| Nitrogen
is a dry, inert gas used to inflate airplane tires, off-road truck tires,
military vehicle tires, and racecar tires for improved performance.
Oxygen in compressed air permeates through the wall of the tire, thus
reducing the tire’s inflation pressure. During its journey through
the tire wall, oxygen oxidizes the rubber compounds in the tire, causing
under-inflation and deteriorating of the rubber. Dry nitrogen will maintain
proper inflation pressure and will prevent out-ignition, will no corrode
rims, and will help the tire to run cooler. The result is increased
safety and reduced operating cost. |
|
Nitrogen
will help to extend tire life by reducing premature failure of the tire.
The causes of premature tire failure which are affected
by oxygen include:
-Rubber
deterioration by oxidation
-Rim Corrosion
-Under-inflation
-Overheating
-Pressure increase due to heat build up
-Uneven wear due to improper inflation
|
|
Tires are one of the primary
costs of operating a fleet of vehicles. Tire costs include procurement,
maintenance and the cost of blowouts. A typical truck tire with two
retreads costs $480.00 and lasts approximately 270,000 miles. Inflating
tires with nitrogen will help to prevent premature casing failure and
allow tires to be retread multiple times, with confidence and reliability.
Inflating tires with nitrogen to eliminate oxidative aging might extend
tire life by up to 25%. Increasing tire life to 337,500 miles would
save $120 per tire. A fleet with 50 trucks and 900 wheel positions would
save over $100,000 in tire cost by inflating with nitrogen.
|
