 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
FUEL SAVING WITH
NITROGEN FILLED TYRES
|
|
One of the very basic things you must look out
for in your car that will in turn help you with
fuel savings is to maintain your tyres in good
and perfect running condition.
Did you know that under inflated tyres can
cause your vehicle to use up to seven per cent
more fuel? Check your car’s wheel alignment
and balancing regularly. Each tyre should be
periodically spun, balanced and checked for
tread wear.
Research conducted in the United Kingdom
for example, cited that on average some 75 per
cent of tyres inspected at random had incorrect
tyre pressures. Its road traffic accident
statistics meanwhile, revealed that 86 per cent
of vehicles had incorrect tyre pressures
One of the latest trends in relation to
tyres is filling it up with nitrogen instead of
compressed air.
Tyres filled with Nitrogen is said to
maintain correct pressure for longer periods,
staying inflated about three times longer than
compressed air-filled tyres because Nitrogen
doesn’t leak through the tyre’s structure.
Normal compressed air contains Oxygen and
water vapour, both of which permeate through
the tyre casing. Air also migrates through
rubber. Air actually escapes through the rubber
whether there is a leak or not. Plus, there is
humidity in the air, which accelerates rust and
corrosion.
Nitrogen filled tyres are said to extend the
life of a tyre by 25 per cent, produce at least
two per cent fuel savings, and offers better road
holding
Inflating tyres with Nitrogen is very
common for tyres fitted to trucks, aircraft, race
cars and vehicles used in mining and other
industrial applications. It is even used by
NASA in the space shuttle tyres to racing cars competing in the American NASCAR Series.
Tyres inflated with nitrogen is also
said to run cooler than those inflated with
compressed air. Reducing a tyre’s running
temperature in turn increases its tread life.
Nitrogen also reduces pressure build-up in
tyres which is why it is commonly used in
racing cars. Increased tyre pressure reduces
the size of its contact patch with the road
and this in turn reduces a vehicle’s grip
levels.
Other advantages include
reducing the amount
of oxidisation to the
wheels. Oxidisation
or rusting of wheels
is a common
problem and will
only occur in the
presence of water
and oxygen,
components
that are present
in compressed
air. In theory,
Nitrogen
inflation should
prevent rusting
of rims as there is
no water vapour
or oxygen present.
The downside
for now of course,
is that filling tyres
with nitrogen isn’t
free and on average
a car owner will
have to pay in the
region of RM5 per
tyre. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
