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Does it seem like the low tire pressure (TPMS) light comes on at the most inconvenient times? Like when your running late, it’s freezing cold outside or you haven’t had your morning cup of coffee yet. Here’s the good news: you can reduce the chances of the low-pressure light coming on by using pure nitrogen to inflate your tires rather than regular compressed air. It’s a minor adjustment that can make a major difference in how smooth your mornings go.

The Nitrogen Advantage

The biggest advantage of having nitrogen-filled tires is maintaining proper tire pressure over a longer period of time. Nitrogen molecules are larger and slower moving than compressed air molecules, therefore nitrogen wont seep out of your tires as quickly as air will.

When the temperature changes, tire pressure changes as well. As a rule of thumb, your tires will loose 1 psi for every 10 degree drop in air temperature. Nitrogen doesn’t fluctuate like compressed air does so it will take longer for your tires to loose air. That is, unless you get a tire puncture, then you’ll loose nitrogen just as fast as compressed air.

Where can I get Nitrogen for tires near me?

Visit any of our Hilltop Tire Service auto repair centers in Des Moines, IA, to get your tires filled with nitrogen. No appointment necessary. Filling your tires with nitrogen is a longer process than filling your tires with air. Using a state-of-the-art machine, the tire is purged of air then filled with nitrogen several times which takes out most of the oxygen and any water ensuring you have pure nitrogen in your tires.

But what’s wrong with good ‘ol air?

There is nothing wrong with inflating your tires with compressed air. Afterall, drivers have been using it successfully for decades. Compressed air is easy to find and often free, just remember, you might be looking for compressed air more often then if you inflated your tires with nitrogen.

The Conclusion

Whether you choose to inflate your tires with nitrogen or compressed air, it doesn’t really matter. Proper tire pressure trumps everything. You will enjoy better handling, longer tire life and even improved fuel economy. Driving on under-inflated or over-inflated tires will make your vehicle more difficult to handle and increase the risk of a tire blow-out.

If you don’t want to be bothered with the pesky low-pressure light coming on when the temperature drops and you want to make your tires last longer with better fuel efficiency, nitrogen is the way to go. Keep in mind, even though nitrogen keeps your tire pressure more consistent, make sure you still check your tire pressure regularly to get the best performance for your vehicle.