Can You Mix Air and Nitrogen in Tires? [Benefits]

Table Of Contents

1. Benefits of Nitrogen in Tires
2. How to Fill Your Tires with Nitrogen
3. FAQs

If you are searching for an alternative to inflating your tires, using nitrogen will be the answer. But the next question can come – can you mix air and nitrogen in tires?

This question may be found in forums. Is it okay to mix air and nitrogen in tires?

What will happen when you mix them? Maybe you want to know so that you can take care of your tires better.

The simple answer is yes. You can mix air and nitrogen in tires.

It can be good to mix air and nitrogen in tires especially if you are just starting to use nitrogen in tires. But you should know that you may be wasting the benefit by mixing them.

Using nitrogen-filled tires is better. But it is okay to mix air and nitrogen in tires.

Maybe you are a new user of nitrogen in tires. You want to use nitrogen in tires without purging the air.

So, you will just top off your air-filled tires with nitrogen. There will be no wrong with this.

The benefit is not that great. But you will still have a benefit with the mix.

The benefit can apply to all kinds of vehicles – cars, bicycles, motorcycles, fleets, and other kinds of vehicles.

To see the benefit of nitrogen in tires, you must continually fill your tires with it. Or purge the air from your tires so that you can have nitrogen-filled tires.

If you want to know more about mixing air and nitrogen in tires, you can watch the following video:

Benefits of Nitrogen in Tires

Most drivers say that you will have an edge by using nitrogen in tires. Consider the following benefits to know if nitrogen can be better for your tires:

1. Enhanced Retention of Tire Pressure

When the temperature changes, the tire pressure is lost. It can be lost by a 10-degree change in temperature.

But nitrogen is stable. It seeps through the tires so that the pressure will not be lost.

So this is better than air which is lost so easily.

2. Improved Safety

You should know that 90% of blowouts are because of underinflated tires. But having nitrogen in your tires can give stable pressure.

Thus, the potential of a blowout can be lessened.

3. No Fluctuation of Pressure

The air has a little water in it. As the heat comes into the tires, the water will turn into gas which can increase tire pressure.

Whereas, the nitrogen is dry. Thus, no fluctuation of pressure will happen.

Though this may not be significant, it can avoid wheel rot. Though, most recent cars have fuse wheels that have no chemical reaction from the water inside the tires.

4. Improved Fuel Efficiency

EPA has it that mileage can reduce by 0.3% whenever you drop 1 psi in all tires. But since nitrogen does not lose pressure so easily, it can be the best solution for improved fuel efficiency.

Know that underinflated tires have a great need in fuel economy.

5. Nitrogen is Eco-Friendly

There are 300 million dumped tires. This number can lessen to 30% because of nitrogen inflation.

Also, because of the fuel efficiency of nitrogen, you can preserve the environment. Carbon emissions will be lowered.

You can make the environment green by having nitrogen-filled tires.

6. Being Inflated Longer

Experts say that nitrogen-filled tires stay inflated for a longer time. They are better than tires inflated with air.

This is because the molecules of nitrogen are bigger than molecules of air. They do not seep out quickly from the tires.

Your handling will be easier. The tread will not wear easily and the tires will have a longer life.

7. Easier Handling

You can better handle your vehicle because your tires are inflated properly. It can be hard to steer and turn a vehicle with underinflated tires.

Nitrogen-filled tires can help you in handling your vehicle.

8. Even Tread Wear

Your tread can wear uniformly by using nitrogen. It is because your tires will not be underinflated or overinflated.

No bald spots will be developed and there will be no weak sections on your tires.

9. Longer Tire Life

Nitrogen can keep your tires to be properly inflated. If the tires are properly inflated, they will have a longer life.

You can save money because of this. You do not have to replace your tires all the time.

10. Better Ride Quality

You can maintain good pressure for your tires by using nitrogen. Thus, you can have a better driving experience.

The tires will have a primal range that will lessen absorb shocks. This can give a good ride even when you are on a highway.

How to Fill Your Tires with Nitrogen

Secure your car with a lift jack.
Remove the valve stem cap on the tire.
Start to deflate the tire by removing the valve cap.
Replace the valve core.
Put the inflator line of the tire on the nitrogen tank. Place the nozzle on the valve stem.
Open the nitrogen tank. Fill 5 psi to the tire. Close the nitrogen tank.
Remove the valve core again. Flush the abiding air.
Replace the valve core again.
Fill nitrogen on your tires. Reach the required pressure by the manufacturer.
Remove the connection of the inflator with the valve stem.
Put the nozzle to the valve stem.
Leave the nitrogen analyzer for 25 seconds.
Repeat steps 3-12 if the nitrogen that does reach 100%.
Remove the nozzle if the analyzer reads 96% or above.
Attach the valve stem again to the tire inflator.
Close the valve of the nitrogen tank when you have reached the recommended pressure of the manufacturer.
Remove the tire inflator from the nitrogen tank.
Fix the valve stem cap. To show that the tire has been inflated with nitrogen, place a green valve cap instead of the original black cap.

To know more about how you can fill your tires with nitrogen, you can watch the following video:

FAQs

What Happens When Nitrogen and Air are Mixed in a Tire?

The air will dilute the nitrogen, making it less effective. Even if they are mixed, there will be no bad chemical reaction.

Mixing air and nitrogen in a tire will not harm it.

Is It Okay to MIx Nitrogen and Air in Tires?

You can mix air and nitrogen in tires, but this has risks. The pressure of your tire will be higher.

You will have a bad braking performance. Accidents may happen because of this.

Can You Add Air After Putting Nitrogen to Tires?

Yes, you can add air after putting nitrogen on tires. Air is composed of 78% nitrogen so the air will just dilute the pure nitrogen.

What are the Disadvantages of Nitrogen in Tires?

Inflation through nitrogen is costly when compared to air.
There will be strict maintenance when you use nitrogen in tires. Once you have started to fill it with nitrogen, you should always fill it with it.

Does Cold Weather Have an Effect on Nitrogen-Filled Tires?

Nitrogen as gas is affected by temperatures. Tires with nitrogen require pressure in times of fall and winter.

Tire pressure can drop during these times.

How Long Can Nitrogen Last in Tires?

Tires filled with air will last for a month. On the other hand, tires filled with nitrogen will last 3 – 4 months.

This proves that nitrogen can last longer in tires. A benefit of nitrogen in tires over the air.

Does Walmart Put Nitrogen in Tires?

Since April, 28 Walmart centers have been implementing the ISG nitrogen system. By the end of the year, the installation of the system will be completed.

Nitrogen tire inflation will be good because you can save on fuel consumption. You can also prevent the wearing of the tread.

How Much Is It to Put Nitrogen in Tires?

If your vehicle is new and you want to fill your tires with nitrogen, the cost will be $70 – $175. If you have existing tires that you want to be filled with nitrogen, it will cost you $30 per tire.

It may be costly for existing tires because you need to purge the oxygen from them before filling them with nitrogen.