Each time you go to a tyre shop or a gas station to top up the tyre pressure in your vehicle’s tyres, what the attendant fills into the tyre is normal compressed air. But what exactly does compressed air contain? Compressed air is made up of 78% nitrogen, about 20-21% oxygen, and the balance one percent consists of CO2, and tiny concentrations of gases such as neon, argon and water vapour.

 When you specifically fill nitrogen gas into the vehicle's tyres, then you should have 100% dry nitrogen in your tyre. Dry nitrogen denotes that no        moisture content or any other gases are present in the tyre.

 Jay Chakraborty, who recently bought a second hand car, says, “After I bought my car, I changed the tyres and I’ve heard so many people talk about  how good nitrogen has been for them that I decided to get my new tyres filled with nitrogen air. The car feels a lot better on bumpy roads, and I don’t  have to worry about checking tyre pressure every week.”

Benefits of nitrogen Vs compressed air

Nitrogen as a gas is made up of big molecules, whereas oxygen molecules are much smaller in size compared to nitrogen molecules. When compressed air is put into a vehicle’s tyres, the moisture in the tyre seeps through the rubber over time and evaporates quicker as its molecules are smaller in size. But as nitrogen molecules are bigger in size, they do not permeate the tyres rubber so easily and hence will stay in the tyre for a longer duration. This means that your vehicle’s tyres will lose less pressure over time compared to regular compressed air filled tyres.

For example: An inactive vehicle, whose tyres are filled with normal compressed air will lose tyre pressure every week. But a 100% nitrogen-filled tyre will lose tyre pressure a lot slower and won’t need to be topped up as frequently. 

Titus Remedios, “I filled nitrogen in the new tyres that  I purchased for my Maruti Ecco in June 2019. That time the tyre pressure filled with nitrogen was 35Psi. I use the car once a week and after the lockdown, the car hadn’t been used in months. I recently went back in October 2020 to the place where I had filled the nitrogen in the car tyres and the tyre pressure after 14 months had only dropped to 22Psi. .

Another point to note, nitrogen filled tyres get a green or blue colour valve cap. This is a universal symbol that your vehicle's tyres are filled with nitrogen and not compressed air.

Is Nitrogen right for you?

Over-inflation and under inflation of tyres make a major difference on the race track. But on your normal city road does it make a huge difference? Under-inflated tyres normally lead to less mileage, uneven wear on the tyre treads and more tyre wear and tear overall. Over inflated tyres run the risk of burning out the contact patch on the tyre too quickly, while adding more bounce vs grip to a vehicle's stability. In hot climate conditions, your vehicle's tyre pressure can jump up tremendously. Highway running speeds coupled with a harsh sun beating down, can lead to a  tear in the tyre or in extreme conditions, a tyre bursting. This is where nitrogen-filled tyres shine the most. Due to their molecular build, nitrogen molecules stay at a constant temperature in a tyre. So even if the temperature outside decreases or increases, the nirotgen in the tyre will remain the same. That is why race cars and racing motorcycles only use 100% nitrogen in their tyres all the time.

Now we are all not professional racers, but we do commute on a daily basis and even go for the occasional weekend drive out of the city for some sightseeing and relaxation. Will filling nitrogen in your vehicle's tyre help you? There are many who swear by nitrogen-filled tyres and an equal amount who feel that regular compressed air works just fine.

Personal tyre maintenance

If you are someone who keeps a check on the vehicles tyre pressure weekly and tops up the air when needed, you won’t need nitrogen filled into your vehicles tyre. However, if you are someone who tops air pressure once a month or once in two months, then filling nitrogen in your vehicle's tyres will help you reap the benefits of it. If you constantly make long highway trips and most of your time is spent behind the wheel, then filling nitrogen in your vehicle's tyres will be a boon.

Yash Ramrakhyani from Palghar runs a big tyre shop which sells Apollo, Bridgestone, Continental, Michelin and Yokohama tyres for every vehicle from a scooter to a heavy duty tempo. He says, “I get an average of 300 customers a year who want nitrogen filled in their vehicle’s tyres. There was a big local demand in the area for nitrogen-filled tyres, hence my father and me invested in the nitrogen unit. Tyres don't get hot, and nitrogen level doesn't go down so fast is what I have heard from customers as feedback, but the fact that people think nitrogen levels in the tyre doesn't go down is false. Even nitrogen-filled tyres have to be checked for tyre pressure once a month.

Nitrogen myths busted

Myth 1: Your vehicle's mileage will increase.

Truth: Your vehicle’s mileage depends on a lot of factors, tyres being just one small part of that equation. Having nitrogen filled tyres only gives you the benefit of having a most constant tyre pressure. However compressed air and nitrogen filled tyres both will loose pressure after a certain amount of time.

Myth 2: Your vehicle's comfort will be better, it will be soft on bumps.

Truth: Compressed air or nitrogen filled tyres will react the same way when on bumpy roads. It is the rubber compound and the type of tyres that you have that will make a difference in the ride or drive quality. As long as you maintain the right air pressure in your vehicle's tyres, you’ll be good.

Myth 3: You won’t have to fill up the tyre pressure as frequently.

Truth: Well this is true. Nitrogen-filled tyres will retain the pressure in your vehicle's tyre for a longer time duration compared to tyres filled with compressed air. However, even nitrogen-filled tyres loose pressure over time and you have to get the pressure checked and topped up from time to time.

Myth 4: Your vehicle's tyre will last longer

Truth: The tyre on your vehicle rely on you to make sure you maintain the recommended air pressure inorder for it to do its job properly. Under inflated and over inflated tyres will wear out faster when compared to tyres that have been properly maintained.

Myth 5: The rims on your vehicle won't rust

Truth: There is some amount of truth in this. As nitrogen-filled tyres contain less or no water vapour, the moisture content in the tyre is less. Less moisture equals to less rust on the inside of the wheel. But that doesn’t stop the rest of the wheel from rusting due to everyday washing and climate conditions.

Myth 6: There are few tyre shops / fuel pumps that offer nitrogen.

Truth: Compressed air is mostly nitrogen gas. So even if you have nitrogen-filled tyres, but you’re running low on tyre pressure and there’s no nitrogen filling station around, you can still fill normal compressed air. It will not have any major impact on your vehicle's tyres. Maintaining the right tyre pressure is key.

The catch

The nitrogen that you get filled in your vehicle's tyres is not a 100% or even 99% pure nitrogen. A brand new or even an old tyre once deflated has some amount of air inside it. It is the atmospheric air that's already there all around us. So unless you drain all the air in the tyre out and refill it nitrogen and drain the tyre again 2-3 times, you’ll still be running your vehicle's tyres with 90% nitrogen and not 100% nitrogen. But even then you’re not guaranteed that your vehicle's tyres will be filled with 100% pure nitrogen. There is no way to measure how much nitrogen is there in your vehicle’s tyre. Nitrogen will cost you, whereas compressed air is free at most petrol pumps or Rs.1-2 at a tyre shop. Nitrogen costs on the other hand vary from place to place and the kind of machine they have. The machines that are at the tyre shops or petrol pumps that offer nitrogen, do not deliver pure 100% nitrogen! Some machines will have a percentage rating of how much nitrogen it provides to the tyre and some have no percentage levels at all. Filling nitrogen in your vehicle's tyres can cost you anywhere from Rs.150 for four tyres to Rs.50 per tyre and can go all the way up to Rs.1,500 for a set of four tyres.

Conclusion

Have you ever noticed that vehicle manufactureres never recommend nitrogen in their manuals or at their service centers. The reason behind this is your vehicle's tyres are manufactured to run on normal compressed air. As long as you maintain the right tyre pressure in your vehicle’s tyre, you’ll be fine.

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Tyres Europe has issued a formal response to the European Commission’s recent Omnibus proposal on Energy Labelling, urging a more cohesive strategy for regulatory simplification within the tyre labelling framework. While the industry association acknowledges the intent behind certain proposed amendments, it has identified several areas where the package could inadvertently introduce new complexities.

The proposed measures include promising steps towards digitalisation, such as the introduction of digital labels, the creation of a technical link between the EPREL database and the Digital Product Passport registry and the automation of label image generation within EPREL. These initiatives are seen as positive moves that could modernise the system and reduce certain administrative burdens for manufacturers.

However, Tyres Europe has expressed concern that other aspects of the proposal risk undermining these benefits. The potential empowerment of delegated acts to facilitate a label rescaling could generate fresh regulatory uncertainty and technical hurdles. Furthermore, the expansion of the Product Information Sheet, alongside the introduction of nested labels and additional EPREL requirements, threatens to increase administrative complexity without clear evidence that these changes would meaningfully aid consumer decision-making.

Citing recent data, Tyres Europe notes that consumer engagement with existing tools remains low, with only 39 percent of shoppers recalling the tyre label in 2024, a decline from 50 percent in 2017, and a mere 5 percent Tyres Europe Urges Cohesive Simplification in Omnibus Labelling Proposal having consulted the EPREL database. Given that the 2021 revision already rejected similar data requirements due to technical challenges, the association advocates for a targeted approach focused on improving consumer awareness and market incentives rather than adding new layers. Tyres Europe has affirmed its readiness to collaborate with the Commission to ensure the final framework delivers genuine simplification and supports a competitive European business environment.

Adam McCarthy, Secretary General, Tyres Europe, said, “The priority should be to make the existing tyre label better understood and used by consumers, not to add new layers of complexity that risk creating costs without changing purchasing behaviour. A simplification package should simplify.”

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Michelin North America, Inc. has announced a major reorganisation of its US manufacturing operations for the BFGoodrich Tires brand, a move that will consolidate production and impact approximately 1,200 workers in Alabama. The restructuring, set to begin later this year, will centralise nearly all BFGoodrich production at the company’s Fort Wayne, Indiana, facility. Consequently, operations at the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, site will undergo a phased wind-down starting in early 2027, with a projected completion date by the end of 2028.

In alignment with its corporate values, Michelin is emphasising a supportive transition for affected staff. The company temporarily paused Tuscaloosa operations to commence direct discussions with employees, with normal production scheduled to resume on 29 June 2026. No job separations are expected for several months as transition plans are finalised, and the company will engage union leaders to determine separation benefits for wage employees in accordance with the existing collective bargaining agreement and federal regulations.

The decision stems from structural inefficiencies at both plants, which are operating well below designed capacity. Simultaneously, the BFGoodrich brand faces increasing competitive pressures in the recreational and off-road tyre segment despite maintaining a robust market share and a strong performance reputation. Company leadership determined that consolidating production at Fort Wayne is essential to establishing a more efficient industrial framework to secure the brand’s long-term viability.

As tyre production and rubber-mixing activities gradually decrease over the next two years, Michelin North America intends to partner with public and private entities to identify new purposes for the Tuscaloosa site. This collaborative effort reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to the community’s future prosperity, ensuring that stewardship of the facility remains a priority even as its current manufacturing role concludes.

Terry Redmile, Michelin’s Senior Vice President for Manufacturing Operations in the Americas, said, “Because of the dedication of our teams in Tuscaloosa, BFGoodrich Tires is celebrated as a pioneering American brand, and an enduring symbol of car and truck culture. Due to the size, footprint and infrastructure of the Fort Wayne factory, that site is better positioned to consolidate the capacity and meet future demands for the success of BFGoodrich Tires. Unfortunately, we could not identify any feasible structure that would enable us to continue operating in Tuscaloosa while also supporting long-term value creation across our factories in North America.” 

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Dow will invest approximately USD 100 million by the end of 2027 to expand its specialty silicones manufacturing and research capabilities in the US, China and Japan, as the chemicals group seeks to meet rising demand from the mobility, electronics and healthcare sectors.

The investments will increase production capacity for liquid silicone rubber and engineered silicone materials, while also expanding research facilities focused on thermal management technologies.

The company said the projects would strengthen regional supply chains and support customers through local manufacturing and technical capabilities.

“These investments underscore Dow’s focus on scaling specialty silicones materials and bringing innovation closer and faster to our customers,” said Brendy Lange, president of Performance Materials & Coatings. “By expanding manufacturing and innovation capabilities in these strategic regions, we are investing to meet increasing consumer demand, strengthening our global supply chain capabilities, and enabling customers to move faster from innovation to commercialisation.”

Dow plans to expand liquid silicone rubber manufacturing facilities in Carrollton, Kentucky, and Zhangjiagang, China. The facilities are expected to begin operations in 2027 and will support applications in mobility, electronics and healthcare.

The company is also increasing capacity for engineered silicone materials used in electronics applications, including power electronics, semiconductor packaging, thermal management and electrical protection.

New capacity in Songjiang, China, and Fukui, Japan, is scheduled to come on stream this year. Additional expansions in Auburn, Michigan, and Zhangjiagang are expected to be completed in 2027.

Dow expanded its Cooling Science Labs in Shanghai earlier this year and opened additional facilities in Midland, Michigan, in June. The facilities are intended to support the development and scale-up of thermal management technologies.

The investments complete the series of silicones projects outlined during Dow’s 2024 investor day. The company said project timelines had been updated to reflect market conditions and affordability considerations.

Dow said demand for specialty silicones continues to grow in mobility, electronics and medical applications, where supply reliability, technical support and product performance remain important considerations.

In mobility and electronics markets, the expanded capabilities are intended to support applications including mobility intelligence modules, data centres, microelectronics, energy electronics, consumer electronics components and advanced safety systems.

In medical applications, the company said regional manufacturing capabilities support local supply requirements for regulated products.

Dow said local manufacturing and technical support would help customers improve supply reliability, accelerate commercialisation and meet evolving qualification requirements.

The company said its integrated silicones manufacturing network across the Americas, Europe and Asia positions it to serve growing demand in specialty materials markets.

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CEAT Kelani Holdings has been recognised as the Best Tyre Manufacturer in the Component Manufacturer category at Sri Lanka’s inaugural Automobile Industry Awards, a distinction that underscores its dominant role within the nation’s expanding vehicle assembly sector. The awards, organised by the newly established Automobile Industry Council, were presented during a formal ceremony at Temple Trees, drawing a distinguished audience of government ministers, senior bureaucrats and key industry stakeholders.

The company’s commanding presence is particularly evident in the original equipment segment, where it supplies tyres for over 90 percent of all vehicles assembled domestically. Since initiating its original equipment supply chain in 2012, CEAT Kelani has grown to become the preferred partner for assemblers, delivering more than 150,000 tyres annually for a broad spectrum of vehicles, from passenger cars to commercial trucks. Its products are now fitted as standard equipment on more than 30 locally assembled models across 11 international brands.

This position of strength is further validated by the company’s attainment of the IATF 16949:2016 certification, marking it as the first tyre manufacturer in Sri Lanka to achieve this globally respected automotive quality standard. The tyres supplied to vehicle makers undergo exhaustive validation processes, demonstrating superior outcomes in critical areas such as safety, braking performance and durability while also exhibiting low rolling resistance to improve driving efficiency.

Beyond its industrial achievements, CEAT Kelani contributes substantially to the national economy by conserving foreign exchange through import substitution and sustaining the livelihoods of over 10,000 rubber cultivator families through domestic natural rubber sourcing. The Automobile Industry Council, which hosted the awards, functions as a private-sector-led entity established with government support to foster sustainable growth and collaboration between public and private stakeholders.

The inaugural awards ceremony forms part of the Council's broader mission to promote global best practices and governance standards within the local industry. As Sri Lanka's leading tyre brand, the company sells over 1.2 million tyres annually and maintains a presence in more than 110 countries, including US and Europe.

Ranked as the country's most valuable tyre brand by Brand Finance, CEAT Kelani has invested over INR 8.5 billion in Sri Lanka over the past decade, with a further INR 4.5 billion recently committed. The manufacturer supplies approximately half of Sri Lanka's automotive tyre demand while exporting around 20 percent of its output to 16 nations, reinforcing its status as a vital contributor to the national economy.

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