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Compressed air -the traditional medium for tire inflation- contains both nitrogen and oxygen molecules. A tire is essentially a rubber membrane through which these molecules permeate. Unfortunately, oxygen leaks up to four times faster than nitrogen. Oxygen also oxidizes the rubber compounds in tires, causing deterioration from the inside out.
Regular compressed air is also typically prone to condensation, foreign particulates, and other contaminants. Once inside a tire, these can
cause further deterioration to the rubber compounds, rim, and calve stem core. If all this leakage, oxidation, and deterioration goes unchecked, under-inflation occurs, creating a host of problems such as excessive tire wear, reduced gas mileage, or worse... the risk of dangerous blow outs.
Government and industry studies suggest roughly 60 percent of tire blowouts are caused by under-inflated tires. When you consider that an estimated four to every five vehicles on the road today are riding on under-inflated tires, there's danger all around us.
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