Tires are traditionally filled with either air or nitrogen. Nitrogen is a gas that is used in tires due to its many benefits. Nitrogen is very similar in terms of composition to another gas, Argon. So why don’t we hear more about the use of Argon for car tires?
Can you fill tires with Argon? The answer is yes! Argon shares similar properties to nitrogen, however it is a more expensive alternative. Argon is actually used in luxury vehicles and has many of the same benefits as its counterpart, nitrogen.
Argon isn’t as common as traditional air or nitrogen, but it does in fact have its benefits and drawbacks. Let’s take a closer look at what Argon is and how it performs when placed inside of a tire.
What is Argon?
Argon is one of the many noble gases on Earth and is also a chemical element that goes by the abbreviation of Ar. Argon makes up about 1% of Earth’s atmosphere and is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas.
Argon is most commonly used in welding or similar steel work. Argon is used to push away the air around the weld so oxygen isn’t able to bond the with the metal being welded.
Argon has many other uses as well such as uses in the poultry industry, extinguishing fires, a propellant in aerosol cans, and in our case, automobile tires.
Why is Argon Used in Tires?
Argon shares many of same benefits as nitrogen does in tires.
Improves Steering/Handling
Argon significantly improves the handling and steering of your car. The dense nature of argon helps to stiffen the sidewalls of your tires. This provides better stability and improves the grip of your tires.
This results in a better handling car than if you were to just use air.
Improves Braking
A properly inflated tire stops better than a tire that is underinflated. The same can be said when adding argon to your tires. A tire with argon is a lot more dense than a tire filled with air, thus improving the quality of braking.
Reduces Tire Noise
The faster a car travels, the louder the tires are. Argon works to reduce road noise by limiting the gaps between the tire and the rim.
This helps to create a better seal which in turn produces a quieter ride.
Increases MPG
Argon is much better at keeping heat and oxygen out of the tires. This means that your tire will be much cooler on the inside which can result in better fuel economy as less energy will be wasted as heat.
Also, since argon is much thicker than air and nitrogen, it is less likely to leak out of your tires. Having and keeping your tires properly inflated at the right amount of PSI helps to keep MPG high.
Which is Better Argon or Nitrogen?
Argon and nitrogen are very similar in their effects in tires. They are both much better in terms of performance when compared to air. The main drawback of Argon is the expensive price. It is much more expensive to put Argon in your tires than Nitrogen.
The cost to performance ratio makes Nitrogen the better choice. Not only is nitrogen cheaper, but it is also more easily obtained. Almost every tire shop or dealership will have nitrogen, but the same can’t be said with Argon.
There is a reason you see nitrogen in almost every tire shop and dealership. It’s much cheaper to produce and use, more easily obtained, and is very similar to air in terms of weight.
Argon is about 40% heavier per cubic foot than nitrogen which means it will be better at keeping out moisture and oxygen.
Can You Mix Nitrogen and Argon?
You can mix nitrogen and argon. They are very similar in terms of their effects, the only real difference is the weight. Argon is heavier than nitrogen. As we mentioned earlier, this can be good at keeping moisture and oxygen out.
Mixing nitrogen with argon is a good way to get the added benefits of the heavier gas, without adding in all the costs for pure argon.
Where Do You Get Your Tires Filled With Argon?
Getting your tires filled with Argon can be a difficult task. Not many tire shops or car dealerships have access to readily available argon for use in automobile tires.
Argon is mostly used in high end luxury cars, so your best bet is to call your local luxury car dealerships. A great way to find these shops is by using google maps or yelp in your area.
From here, you will be able to identify where your luxury car shops are located along with their contact numbers.
How Much Does It Cost to Have Tires Filled With Nitrogen?
Filling your car’s tires with nitrogen can cost about $5 to $10 per tire. This averages out to about $20 to $40 for your entire vehicle.
Argon is substantially more expensive, and also less accessible, so you can expect to pay anywhere between double to triple the cost to that of nitrogen.
Many luxury vehicles come standard with argon already in the tires, so it will be much cheaper to top off your tires than if you were to fully inflate them.
Final Thoughts
Although putting argon in your tires isn’t as common as air or nitrogen, it is definitely used. Many top of the line luxury vehicles use argon as a way to further enhance their specifications when it comes to increased handling, better fuel economy, and reduced road noise.
Finding a shop or dealership that deals with argon can be tricky. The best course of action is to locate all the luxury car dealers in your area using google maps or yelp. Contact them one by one and inquire about the use of argon.
Argon is much more expensive than using nitrogen. Expect the cost to be about two to three times as much.