You've Been Warned: Buying This Tire Upgrade Is A Waste Of Money

It's safe to say that Americans love their cars. As a culture, they drive more than anybody else, averaging 13,474 miles a year, according to You Call We Haul. Automotive research group F&I TOOLS also states the United States is one of the biggest consumers of vehicles, having purchased a total of 15.9 million cars in 2024. With so much time and money spent on vehicles, many Americans are willing to spend on upgrades to increase their car's longevity or gas mileage, including adding custom additions to their car's tires. However, one upgrade that experts suggest passing on is filling your tires with nitrogen.

Nitrogen-filled tires have long been used outside of personal cars, but have gained popularity in the car market. Proponents of nitrogen-filled tires claim that this upgrade provides more consistent tire pressure because nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen, meaning that deflation will occur at a slower pace. Other claims include reduced tire corrosion, improved fuel efficiency, and better vehicle handling. Cars already cost a lot just getting off the dealership lot, and Consumer Reports warns that the benefits of nitrogen-filled tires are negligible at best, especially given the higher cost of using nitrogen versus regularly filling up with air.

To find if nitrogen-inflated tires were worth the upgrade, Consumer Reports compared over 31 tires filled with regular air and nitrogen. In the test, they inflated the tires to 30 psi (pounds per square inch) and set both tires outdoors for one year. At the end of the year, they compared the pressure loss and found that the air-filled tires lost an average of 3.5 psi by sitting outside, and the nitrogen-filled tires lost an average of 2.2 psi. 

While the nitrogen tires did perform slightly better, it may not be worth the higher costs required to switch to nitrogen. What's more, the loss in pressure can be mitigated by regularly checking your tire pressure, which can also save you money. As for its other claims, Consumer Reports and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found no benefits for tire corrosion or fuel economy.

While nitrogen tires may not be worth the cost, there are a number of vehicle upgrades that have proven results. For example, splurging for brand-new tires is much better than buying used ones. This is because used tires have worn-down threads and could lead to an accident because of the increased risk of hydroplaning or longer stopping distances. So while nitrogen tires may sound like a luxury upgrade, it could be best to pass them up and use your money on a better option.