Baumgart Tire & Wheel brings the benefits of nitrogen inflation to our customers.

Benefits of Nitrogen Inflation:

1. Nitrogen inflated tires maintain proper pressure longer. Normal compressed air migrates through the sidewall of a tire at the rate of approximately 2 psi per month. Nitrogen molecules are much larger than oxygen molecules, which means that pure nitrogen migrates through a sidewall at a slower rate than compressed air. Proper tire pressure results in longer wearing tires and improved gas mileage.
2. Pure nitrogen does not contain moisture. Compressed air contains oxygen and, therefore, water vapor. The moisture causes higher tire temperatures, variances in pressure, and oxidation of the tire, wheel and valve stems. Oxidation is corrosion, which causes leaks around the valve stems and tire beads. Oxidation also leads to tire fatigue, leading to increased tire wear. Due to the lack of moisture, nitrogen inflated tires do not oxidize and run cooler, leading to longer tire life.
3. Nitrogen is safe. Nitrogen is an inert gas that is non-flammable.

Many tire dealers and other retail outlets around the country are now installing nitrogen inflation equipment. Although it is best to always inflate with nitrogen, if necessary, tires can easily be topped off or reinflated with compressed air anywhere without any risk. The only change is that by adding compressed air, the percentage of pure nitrogen in the tire will decrease and some of the benefits of nitrogen inflation will be lost.

Nitrogen inflation has long been used in applications such as aviation, mining, off-road equipment, and car racing, including NASCAR, Formula One, and CART.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nitrogen:

Nitrogen inflation sounds like a marketing gimmick; is it?

When you are the first with a new idea the competition will want everyone to join them in suspicion. It's not a gimmick—nitrogen has clear and specific advantages over compressed air.

Is nitrogen inflation something new?

Nitrogen has been used in severe duty tire applications for decades. Tires on racecars, space shuttles, fighter jets, commercial airliners, mining equipment, and off-road equipment have used nitrogen for many years. It is new for car tires.

Air is mostly nitrogen anyway isn't it?

The air we breathe is about 80% nitrogen, but the 20% oxygen does the damage. A 20% concentration of bad is still bad.

If it's such a good idea, why aren't others putting nitrogen in car tires?

They are in other parts of the world, but only recently has the technology become available to generate nitrogen in relatively small quantities.

Why doesn't it come in tires on a new car?

One reason is cost. Another reason is that there isn't an infrastructure of tire and service facilities filling with nitrogen.

Nitrogen sounds dangerous; is it?

Absolutely not. Nitrogen is an inert gas, which means it is non-flammable, non-corrosive, and non-explosive.

What's wrong with regular old compressed air?

It contains oxygen and therefore water vapor. Oxygen leaks through sidewalls reducing air pressure. The moisture causes things like pressure rise, higher tire temperatures, and oxidation of the tire and wheel.

Why should I care about oxidation of my wheels or tires?

Oxidation is also corrosion. Corrosion causes leaks, which reduces tread life. Oxidation of the tire causes tires to fatigue leading to earlier replacement or safety concerns.

Will my tires really last longer if inflated with nitrogen?

Yes, for two reasons. Nitrogen inflated tires hold their pressure better, which means your tires will run more miles under proper inflation. Low inflation causes tires to wear quicker.

Also, by inflating with nitrogen, you eliminate the moisture in a tire that causes heat build up. Heat is a tire's worst enemy; by limiting heat build up you increase tire life.

Why will my tires retain pressure longer?

Normal compressed air migrates through the sidewall of a tire at the rate of approximately 2 psi per month. Nitrogen molecules are much larger than oxygen molecules, which means pure nitrogen migrates through a sidewall approximately 30-40% slower. This means less leakage and more constant tire pressure.

If I add regular air to my nitrogen filled tire is that okay?

Yes, nitrogen inflated tires can have air added to them without any problem. At your convenience, take the car back to Baumgart Tire & Wheel and we will refill the tire with nitrogen.

Why would Baumgart Tire & Wheel want my tires to last longer?

It's simple; we want to retain long-term customers. If customers are happy with the way that their tires perform, including how long they last, they will come back to us for their next set and recommend us to friends, family, and co-workers.