Are Nitrogen Filled Tyres Beneficial To EVs
New electric vehicles usually roll off the production line with special tyres that provide a compromise between grip and efficiency. Wider tyres offer more surface area to grip the road, and this requires more energy to move. Skinny tyres offer less friction and resistance, which lowers fuel/electricity consumption.
Keeping your tyres properly inflated based on manufacturer recommendations, lengthen their lifespan as well as maximize the distance you can travel on a single charge. Poorly inflated tyres increase the surface area that contacts the road, reduces steering feel, and causes unnecessary wear on the tread thereby shortening the overall lifespan of said tyres.
Over Inflated tyres on the other hand, cause a bumpier than normal ride, which puts more strain on the suspension. There’s also uneven wear on the tread pattern, which also affects overall lifespan. It also decreases the overall contact area between the tyres and the road, therefore reducing grip levels.
Filling your tyres with nitrogen gas instead of regular air does offer some benefits. Regular air consists of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and smaller quantities of other gases like carbon dioxide etc.
Tyres filled with regular air need to be checked at least once a fortnight because a minuscule amount will escape over a matter of weeks (about 1 to 2 psi). It’s a common occurrence that affects all vehicle tyres. However, if you use nitrogen instead, the loss rate is significantly lower.
That’s because pure nitrogen gas consists of far larger molecules than regular air. In addition to this, nitrogen doesn’t expand and contract as much as regular air when subjected to temperature changes. This means tyre pressure remains almost constant throughout the day. stable tyre pressure could help extend the EV’s range and lengthen the lifespan of its tyres.
This means that you will need to refill your tyres once every 3-4 months instead of the usual 2-3 weeks should you choose to use normal air. Besides this, nitrogen has less moisture in it, which lowers the risk of corrosion to your rims over the lifetime of said vehicle.
However, these effects are minimal at best. And once you factor in the cost of filling each tyre with nitrogen, the benefits become less apparent. Nitrogen is used in racecars because every fraction of a second counts towards winning a race. But for the average Joe, you won’t be able to tell the difference.
The only real advantage in using nitrogen instead of normal air is the convenience it offers. You’ll only need to top up every 3 to 4 months. Since most EVs are fitted with tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), you could schedule an appointment at your nearest tyre shop a few days before needing the refill.
Yes, filling your tyres with nitrogen does offer several benefits but they are minimal at best. If you would like to extend the lifespan of your tyres, check their pressure once every 1 to 2 weeks and have your tyres rotated at regular intervals as specified by the manufacturer.
