Will nitrogen filled tires leak slower

JAVVA

MEMBER
2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA
2WD
AUTOMATIC
123,000 MILES

First of all, its the same car you helped me with previously.
I need new tires desperately! Someone told me if I get them nitrogen filled they won't leak as fast. Is that true and if it is where do you do that and how much and how long will that be good for? I can only afford to get 1 maybe 2 tires at a time and it depends on the price. I do know I will get all season, I won't get seasonal tires. Next, do all 4 have to be the same kind? I mean 2 and 2 will be but because I cant get them all at once maybe by the time I get the other 2 there might be a better deal on a different brand. Which leads me to ask you, where you would recommend good cheaper tires? Hope this makes sense. Thanks so much again.

3 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Hi again,

I assume you were referring to me as I think I am the only Kenny here. There is Ken who is the owner so if you were referring to him, I'm sorry you have to settle for me.

Let me start with the nitrogen. This does nothing to prevent leaks. The only thing is does is due to it being a different gas, it is not as susceptible to pressure changes due to temperature changes. So we all have seen when it gets cold that the air pressure light comes on because the pressure dropped. The tire didn't lose air it just lost pressure due to the temp. Nitrogen is not a drastic so the pressure remains more consistent.

As for doing two tires at time, that is fine since your vehicle is not an all wheel drive vehicle. However, I would never do just one tire. I would do two tires on the same axle. Meaning both fronts or both rears. In fact, I would look at all four tires and picked the best 2 and put them on the rear of the vehicle. Then put the two new tires up front.

Then when you go to buy 2 more in the future, rotate the tires from the front to the rear and put those two new ones on the front.

As for different brands, it is not that big of a deal but I would try to stay with the same tire. If you happen to get two of one brand and two of another, keep them on the same axle. So the front should match each other and the rear should match each other.

The only reason you can get away with this is, again, you have a 2WD vehicle.

As for where to buy them, there is no one answer because companies always have sales so you will just have to shop around. With President's day coming (assuming you are in the USA) you should be able to find a deal.

Hopefully I answered your questions. Let me know if I missed something.