Humans breath oxygen, plants breath carbon dioxide, tires breath nitrogen…. WHAT? I know, you’re thinking I’ve lost my mind, but have you noticed little green valve stem caps appearing on some people’s tires? That green cap signifies that those tires are filled with nitrogen instead of plain old air. No, tires don’t need special air to breathe, but there are some pretty good reasons why some tire manufacturers and auto repair facilities are recommending nitrogen.

First, nitrogen is not as temperature sensitive as oxygen. This means that when the weather is especially warm or cold, your tire pressure will not fluctuate, leaving your tires over- or under-inflated when the outside temperature changes. Second, nitrogen is a much larger molecule than oxygen, so it does not leak from your tire as readily.

That’s great news, but here is something to consider: Nitrogen, in order to be effective, must be about 97% pure. In other words, the oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gasses must be removed. If the person selling you the nitrogen cannot show you the content of the nitrogen, it probably isn’t worth the money it will cost you.

Your tires are an important part of getting you where you’re going safely. Make sure yours have good tread, no strange lumps or bumps, and are properly inflated.

To see more on this subject from Good Works Auto Repair owner Nathan Merrill, click here.