17/09/2026
Why do aircraft tires use nitrogen instead of regular air? It all comes down to handling the extremes of the flight envelope. Regular compressed air contains moisture, which poses serious risks in aviation. At high altitudes, that moisture can freeze, and during the intense thermal energy buildup of a heavy landing or rejected takeoff (RTO), it can expand rapidly and spike tire pressure. By utilizing pure, dry nitrogen, operators ensure stable inflation pressures across massive temperature differentials, eliminate internal wheel corrosion, and mitigate the risk of tire explosions by removing oxygen from the equation.