NitroFill Auto Club

One of the automotive industry’s most comprehensive service programs is now available free to consumers who purge the air from car and truck tires and re-inflate with NitroFill™ nitrogen. With the conversion, vehicle owners automatically receive a one-year membership in the NitroFill Auto Club and are entitled to many benefits and privileges.

Club membership provides 24-hour emergency services, including:

• Towing to a destination of the vehicle owners choice
• Roadside service throughout the United States and Canada
• Delivery of gasoline, oil, or other necessary fluids
• Boost for dead batteries
• Tire repair for flats caused by road hazards

The NitroFill Auto Club also offers valuable travel services to its members at no charge:

• Lost key or lockout assistance
• Discounts on hotels, airfare, and rental cars
• Trip routing materials that include turn by turn directions, enhanced maps, information on points of interest, and games for kids
• $300 reimbursement for meals, lodging, and transportation costs incurred as a result of a collision away from home
• $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for hit & run damage or theft of the member’s vehicle

“Consumers convert to NitroFill not only to save on gas and tire tread wear, but also for the safety and peace-of-mind it provides,” said Jay Lighter, president of Kreska Technologies, Inc., the sole worldwide distributor of NitroFill. “The NitroFill Auto Club takes that a step further, with members knowing there is always a backup plan if something goes wrong while on the road.”

NitroFill, the high quality refined nitrogen product used by the United States Air Force in every tire of the nation’s fleet of B-2 bombers, is available at authorized dealers throughout the U.S. It is scientifically proven to increase gas mileage, improve vehicle performance and handling, extend tread life and retain optimal tire pressure.

To learn more about the NitroFill Auto Club, its benefits and restrictions, visit www.whynitrofill.com.

FordDirect selects NitroFill for more than 4,500 dealerships

Kreska Technologies Inc., the worldwide distributor of NitroFill nitrogen inflation equipment, has signed an agreement to supply FordDirect with nitrogen generation equipment and inflation products. FordDirect is a joint venture between Ford Motor Co. and its Ford franchised dealers.

The agreement enables more than 4,500 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover dealers in the United States to access pricing and billing options available only to those affiliated with the Ford brand.

"With the significant increases in the price of gasoline and the fear of accidents due to under inflated and worn out tires, consumers are demanding solutions," says Leo Hillock, FordDirect's executive vice president for dealer relations and development. "We were impressed with NitroFill's comprehensive approach and expect nitrogen tire inflation to be embraced by our dealers and customers at service facilities."

According to Jay Lighter, president of Kreska Technologies, NASCAR teams have inflated their tires with nitrogen instead of air for years. NitroFill is used by the United States Air Force in every tire of the nation's fleet of B-2 bombers, he adds.

For more information on NitroFill and the benefits of nitrogen-inflated tires, visit whynitrofill.com

Inflating tires with nitrogen boosts mileage

Many motorists seeking to improve their mileage as gas prices soar this summer are examining everything -- right down to the air in their tires. And for a growing number, plain old air isn't good enough.

George Bourque of Fairfield, Maine, is one of those who's driving around on tires filled with pure nitrogen, the same stuff that NASCAR racers use.

Bourque, an engineer, said he has seen a 1 to 1.5 mile-per-gallon increase since he began filling his tires with nitrogen, which is touted as maintaining tire pressure longer and resisting heat buildup on hot days.

"I analyze everything," he said.

Nitrogen has been used for years in the tires of race cars, large commercial trucks, aircraft and even the space shuttle.

But it is finding its way into the mainstream at a growing number of tire dealers -- including Costco Wholesale Corp.

Nationwide, fewer than 10 percent of tire dealers offer nitrogen, but the number is growing, said Bob Ulrich, editor of Modern Tire Dealer magazine in Akron, Ohio. Most dealers charge $2 to $5 per tire for the nitrogen fill-up, he said. The dealers generally offer free lifetime refills.

Bourque got his tires -- filled with nitrogen -- in Waterville, Maine, at Tire Warehouse, which has 50 tire dealerships across New England. The nitrogen was part of an installation package when Bourque bought a set of tires.

Skeptics will question how much can be gained by filling tires with pure nitrogen when the air we breathe is 78 percent nitrogen.

The differences are subtle, but important, said Steve McGrath, Tire Warehouse's vice president of marketing in Keene, N.H.

Nitrogen molecules are bigger than oxygen molecules, so nitrogen seeps out more slowly from tires than air; nitrogen resists heat buildup better than air, which contains moisture; and nitrogen reduces oxidation, which can damage the tire from the inside out, proponents say. Nitrogen is an inert gas, so there are no safety or environmental issues.

Those advantages are important in vehicles equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems, which are sensitive to changes in tire pressure, McGrath said.

With or without nitrogen, proper inflation is the key to improving gas mileage. Motorists can improve gas mileage by 3.3 percent simply by keeping their tires properly inflated, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

In the real world, though, only 1 in 5 motorists check tire pressure regularly, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Nitrogen, therefore, could have an advantage for those who don't check their tire pressure regularly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has no opinion on nitrogen, but it does encourage motorists to keep their tires properly inflated, both for safety and to boost gas mileage, said spokesman Rae Tyson. Severely underinflated tires are dangerous, especially for sport utility vehicles and light trucks, Tyson noted.

Tire experts at Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, neither endorse nor object to the use of nitrogen in tires.

"Nitrogen is certainly safe to use in tires, and theoretically it does offer some benefits," spokesman Douglas Love said from Yonkers, N.Y.

Bourque's gas mileage was about 19 mpg when he purchased his five-cylinder 2005 Chevrolet Colorado. Now, with the engine broken in and new tires filled with nitrogen, he gets 20.5 to 22 mpg depending on whether he runs the air conditioner, he said.

Marty Mailhot, manager of the Tire Warehouse in Topsham, Maine, has a retort for those who pooh-pooh the notion of paying for nitrogen when there's plenty of free air for the taking.

"I say, `Why are you drinking that bottled water when there's a pond out back?' " he said.

Nitrogen Options in Charlotte

Nitrogen tire technology isn't widespread yet, but a few shops in Charlotte do offer the service.

Costco on Tyvola offers the service free of charge to members who have purchased Costco tires, according to Chip Smith, tire center manager.

Hendrick Honda on South Boulevard offers NitroFill service, now $19.95 for all four tires, but for Honda vehicles only.

John Currie, manager of Griffin Tire in Cornelius, didn't know of many independent shops and dealerships that offer nitrogen.

"It is fairly new technology, and fairly expensive," Currie said, noting that Griffin would like to use the technology when it becomes more affordable.

Roadside Assistance Plan to Aid NitroFill Consumers

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. Filling a vehicle's tires with NitroFill(TM) is a great way to increase fuel economy, tire life and safety. Now, there is another important reason for drivers to convert from air to the nation's first comprehensive nitrogen tire inflation program.

NitroFill's Roadside Assistance Plan, which comes free with every purchase at participating dealers, guarantees that if a tire goes flat, even from a road hazard, within 12 months, the company will send a service vehicle to change the tire or provide towing to a facility of the customer's choice and provide reimbursement (up to $60) for the needed work. The roadside assistance hotline -- (877) 216-4097 -- is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

"We are focused on value and safety and feel the NitroFill program offers that to consumers," said Jay Lighter, president of Kreska Technologies, Inc., the sole worldwide distributor of NitroFill. "Our unique equipment and inflation process provide a verifiable concentration of pure nitrogen, in the serviced tire, in excess of 95%, meaning tires stay properly inflated, increasing fuel savings and decreasing tread wear. On the rare occasion when a problem arises, the Roadside Assistance Plan insures drivers receive prompt service and money back."

Automotive experts agree that meeting the 95% in-tire standard is critical to realizing the benefits of nitrogen tire inflation, which include increased gas mileage, improved performance and handling, extended tread life, and better retention of tire pressure than those filled with air.

Should you give nitrogen away or charge for it?

Free versus fee: Should you give nitrogen away or charge for it? Two dealerships take opposite positions but still use nitrogen inflation to make money

One dealership is among the largest independent tire store chains in North America with more than 70 retail stores. The other is much smaller, with only two retail outlets.

One started filling passenger and light truck tires with nitrogen last month. The other began offering inflation more than a year-and-a-half ago.

One includes nitrogen in its out-the-door price. The other charges a separate fee for it.

The first dealership is Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire Distributors. The second is West End Tire of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Both companies offer nitrogen inflation as a way to differentiate themselves from competitors in their respective, ultra-competitive markets. But their philosophy behind selling -- or not selling -- the service is quite different.

'Nitrogen is a complement'

Belle Tire doesn't charge extra for nitrogen. It's part of the dealership's final tire price, along with mounting, balancing, valve stems and tire disposal.

"We're in the business of selling tires, not nitrogen," says Belle Tire Vice President Jeff Kruse. "Nitrogen is just a complement to the tire."

Belle Tire launched its nitrogen program at 75 stores throughout Michigan and Ohio on April 17.

"We look at it as a way to drive value. You're providing (customers) with a benefit over inflating a tire with regular air."

Most tire dealerships that offer nitrogen "look at it as a profit center. That's a positive way to look at many things, but if you have a product or a service that provides a lot of value to consumers and helps a tire achieve what it should, then you should provide it to them."

Belle Tire looked at a variety of nitrogen inflation machine suppliers before deciding to use equipment made by Ingersoll-Rand Co. Ltd.

The dealership was impressed with Ingersoll-Rand's "wherewithal to accomplish a project of this size and their ability to accomplish the specifications that we set forth."

Those specifications went above and beyond the standard nitrogen set-up.

Belle Tire asked Ingersoll-Rand to pipe lines from nitrogen generators into and through all of the dealership's tire machines "so our staff doesn't have a choice but to put nitrogen into tires," according to Kruse.

"That way, we get 100% inflation with nitrogen in every tire we mount."

Installation of equipment and ancillary items at the 75 stores took about six weeks and cost "very many hundreds of thousands of dollars."

The inflation machines themselves are not complex, he says. "They have a series of filters that have to be routinely changed and a large membrane that could need service if your air system doesn't have a dryer or injects oil into it. Our people are prepared to make changes on the filters."

Belle Tire began testing nitrogen in late 2004 via a pilot program at one of its outlets without any kind of marketing push.

During the test program, salespeople sold the concept simply by describing its benefits.

"Most customers don't understand the science (behind nitrogen inflation) and really don't want to understand. They just want to know what the benefits are. Once they understand the benefits, then they're excited by it."

Belle Tire does not charge for nitrogen top-offs.

"The product is free to any customer who purchases a tire from Belle Tire or has purchased a tire in the past from (us). We hope there are customers out there who may be planning on buying tires from a competitor who will instead choose to buy from us because (even though) it's the same tire and the same price, they will derive more value by purchasing from us."

Belle Tire has launched a major electronic advertising campaign to publicize that it now offers nitrogen. The campaign includes information about the service on Belle Tire's corporate Web site.

The company has created "very Dick and Jane" point-of-sale materials for salespeople to give to customers. It also has come up with its own term for nitrogen inflation: "Nitro-Nize."

"How do you differentiate your nitrogen from the other guy's nitrogen? You can't. Nitrogen is so generic, it means nothing to the customer. But Nitro-Nize sounds like it has a lot of energy and science behind it."

Belle Tire will trademark the term. "It's a marketing tool."

West End Tire doesn't have the economies of scale that Belle Tire enjoys. But it has become a nitrogen inflation leader in its own market.

"We're strong on service and nitrogen is part of the total package," says West End Tire Sales Manager Charlie Pantel.

West End Tire doesn't give nitrogen away. It charges a healthy $5 per tire for inflation.

The dealership -- which also offers nitrogen for trucking fleets -- added the service to its menu in October 2004 after seeing it done at a local Costco Wholesale outlet.

It wasn't a snap decision, says Pantel. "We probably did five to six months of research on the Internet and asked questions of different (equipment) companies. We figured it would be something we could offer to our customers as an added benefit."

Nobody else in Winnipeg was filling tires with nitrogen at the time. West End Tire began testing the service at both of its retail stores. "We went all out. We equipped both locations with generators made by Parker Hannifin Corp.

"We pretty well decided we were going ahead with this after two months of investigation."

Pantel says the dealership didn't know where to start when it came to pricing. "We talked to some dealers in the States who were equipped with nitrogen. They gave us the price they were going with and we took a chance.

"When we first got the equipment, we did some radio ads, the local newspaper -- a very hard marketing push. We were getting customers calling us and saying, 'I don't need tires but I'm very interested in this nitrogen. Can you tell me about it?' It created some excitement."

With that came consumer questions. Some customers worried that nitrogen was flammable. "Lots of people also figured this was a product that's separate from air and that we actually have to buy it.

"About a month ago, we had an individual come in for a tour of our facility and at the same time showed him our nitrogen generator. He said, 'Where do you keep the bottles of nitrogen?' We said, 'It's all compressed air going through the filters and eliminating the oxygen.'"

West End Tire doesn't charge for topping off with nitrogen. But it does charge to fill tires that were bought somewhere else. "If you buy the tires down the street and (the seller) doesn't offer nitrogen... we have no problem with you coming over and seeing us."

Filling tires with nitrogen is almost 100% profit. The only cost, says Pantel, is equipment maintenance, which he calls "minimal." West End Tire will continue to charge for it. "We believe that you get what you pay for with us. Nitrogen is an added service. "When we give the (price) to customers they hardly ever blink an eye. If we explain the benefits -- which takes about two minutes -- nine times out of 10 we get the sale."

What happens when two hot trends converge? How nitrogen interacts with tire pressure monitoring systems

Some four million cars on the road today are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems. More independent tire dealers are filling tires with nitrogen. What impact will nitrogen have on tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensors?

None, says Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of education and technical services for the Tire Industry Association.

"According to TPMS sensor manufacturers, nitrogen won't affect the life of the sensor one bit.

"Nitrogen affects the need for air pressure maintenance. You're not going to have to adjust (psi levels) as often if you have nitrogen because it bleeds out slower (than air)."

At the end of the day, TPMS sensors read compressed gas, according to Rohlwing. "You could fill a tire with propane, and the sensors would read propane."

Not just for consumer tires anymore: Nitrogen also benefits OTR and medium truck tires

The benefits of filling commercial truck tires with nitrogen are the same as filling passenger and light truck tires with nitrogen, says Steve Motta, who works in product development for Orlando, Fla.-based Vehicle Inspection Systems Inc., which sells nitrogen inflation equipment for commercial applications.

"It boils down to two things: reduced maintenance and improved tire life. You spend less time checking your tires (and you) top off your tires less frequently.

"The improved tire life component is linked with improved fuel economy by maintaining pressure in the tire more accurately and not running under-inflated. Tires will last longer and fuel consumption will be at ideal levels.

"Also, putting nitrogen in tires will help preserve casing life because rubber is less prone to oxidization. As conventional air flows through rubber, it ages and deteriorates the rubber, and nitrogen won't do that."

Motta believes that nitrogen inflation is better suited for small trucking fleets. "Some of the smaller fleets are quicker to adapt because they have one maintenance location."

OTR tires also benefit from nitrogen inflation, says Bill Gibson, marketing manager for ARI-HETRA, a nitrogen equipment manufacturer in Manassas, Va.

"If you're in a mine where flammability (is a risk), you might want to fill a big tire with nitrogen."

Parker Hannifin Corp. is taking commercial tire nitrogen inflation one step further with its new Mobile TireSaver system that's designed for outdoor use on service trucks.

"The (machine's) membrane has stable performance versus temperature changes," says Parker Hannifin Account Manager David Konnaughton. "You can use it in sub-zero temperatures."

The unit is ideal for inflation at truck yards, he says. "For a commercial dealer to offer nitrogen in his shop is one-half of the equation. A good amount of his business is in the fleet yard."

Winnipeg, Manitoba-based West End Tire is testing nitrogen with a local trucking company. The dealership has filled tires with nitrogen in about 75 tractors and 100 to 125 trailers and is monitoring fuel consumption, mileage and irregular wear due to inconsistent inflation pressure levels, says West End Tire Sales Manager Charlie Pantel.

He says the test will yield data that his employees can share with customers at the retail counter. The theory is that whatever a trucking fleet saves with nitrogen, retail buyers "will save a proportionate amount," according to Pantel.

Got nitrogen?: If not, here's where to get it

The following companies manufacture or market their own nitrogen tire inflation equipment:

Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Allentown, Pa., (610) 481-4911, www.airproducts.com. Product: UltraFill nitrogen tire inflation systems

ARI-HETRA/Automotive Resources Inc., Manassas, Va., (800) 562-3250, www.ari-hetra.com. Product: N2 Complete Filling Station

Atlas Copco, Westfield, Mass., (877) COPCO-N2, www.atlascopco.us. Product: GN Dual Output inflation system

Branick Industries Inc., Fargo, N.D., (701) 281-8888, www.branick.com. Product: Branick Nitrogen Tire Inflation System

Champion/Gardner Denver Inc., Princeton, Ill., (815) 875-3321 www.gardnerdenver.com. Product: Nitrogen Advantage tire inflation system

Golden Chest International Ltd./Coseng Automotive Equipment Ltd., Hong Kong, (852) 2851-9211, www.coseng.com.cn. Product: G-LN nitrogen generators

Ingersoll-Rand Co. Ltd., Annandale, N.J., (800) 376-TOOL, www.irtools.com. Product: Ingersoll Rand Nitrogen Generator

Mohawk Rubber Sales of N.E. Inc., Hingham, Mass., (800) 242-1446, www.mohawkrubber.com. Product: Mohawk Rubber L401

NitroFill/Kreska Technologies Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla., (954) 788-8748, www.nitrofillnow.com. Product: NitroFill

Nitronics Systems Inc., Lafayette, Colo., (303) 604-1187, www.nitronics.com. Product: TireLast Nitrogen Station

N2Revolution Inc., Sunrise, Fla., (954) 741-4278, www.purigen98.com. Product: PurigeN98

On Site Gas Systems Inc., Newington, Conn., (860) 667-8888, www.onsitegas.com. Product: TF Pro Series

Parker Hannifin Corp., Haverhill, Mass., (800) 343-4048, www.parkertiresaver.com. Product: Parker TireSaver Nitrogen Generator

Quincy Compressor/Enpro Industries Inc., Quincy, Ill., (217) 222-7700, www.quincycompressor.com. Product: N2Gen Defender Series

RTI Technologies, York, Pa., (800) 468-2321, www.rtitech.com. Product: RTI NitroPro

Tire Service Equipment Manufacturing Co. Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., (800) 223-4540, www.tsissg.com. Product: TSI Nitrogen Generators

Vehicle Inspection Systems Inc., Orlando, Fla., (800) 219-6256, www.visnitro.com. Product: VIS Nitro

Pompano Beach firm builds on nitrogen technology

This product isn't just a lot of hot air.

As of March 22, more than 100 dealers are offering Jay Lighter's nitrogen-based alternative to tire inflation. The product purports its 95 percent pure nitrogen delivers better gas mileage, improved performance and handling, extended tread life and requires less maintenance than those filled with just air, Lighter said.

The NitroFill program, distributed by Pompano Beach-based Kreska Technologies, is a key component in inspiring customer loyalty, a huge focus in the auto service industry, said Lighter, the company's president, who also runs EF Tire and Auto Repair in the same city.

"We need a Web guy," said Lighter, whose business, launched in July, is looking to already expand. "We are looking for sales people all the time."

Lighter, who sells mostly to auto dealers such as Fort Lauderdale-based AutoNation (NYSE: AN), said that, starting at $3,000, the company provides a turnkey system that includes generator, on-site product and sales training, e-mail service reminders, regional and national marketing, product development and industry newsletters and use of business analysis software.

Car dealers have quickly jumped on board using the product, Lighter said, while tire dealers are taking a back seat, waiting for people to demand it.

AutoNation, for example, is "preloading new cars with NitroFill," he said.

Nitrogen has been the choice for tire inflation of NASCAR, Formula One, the Tour de France, the U.S. military, even the Moon Buggy, the company said. With consumers still leery of recent Firestone tire explosions, Lighter hopes to capitalize on the growing trend for tire safety.

"It makes sense to have a government mandate that tires are filled with nitrogen; it's so much safer," said Lighter, adding that most of the Firestone blowouts were the result of low tire pressure.

One industry trade organization and one major tire manufacturer appear to support Lighter's business model. The Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB) said nitrogen inflation helps optimize tire costs while providing environmental benefits.

TRIB, a nonprofit, member-supported industry association dedicated to tire maintenance and the recycling of tires through retreading and repairing, said the most-critical factor for maximizing tire life and minimizing the chance of catastrophic tire failure is maintaining the proper inflation pressure for a given tire size and load. Properly inflated tires not only last longer, but also are safer, TRIB said.

"One way to help maintain proper tire inflation is to fill tires with nitrogen, instead of compressed air. Nitrogen allows a tire to retain more of its original properties."

Less pressure loss, longer tread life

Among the benefits of nitrogen inflation:

• less inflation pressure loss for a more stable
• consistent tire pressure
• cooler-running tires
• longer tread life
• less oxidation of tire components; and reduced rim and wheel corrosion

The result is increased tire life, improved fuel economy, reduced tire aging and a more durable casing for improved retreadability.

Tires inflated with air tend to run hotter and fluctuate in pressure more, according to a Bridgestone tire FAQ: "That's why racing tires, where fractions of PSI can radically change handling, are inflated with dry nitrogen."

Lighter said his focus is on the benefits to dealers such as tires shops, auto repair centers, car dealerships and quick service centers like Jiffy Lube. His product is now in more than 100 dealerships, he said, declining to reveal current revenue, though adding he recently inked several distribution deals.

South Florida is his busiest region, Lighter said, followed by North Carolina, California and Pennsylvania.

"It's pretty hard pavement pounding," he said. "People don't call up and ask for things like this. The industry understands how valuable it is, but they have struggled to make a business case for it."