Should You Use Nitrogen in Your Car Tires?

6 hours ago (consumerreports.org)

Yes, you absolutely should use nitrogen in your car tires.

I always do --- but I never pay extra for it.

My secret --- I just use ordinary air --- which is 78% nitrogen. Or at least it used to be before humanity started pumping carbon out of the ground and burning it in the atmosphere.

The title and the article comply with Betteridge's law.

  • From my reading, even according to Consumer Reports nitrogen can be preferable to air, but Consumer Reports believes the hassle of finding nitrogen, and the added expense, make monthly fill-ups with regular air a better option.

    But that doesn't really apply to Costco members: the ready availability of free nitrogen at Costco eliminates any downside.

    On that note, a related tip for Costco members (only because I always see people fail to read the instructions): on Costco's tire-inflation pumps, if your tires are hot (meaning you have driven at least 3 miles to arrive at the pump) you're supposed to set the pressure to 4 psi more than the pressure recommended on the label in your vehicle's door jamb.

    • I get an unlimited supply of 78% pure nitrogen from my own compressor. No need for a Costco visit.

      I'd bet money Costco sources their "nitrogen" the same way I do.