Vendors Push Pure Nitrogen as Alternative to Air in Tires

img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/printeditiontag_new.gif" width=120 align=right>A small number of vendors to the industry are investigating to see if trucking fleets might some day consider paying for nitrogen rather than using free air to fill up the tires of their rolling stock.

Even though ordinary air is about 78% nitrogen, the 21% that is oxygen — and so necessary for life — causes problems for tractor and trailer tires. Owners of racecars and large aircraft already use an all-nitrogen fill for their tires, but so far the practice has but a few enthusiasts in trucking.

Harvey Brodsky, director of the Tire Retread Information Bureau, said he is guardedly optimistic about the future of nitrogen use in trucking.