the tread lasts up to 20% longer than tyres inflated with ordinary compressed air.

The reason tyres that stay better inflated for longer is due to the molecular structure of nitrogen, the larger molecules of which escape through the tyre's inner tube at a slower rate than regular compressed air - much slower in fact. Consider that it can take up to six months for a nitrogen-inflated tyre to lose 0.14kpa, whereas one filled with compressed air could lose that much in a month.

The fact that your tyres run at a lower temperature with nitrogen, not only impacts performance and safety in your daily driving, but also has a long-term effect on your pocket.

When tyres get hot, as they do whenever you drive and particularly in summer, the air pressure increases. This causes the tyre to expand and its footprint - the area that is in contact with the road - to be smaller. With so much less surface area in contact with the road, you can expect accelerated and uneven tread wear and that your tyres will more easily lose grip.

Improved vehicle handling

By inflating with nitrogen your tyres will run much cooler, giving them a larger footprint, which improves vehicle handling and preserves the tread on the tyres, giving your tyres up to 20% longer life.

In addition to these already compelling reasons to inflate with nitrogen, there's the fact that compressed air contains water vapour, which accelerates rust, corrosion and damage to tyre valves, the metal components of your tyres and to your wheels. Nitrogen, on the other hand, contains very little water vapour by comparison.

Finally, let's dispel some myths about nitrogen. There are some gross misconceptions about the safety of nitrogen in tyres, but all are due to simple misunderstanding. The nitrogen we're talking about is the inert gas, which comprises 78% of the air that we breathe. It is 100% safe and is not only non-combustible, but actually extinguishes flames! So don't confuse it with liquid nitrogen, which is a refrigerant and definitely not nitrous oxide or "nitrous" used by speed freaks to make their cars go faster.

If improved performance, better handling and longer-lasting tyres are your goal, then it's time you switched to nitrogen. Nitrogen inflation is available at all Tiger Wheel & Tyre stores for a nominal fee and, once you've inflated the first time, subsequent top-ups are free of charge for the life of the tyre. If you're off the beaten path and need to top-up urgently, you can safely add compressed air to your tyres and simply return to inflating with nitrogen when it's convenient.

For more information on nitrogen inflation, go to www.twt.to or stop by your nearest Tiger Wheel & Tyre store and speak to one of the company's representatives.