Nitrogen Gas (inflating tires)

Nitrogen inflation can provide some benefit by reducing gas migration (pressure loss) at
the molecular level through the tire structure. NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration) has stated that the inflation pressure loss of tires can be up to 5% a month.
Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules and, therefore, are less prone to
"seeping" through the tire casing.
Another potential benefit of nitrogen is the reduced oxidation of tire components. Research
has demonstrated that oxygen consumed in the oxidation process of the tire primarily
comes from the inflation media. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that oxidation of tire
components can be reduced if the tire is inflated with pure nitrogen. However, only very
small amounts of oxygen are required to begin the normal oxidation process. Even slight
contamination of the tire inflation gas with compressed atmospheric air during normal
inflation pressure maintenance, may negate the benefits of using nitrogen.
Regardless of the inflation media for tires (atmospheric air or nitrogen), inflation pressure
maintenance of tires is critical for overall tire, and ultimately, vehicle performance.
Maintaining the correct inflation pressure allows the tire to perform as intended by the
vehicle manufacturer in many areas, including comfort, fuel economy, stopping distance,
cornering, traction, treadwear, and noise.