Hi all

 

I have recently advised my insurance company of a change of vehicle to a superb. One of the things I discussed innocently was the use of nitrogen in tyres. The insurance company stated that they would not insure if nitrogen was in the tyres. I was rather surprised of this statement for the past 5 or so years my previous car had tyres filled with nitrogen of which they approved to insure. I appreciate that it is strange to hear them say yes to one vehicle but no to another.  Does anyone know the legal aspect of this please I am assuming as many tyre companies use nitrogen only. I am aware that both AA and RAC approve tyres being filled nitrogen as opposed to air. If insurance companies will not insure then who will pick up the tab in the event of an accident, the tyre company for the compulsory first use or the driver for not requesting air? Thanks in advance for your comments

How will they know?

I've never seen anyone test for what air you have in your tyres? Frankly, just put something that isn't concrete into the tyres and you'll be fine.



Besides... what's the difference between 78% Nitrogen and not quite 100% Nitrogen in terms of what's in your car tyres?

You're also assuming that they first suck all the air out of the tyre before filling it. Most will just top up with nitrogen.

You probably got an idiot call handler who thinks its a modification and has instructions to decline them. Ring them up again and if you get bother again speak to their supervisor.

I'm guessing that they didn't understand what you were talking to them about as if they did they would know that nitrogen will keep a more constant pressure than normal air and that's why F1 teams use it.

 

Whether its as good as the extortionately priced air you buy at a garage forecourt is another matter

The insurance company stated that they would not insure if nitrogen was in the tyres.

 

I wonder if that was the actual wording, considering that every car on road has a fair percentage of nitrogen in it's tyres.

I took the nitrogen out of mine to keep my insurance company happy. Now I just have oxygen and co2 in them - much safer!

Edited 16 April, 201412 yr by StevesTruck

As someone else has eluded to, perhaps the call handler was confused between Nitrogen and Nitrous oxide

As someone else has eluded to, perhaps the call handler was confused between Nitrogen and Nitrous oxide

Now there's a laugh

Some insurers don't like to insure cars where the tyres should only be filled with Nitrogen, such as the Nissan GTR. When I was checking insurance for mine, I was told by one insurer that the reasoning behind this was that, if a tyre blew out and an accident occurred, the contents of the tyre would be gone so they had no way of confirming what the tyre had been filled with. I told them they were mental and I would look elsewhere.

Ask them to put in writing that you aren't allowed nitrogen in your tyres and then ask them for a list of places where they can be filled without it.

Should be interesting to see what they do.

Will the Nitrogen have to be Skoda Approved, it may affect your warranty    :yes:

I wonder if that was the actual wording, considering that every car on road has a fair percentage of nitrogen in it's tyres.

 

On the basic assumption that a normal tyre pump is just drawing in from the atmosphere, that "fair percentage" is 78%.

 

What you breathe is basically: 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and the remaining 1% is assorted other elements.

Maybe the person on the phone didn't pay attention in Chemistry lessons and is getting Nitrogen confused with Hydrogen

OMG Mine are filled with Air.

That's 80% Nitrogen. Where can I get Nitrogen free air to keep my insurer happy?

 

Facetious comments aside  -

 

1- There s no way they would ever bother to check or would be able to check after an accident.

2 - For the road it's snake oil. For F1 I'll give you that it might make a difference but for you and me it only makes our wallets lighter.

When you mentioned snake oil I thought Jay Leno and remembered this thread http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/198951-nitrogen/

Why not use helium? Then if on a long car journey you notice that you and your passengers are suddenly speaking with very squeaky voices it probably means your spare has a slow puncture

Just as they can choose who they insure you can choose who you insure with. End of [emoji3]

Regards all

Juan

Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

Thank you to all who have both added a response and to those of you who have read this thread. The latest news is that the insurance company have put in writing that the use of nitrogen is now permitted and will not affect the policy. 

 

I have decided that when the policy is due for renewal I will be changing the insurance provider

Excellent. Glad they have seen sense.

Which insurer?

Car rubber is probably  a lot more permeable to Helium (it's a small molecule)..... Nitrogen weighs 7 times more....

 

Apparently Nitrogen finds tyre rubber less permeable than air....go figure.

Aw - too late :-)

Aw - too late :-)

Thats only a Nitrogen top up at best. To actually fill it, they'd have to take the tyre off, suck all the air out then refill.

Thats only a Nitrogen top up at best. To actually fill it, they'd have to take the tyre off, suck all the air out then refill.

Yes mate!

They only suck out abt 90% of the air in the tyre

Then pump in pure nitrogen...