In 2007, an article in
Popular Mechanics
magazine bemoaning a deficiency amongst modern men and women to do
common DIY tasks, found that 4 million drivers had called AAA for
roadside assistance--to change a tire. With all this fear surrounding
basic auto maintenance, you would think Americans would do everything in
their power to avoid getting flat tires. Not so says the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration which, the same year, published
"Underinflated Tires In The U.S.,"
a comprehensive study that found 25 percent of cars and over 30 percent
of trucks have dangerously underinflated tires. The study sites dangers
beyond blowouts including reduced fuel economy, skidding, and even
highway accidents and fatalities. Still, numerous follow-up studies have
found American tires remain dangerously underinflated.
In the
three years since the NHTSA study, tire pressure has come up in
environmental debates, consumer reports studies and even became an issue
in the 2008 presidential campaign. In that time, Pennsylvania has done
its part to improve this growing problem. This week, the
PA Department of Environmental Protection announced another step toward improving tire inflation with the third and final installment of the
Nitrogen Tire Inflation Grants
program. Tire and automotive centers looking to offer nitrogen for tire
fill-up as opposed to traditional air can receive these annual match
grants to acquire nitrogen tire pump technology. According to the DEP,
nitrogen doesn't escape as quickly, allowing tires to remain fuller
longer and saving drivers an estimated 25 gallons of gas per year.
"Energy
issues are becoming more and more important to people as our fuel is
obtained from foreign sources and increasingly tied to our security,"
says DEP spokesperson John Repetz. "This is something that has been out
there for some time, more and more studies have been conducted and there
has been a definite increase in interest from service providers who are
wishing to offer this technology."
Over the course of the
Nitrogen Tire Inflation Grant program, DEP spent $300,000, bringing
nitrogen tire pumps to 81 institutions state-wide. But while these
grants will likely widen the usage of this more inert gas, they won't
solve the problem. According to a 2008
Consumer Reports study,
nitrogen will help retain pressure longer but not to the point where
motorists can forget about tire pressure all together. For true safety,
the study states, you should check your tire pressure at least every few
months. But for those DIY-phobic drivers out there, these nitrogen
grants are a good start. Beyond reducing deflation, nitrogen has been
proven to reduce wear on tire treads, making sure you won't have to get
your hands dirty for years to come.
"Nitrogen gas is less
reactive with moisture at higher temperatures with the rubber of the
tire so therefore you are extending the treadwear of your tire using the
nitrogen," says Repetz. "So the gas mileage is certainly one thing but
there are other aspects to this that really come into play."
Source: John Repetz, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental ProtectionWriter: John Steele