We talk to industry spokespeople and end-users about using nitrogen tyres and air tyres, including their experiences, benefits, myths and more. Read on…

Air tyres are a reality. So are nitrogen tyres. Both have users and suppliers. And many have tried using the two, choosing one over the other. While air tyres are very common, nitrogen tyres are still rolling their way in. Yet there are those who swear by nitrogen tyres and those who could never leave an air tyre’s side.

Benefits experienced from nitrogen tyres
Sneha Phadke, a management generalist based in Pune, India, has been using nitrogen-inflated tyres for the past four years. “When I purchased my two-wheeler, both the tyres were inflated with regular air, which was how I used it for six months. However, a couple of people back then suggested that switching to nitrogen would be more beneficial in terms of the riding experience and prolonging the tyres’ good health,” Phadke recounts, sharing her first-hand experience. “After that, there weren’t frequent punctures, the deflation wasn’t as fast as it happens with regular air, and taking a turn with my two-wheeler is much more comfortable. Air somehow makes the scooter heavier for me to ride – it feels like carrying some extra weight.”

Phadke is of the opinion that as an end-user, there is a significantly distinct experience when one rides a gearless scooter with air-inflated tyres versus a gearless scooter with nitrogen-inflated tyres. However, much did not change in other aspects after moving to nitrogen. For instance, she did not have to invest in extra maintenance for her tyres.

Cost efficiency and trustworthiness
In Phadke’s experience, nitrogen to inflate her scooter’s tyres was easily available to her in Pune. In fact, she already knew four petrol pumps in Pune that provide nitrogen for tyre inflation. “The nitrogen inflation is free. As for the first-time nitrogen inflation, the deflation of air and nitrogen inflation was done at a very nominal cost of INR 20-25 for my scooter,” she says.

Phadke finds it safer to get her tyres inflated with nitrogen at reputed petrol pumps only. This is because she believes that the company staff is properly trained and takes care of all the factors when it comes to checking the tyres and refilling the tyres with nitrogen to the right capacity. “That makes it more cost-efficient, trustworthy and the tyres healthier,” she clarifies. “Plus, the meters at these petrol pumps check the amount of nitrogen in the tyres, which does not give me any reason to doubt the purity of the gas.”

Nitrogen tyres – not for everyone
Like Phadke, Anish Makoday, a BBA student, found the advantage of being able to turn a two-wheeler more smoothly upon switching to nitrogen tyres. “A friend had told me that nitrogen-inflated tyres provide great fuel efficiency. So as petrol prices spiked, I thought that switching to nitrogen would be a good option,” Makoday cites. “Besides, my friends also claimed that nitrogen keeps the tyres cool, and the heat from the road does not affect them much.”

But this was not to last long. “The initial cost for switching to nitrogen (deflation and then inflation) for my scooter was INR 100. I have found the rate of refilling per tyre to differ everywhere, although I have found it to be INR 30-40 at most places,” Makoday informs. “With nitrogen tyres, one does not need to refill their tyres frequently and can refill them twice a month. This led to me often not realising that my tyres were running out of nitrogen and needed refilling. Therefore, I would ride my bike without refilling the tyres for two to three months straight. This resulted in the tyres getting punctured a lot. Unlike nitrogen tyres, regular air tyres require refilling every two weeks, cost up to INR 10 per tyre and one usually tends to refill them immediately once they fill the vehicle’s petrol tank.”

Therefore, Makoday stuck to nitrogen tyres for six months before going back to regular air tyres last year, after facing issues with punctured tyres. Also, he claims that he didn’t experience much difference between the two, except a bit in terms of mileage.

Ikshwaku Deopathak, a musician by profession, too, bid goodbye to nitrogen tyres, one of the reasons being that finding nitrogen stations/pumps was difficult. Nitrogen tyres had also started getting costly for Deopathak. Refilling his car’s tyres with nitrogen cost him a total of INR 200 – that’s INR 50 per tyre. Refilling the tyres with air turned out to be much cheaper, being INR 10 per tyre, he avows.

 Access to nitrogen
With the end-users’ different experiences of access to nitrogen for tyre refilling, we ask Amin Almel, CEO, Sunrise Instruments, to throw some light on this aspect. He apprises us that nitrogen refilling options are easily available in cities but can get difficult to access once one heads towards the outskirts and rural areas. “But as petrol pumps are showing up in different parts of the country, nitrogen filling is being made available there,” he states.

Ultimately, one has to take their discipline and riding/driving habits into account when considering moving over to the nitrogen side, Makoday believes. “If one checks and refills their tyres from time to time from the very beginning, unlike me, then nitrogen tyres might be for them,” he states. Sudershan Gusain, Sr DGM Technical Marketing and Standards and Regulations, Bridgestone India, informs that to derive the optimum benefit of nitrogen inflation, the percentage of nitrogen needs to be 95 percent or higher. However, topping up normal air in a nitrogen-inflated tyre once or twice is not known to have any negative impact on tyre life or tyre efficiency. 

Nitrogen tyres – a gimmick?
Ravi Chandarana, Co-founder of Kwik Fix Auto, is also one who would not recommend rolling your tyres into the nitrogen territory. “The benefits that people experience through nitrogen tyres are psychological,” Chandarana tells us matter-of-factly. “Nitrogen has been commercialised by tyre shops and petrol stations in the Indian tyre sector. It’s a gimmick; when a tyre shop provides nitrogen for tyre inflation, it advises the end-user to use only nitrogen for their tyres from then on. Thus, the customer tends to keep going back to that respective tyre shop to inflate his/her tyres with nitrogen. That builds the tyre shop’s relation with the customer, and the customer then tends to always remember that particular tyre shop in the back of his/her head. This makes the customer go back to that specific tyre shop a majority of times for tyre inflation and any kind of tyre service.”

Further emphasising his point on how nitrogen is not necessary for tyres, Chandarana highlights that, unlike the availability of air for the same, not every tyre shop and petrol pump out there provides nitrogen for tyre inflation. “That goes to show that not every vehicle tyre is inflated with nitrogen,” he points out. “This further goes on to show that perhaps nitrogen is not that necessary to a tyre – like petrol is to a car. Otherwise, every driver/rider would be using it. If tomorrow nitrogen weren’t available for your tyres, your vehicle would not stop functioning.”

 The myths of nitrogen tyres
As it turns out, Chandarana’s Kwik Fix Auto is a tyre dealer and also happens to be a nitrogen supplier for tyres to end-users. But the reason for supplying nitrogen to people’s tyres is solely because there is a demand for it, Chandarana states, but he certainly does not recommend it. He claims that there are several myths related to nitrogen tyres. “For one, people are often told that nitrogen makes their vehicles’ tyres cool. Secondly, it is believed by many that nitrogen tyres would increase their fuel efficiency. However, it’s not really possible to explain this to every customer who comes to me,” Chandarana elucidates.

Another myth related to nitrogen tyres is that once a tyre is inflated with nitrogen, it needs to be refilled with nitrogen alone in the future. Prajakta Jadhav, a teacher trainer who quit nitrogen tyres, claims she was told that inflating with regular air would damage these tyres. Thus, she shares that when she decided to go back to regular air tyres (because nitrogen was expensive for her), she had to wait till her car’s tyres wore out before she could get new ones and inflate them with regular air.

Almel begs to differ with this theory. He clarifies, “If one of your tyres punctures in an emergency situation where you have no access to nitrogen but only air, you can always refill the punctured tyre with air. As long as the pressure is the same, you can drive a vehicle where one tyre may have nitrogen while another may have regular air.”

Digital inflation
Chandarana happens to see one comforting prospect in inflating tyres with nitrogen. That is, nitrogen is inflated into tyres digitally. With digital inflation, one gets the accurate air pressure for their tyres as opposed to analogue meters, which are not properly calibrated, he enlightens.

Using nitrogen tyres in coastal areas
With this one silver lining, Chandarana wouldn’t mind looking favourably on nitrogen tyres, but only from a geographical point of view. He proposes to use nitrogen tyres if one lives in coastal areas. Explaining why, he tells us, “The air in coastal areas is salted. This results in the tyres’ rims getting rusted because of the salted air. In a scenario like this, the nitrogen machine eliminates these gases and inflates the tyres with nitrogen. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter if your tyres have air or nitrogen; what matters is the accurate air pressure.”

Nitrogen quality
In spite of it all, if an end-user still wishes to go for nitrogen tyres (if not living in a coastal area), then it’s important to make sure that the nitrogen is being supplied by a reputed brand,” Chandarana adds. “Secondly, one should make sure that the environment in which the tyre is being inflated has clean air. This is because with polluted air around, one will not get nitrogen of good quality for their tyres.” Gusain adds that using a nitrogen generator to inflate tyres will have better results. “However, the method to inflate is also important,” he says. “If the fitter tops up in a tyre is already inflated with normal air, then that's the wrong way to go. The right way is to deflate the tyre and remove the residual air before inflating it with nitrogen.”

Speaking of nitrogen quality, Basant Nayar, an Associate Director at a financial services firm and who uses nitrogen tyres, always checks the online reviews and ratings of a tyre shop before visiting it. However, Nayar states that one can’t really judge the nitrogen machine.

Tyre tronics to the rescue
While Nayar checks online reviews for the right tyre shop, Karl Pereira, an entrepreneur and nitrogen tyre user, has been refilling his tyres with nitrogen at the same petrol station for the past 17 years. That’s because his car comes with tyre tronics that show the tyres’ pressure and whether the tyres are fine or not. “Once I have refilled my car’s tyres with nitrogen and checked the pressure, I don’t need to refill them for at least a year, or sometimes more, unless the software tells me that there’s something wrong with them,” Pereira tells us.

Why nitrogen tyres matter
Where there’s a demand, there’s supply. And there certainly seems to be a demand for nitrogen in tyres, even if not everyone is opting for it. However, Gusain is of the opinion that choosing between air or nitrogen depends on the need of the consumer and the usage of tyres. Nitrogen has less than half permeability as compared to normal air, which makes nitrogen inflation last longer. However, it is noteworthy that to get the best results, one must continue to inflate at similar frequencies and not have very long gaps. 

He further informs, “Nitrogen also has other benefits such as less corrosion of steel wheel and tyre components. In fact, if a commercial truck or bus fleets use retreads, then nitrogen inflation becomes even more important. Besides, it is a more sustainable option as it leads to lesser CO₂ emissions. However, it is also the costlier option. So it’s a choice that consumers can make, depending on their preference." Gusain also states that nitrogen inflation is expensive not because of the benefits it offers, but because of the process of using special filters and machines for extraction.

Almel opines that the popularity of the benefits of nitrogen-inflated tyres is being realised by the end-user today. Sunrise Instruments, a manufacturer of nitrogen tyre inflator machines (which act as a filter, separating oxygen and nitrogen), sees clients from tyre shops, petrol stations and dealers from tyre companies like Goodyear, Bridgestone, CEAT and Michelin, Almel tells us. People’s awareness also largely depends on where they choose to inflate their tyres on a regular basis. Well-trained tyre professionals surely educate their customers about the benefits of nitrogen inflation.

Accentuating the expanding market scenario of nitrogen tyres across the world, Almel shares that his company’s nitrogen tyre inflator machines are even exported to UAE and Saudi Arabia. He further points out why nitrogen tyres matter. He posits that being an inert gas, nitrogen does not react. Therefore, there is no reaction with the rubber and metal parts in the tyres. “This extends the tyres’ life,” he goes on to explain. “Additionally, it’s important for the tyre pressure to remain stable as per the vehicle manufacturer’s guideline. This will, in the long run, lead to better fuel mileage, better control of the vehicle and comfort while driving/riding the vehicle. And with nitrogen tyres, the tyre pressure remains stable for a longer period of time, giving you all of this.”

Regular air, on the other hand, contains 21 percent of oxygen, which tends to react and deteriorate the tyre quality, according to Almel. Nitrogen tyres have only 1 percent of other gases and 99 percent of nitrogen itself, which is dry nitrogen.

When asked about the opinion from the other side of the table, Almel avers that if nitrogen hadn’t been important to tyres, then it wouldn’t have been used in aircraft tyres and race car tyres. “And the cars driven on Indian highways are no less than a race car, given their speed,” he puts across. “People have limited time today and are constantly in a rush. These aspects make it important to have nitrogen-inflated tyres in order to have a maintained tyre pressure and to drive safely.”

A subjective choice
Whether a nitrogen tyre works best or an air tyre does, it really comes down to personal experience. Even if not recommended by many, nitrogen tyres do not appear to cause any harm. But our vehicles would be nowhere without tyres (literally), and they certainly are one of the most significant components of our vehicles. If our tyres aren’t right or the pressure has gone wrong, it could endanger a life. Therefore, while one picks a tyre that works best for them, looking at the big picture, it needs to work in every aspect – from cost to convenience to safety. After all, if vehicles can be subjective, why can’t tyres?

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Apollo Tyres, one of the leading tyre makers in the country, has extended its strategic partnership with Manchester United Football Club, one of the world’s most iconic football teams, for an additional three years.

The partners stated that the renewal of the enduring partnership highlights a mutual commitment to excellence, innovation and shared values. This 12-year alliance has been instrumental in connecting both entities with millions of passionate fans globally, yielding highly engaging campaigns and delivering significant value, both in the realm of sport and business.

Since its inception, the partnership Apollo Tyres' stated has propelled its brand equity, leveraging Manchester United's unparalleled global visibility and deep emotional connection with its loyal fanbase. This association has not only bolstered Apollo Tyres' reputation and amplified consumer trust but also solidified its standing as a premier tyre manufacturer.

The renewal follows the recent visit of Manchester United's first-team players, Andre Onana, Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire, to Mumbai. Their visit marked the official launch and commencement of activities for the fifth season of the ‘United We Play’ programme, providing an opportunity for direct engagement with fans in India.

Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman and MD, Apollo Tyres, said, “We are thrilled to continue our association with Manchester United, a club that embodies passion, performance and global reach. Our partnership has been instrumental in amplifying our brand equity by aligning with a club that represents passion and perseverance. Together we will strive to create even more exciting experiences for fans, leverage new opportunities in digital and on-ground engagement, and strengthen our brand presence across key markets. We are also excited to expand our impact through a grassroots football initiative that aims to nurture young talent and promote access to the sport at the community level.”

Omar Berrada, CEO, Manchester United, added, “We are delighted to extend our successful partnership with Apollo Tyres, a valued and long-standing member of the Manchester United family. During our 12-year relationship, we’ve not only created impactful global campaigns but also delivered meaningful initiatives at the grassroots level, from youth development to sustainable infrastructure.”

“As we move into this next chapter, we look forward to continuing on our shared legacy -- driving further engagement with our fans around the world and creating lasting value both on and off the pitch,” added Berrada.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Nokian Tyres plc has been awarded the prestigious Key Flag symbol by the Association for Finnish Work for its flagship Hakkapeliitta winter tyres and Hakka summer tyres.

The Key Flag, a nationally recognised emblem, is granted to products manufactured or services produced in Finland that contain a minimum of 50% domestic content based on break-even cost.

“We are proud of our Finnish heritage and our northern knowhow which is represented in our premium Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta and Nokian Tyres Hakka products,” said Ville Nikkola, Head of Sales, Finland at Nokian Tyres. “The Key Flag symbol is a sign of Finnish work and very well known among consumers. We are extremely happy to be able to present it next to our tyres manufactured in Finland for Nordic drivers.”

The Hakkapeliitta winter tyres and Hakka summer tyres are both developed and produced at Nokian Tyres’ factory in Nokia, Finland. The company’s global research and development centre is also located at the site, and both products undergo rigorous testing in Finland, including winter trials at the Ivalo test facility in Lapland.

This recognition is the latest in a series of Finnish quality accolades for the company. Nokian Tyres has previously received the Key Flag for its heavy machinery tyres, wheels, and retreading materials. Additionally, its truck and bus tyres carry the Design from Finland label, underlining their Finnish design pedigree.

Founded in 1898, Nokian Tyres began manufacturing tyres in 1932. The company introduced the world’s first winter tyre in 1934, followed by the first Hakkapeliitta-branded passenger car winter tyre in 1936. Since then, the brand has become a hallmark of Nordic winter driving.

“The Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta winter tyres, as well as the Nokian Tyres Hakka summer tyres,, are designed to withstand the challenges of their northern home: the harsh winters with ice and snow as well as the summer months from the first sub-zero mornings of the spring to the heavy rainfalls of autumn,” Nikkola added.

Nokian Tyres emphasised that both product lines are still made in the same factory in Nokia as their early predecessors. Over the decades, the plant has been modernised and now runs on electricity sourced entirely from CO2-free sources. Most of the steam used in the facility also comes from CO2-free fuels. Since 2015, the factory has sent no waste from tyre production to landfill.

The company has further strengthened its sustainability credentials by obtaining the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS for the Nokia passenger car tyre plant. The certification enables the integration of sustainable raw materials into tyre production at the facility.

“The Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta winter tyres are already a legend of Nordic winter roads and are, just like the Nokian Tyres Hakka summer tyres, still made within the same factory walls in Nokia as their predecessors in the 1930s,” Nikkola concluded.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Hankook Tire is gearing up to electrify the 2024/2025 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as the series returns to Jakarta on 21 June for Round 12 of Season 11.

After a one-year absence, the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit (JIEC) will once again host the high-speed spectacle, set against the vibrant backdrop of Ancol’s shoreline. The 2.37-km track, celebrated since its debut in Season 8, blends high-speed straights, sweeping turns and a technical final section – inspired by the rhythmic flow of Java’s traditional Kuda Lumping dance. The challenging layout, combined with Jakarta’s intense tropical heat, will test drivers’ skill, endurance and tyre strategy to the limit. Powering every team will be Hankook’s GEN3 Evo iON Race tyre, purpose-built for Formula E’s cutting-edge electric race cars. Its advanced tread design and specialised rubber compound ensure superior grip, stability and heat resistance – key to handling Jakarta’s demanding conditions.

Sustainability remains a core focus, with the tyre incorporating 35 percent eco-friendly materials, including natural rubber and recycled fibres. Designed for extended durability, each tyre is fully recovered post-race and processed through Hankook’s recycling programme, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to reducing motorsport’s environmental footprint while pushing the boundaries of electric racing performance.

Maximilian Günther, the DS Penske driver and winner of 2023 Gulavit Jakarta E-Prix (Race 10), and most recently, the 2025 Jeddah E-Prix (Race 3) and 2025 Hankook Shanghai E-Prix (Race 10), said, “Jakarta delivers a unique blend of technical complexity and extreme climate. It’s a true proving ground for drivers and tire management. The enhanced grip of the GEN3 Evo iON Race tyre allows us to push harder through technical sectors without sacrificing traction. We’ve already observed gains during simulator sessions, and we’re optimistic about translating that into on-track performance.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has signed a Mizuho Eco Finance (Mizuho Environmentally Conscious Finance) loan agreement with Mizuho Bank, Ltd. on 17 June, reinforcing the company’s dedication to sustainable growth and decarbonisation.

This environmentally conscious financing programme supports companies transitioning to a decarbonised society by evaluating their climate-related initiatives and disclosures. Yokohama Rubber qualified for the loan after achieving high scores in Mizuho Bank’s environmental assessment, which examines corporate efforts in emissions transparency, greenhouse gas reduction and long-term sustainability goals.

The company has committed to reducing CO₂ emissions by 40 percent by 2030 (compared to 2019 levels) and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. These targets, along with Yokohama Rubber’s focus on emissions reduction across its supply chain, contributed to its strong evaluation. Under its sustainability slogan, ‘Caring for the Future’, the company integrates social responsibility into its business strategy, aiming to create shared value by addressing global environmental challenges.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!