Fleets can prolong tyre life, boost fuel economy and improve the road safety of their company cars and vans by inflating tyres with nitrogen instead of air, claims a US transport body.

A study by the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said: “The primary result expected from nitrogen inflation is to enhance retention of tyre pressure over time, which will help maintain tyre performance properties such as rolling resistance, handling, and durability.”

Kwik-Fit Fleet offers company car and van drivers the option of having tyres filled with nitrogen at all of its 650 centres nationwide.

The inflation of tyres with gas mixtures containing more than 90% nitrogen has long been claimed to be beneficial to tyre performance.

However, tyres are typically inflated at dealerships and on garage forecourts with air that contains approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% other gases.

In the 90-day static laboratory NHSTA test, the inflation pressure loss for new tyres inflated with nitrogen was approximately two-thirds of the loss rate of new tyres inflated with air.

The average 90-day pressure loss rate for tyres inflated with air was 2.13% per month, and the average for tyres inflated with gas containing 95-99% nitrogen the loss was 1.39% per month.

Mike Wise, head of Kwik-Fit Fleet, said: “Research shows that correctly inflated tyres can last for up to 25% longer, and also improve fuel economy by up to 5%.”