A Volvo and Mercedes-Benz fleet operator has begun using nitrogen as an environmentally-friendly and cost effective tyre inflation medium.

Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Services, which has a fleet of 630 Volvos and Mercedes-Benz, replaced conventional compressed air in a tyre with nitrogen because of its inert properties and its resistance to expanding or contracting in relation to tyre temperatures.

Police statistics show that in 86 per cent of car crashes and major incidents, tyre pressures have been found to be a contributing factor.

Tristar’s fleet resources manager, Janusz Kozlowski, said: “We were looking for a solution which made it easier for our chauffeurs to check and replenish their tyres.

"Because we have our own workshops here, we had been noticing for some time that when our cars were returning to us for servicing there were sometimes some variations in the tyre pressures."

The company is predicting a 5% cost saving on fuel and tyre life over and above the safety and environmental benefits.