Costco Membership Perk: Free Nitrogen Tire Refills
Did you know about this unique perk of a Costco membership?
Costco is making it easier for members to quickly top off their own tires with nitrogen refills whenever needed. The warehouse club has been installing nitrogen tire refill stations in its parking lots, and these are FREE for members to use!
Filling your tires with nitrogen is better for pressure retention than compressed air and can make your tires last longer and improve the fuel economy of your vehicle!
Look for the complimentary inflation stations (usually located near the Tire Center) and park under one of the signs for “Tire Inflation Parking Only.” Follow the instructions listed on the station, and then you’re ready to get back on the road. Easy peasy!
These stations are for use by Costco members only. If you’re not a member, snag a Costco membership today!
Get even more perks when you buy tires from Costco!
When members buy tires from Costco, the club’s Installation Package also includes lifetime maintenance services like inflation pressure checks, tire balancing, tire rotations, and flat tire repairs.
How’s does it know you are a member or not
You have to insert your membership card before using
No
Nitrogen?….nice!!!! I can fill up my paintball tank for free!!!
This is why we can’t have nice things. People like you ruin it for everyone.
Ruin what? U even know what u talking about? Or what im talking about?…
Seriously??
Wow. This is for tires, not a free for all. I initially had nitrogen in my tires but switched to air because I could never get into the dealership to get my tires filled and we have an air compressor at home. This will definitely make it easier for people. This really is a need!!
I realize there may be some sarcasm here.. but if not. This will not get the 3000psi/4500psi you’ll you’re gonna need to fill up your paintball tank.
True…these peeps dont get it…players do…smh
To those commenting negatively – are you worried about member exceeding the average amount of nitrogen Costco had planned on when they decided to offer this or are you worried about what vessel someone chooses to put their allotment of free nitrogen in?
Person A is married with 2 teenage kids. They drive down to their local Costco and fill up the tires of 4 vehicles.
Person B uses Uber they don’t own a car but they fill up a paintball tank (assuming the PSI was correct).
Is Person A, who is using more of the freebie than Person B really more virtuous just because they’re putting the freebie in tires? What if there’s a Person C who fills up the tires of all their neighbors? They’re giving away a freebie designed only for members but they’re still putting it in tires which is a “need”
Thanks mommy!.. even if i could..filling up a pb tank is about 1/8 of 1 tire..assumming its a 3k or 4.5k psi…also youll need a quick connect connector to fill a tank..these peeps…smh..good conversation though..right?
Can you buy Nitrogen for your tires if you are not a member
Yes, buy buying a membership
up to about 50psi… good luck with that
Nice!! Thank you.
You’re welcome!
Thanks for the info, the only place that had nitrogen was the dealership and it’s not really worth the trip but that won’t be a problem anymore!
Can you add nitrogen to the regular air already in the tires, or does it have to be completely one or the other?
I asked this question at my dealership and was told it’s safe to mix the two.
Totally safe. Air is made of 21 percent oxygen and 78 percent nitrogen. The 100 percent nitrogen just leaks slower.
Air is 78% nitrogen, no issues with mixing in “pure” nitrogen.
I got my tires and N2 fill when I lived in FL but now that I’m in CO I can’t find a place to fill my N2 tires so I’ve just put 02 in them. Anyone know if Costco would let me “drain” my tire (assuming they have N2 at Costcos in CO) and refill them entirely. Maybe better question: Is there any value to having N2 in my tires in CO? (Loan me your gear-head husbands please)
FYI – I bought the tires from Costco in FL where they filled them with N2
The main benefit of nitrogen-filled tires is that the loss of tire pressure is slower, because the gas in the tire escapes more slowly than air does. With more stable tire pressure, the thinking goes, you’ll get better gas mileage and get full tire life since you’re always rolling on fully inflated tires. I definitely prefer nitrogen, the last tires I bought were filled with air and when the temp changed I got a low tire pressure warning on my vehicle..
You guys need to read up on the benefit of nitrogen in tires, nitrogen is an inert gas that doesn’t expand or get hot like air does causing tires to over inflate or lose pressure on cold mornings. That means your tire monitoring system won’t be giving you that low tire warning those cold mornings or heat up on hot summer days and cause a heat related blow out. So that’s why nitrogen is better to use than air.
Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. Ideal gas laws still apply.
You should not put O2 in tires. Seriously, pure O2 is highly hazardous.
Is there a way to check online which costco location has this? Thanks.
Not online, but you can call your local store to ask.
Any costco with a tire center will typically fill your tires up for free even if they do not have a dedicated machine like this out front. Just drive up to one of the bays and ask them. Sometimes they will fill it for you. Such great service!
Thanks for the tip.
So I bought a car that has tires from Costco and are filled with nitrogen they were bought August 2020 .so if I have the paperwork of the sale will they fill for free .I’m not a member of Costco
Not worth it. https://www.consumerreports.org/tire-buying-maintenance/should-you-use-nitrogen-in-car-tires/
You don’t have to buy it…..It’s free!
If your Costco has a tire center they fill it with nitrogen for free (just in case your Costco doesn’t have these stand alone nitrogen machines yet)
Wow just used this system for the first time and I’m in tire inflator heaven!
So frickin easy! You set the machine to the pressure you want using the + or – buttons..THEN, and this is big, you take the amazing lock-on tire inflator that is attached to a long coiled air hose, slide it onto your tire valve let go and in literally a few seconds the machine dings letting you know that tire is now inflated to the desired pressure..in Seconds! And pretty much silently… no compressor going off you just hear the air / nitrogen being released into your tire. You then slide the release sleeve and go to the next tire…the hose doesn’t look like it will reach all 4 tires but it does pretty easily on my full size Dodge pickup truck. THANK YOU COSTCO! Another customer service win for one of my favorite retail stores! FWIW I also just want to mention that as I was filling my tires at the San Bernardino Costco…an older gentleman was trying to do his tires and was a bit puzzled how it all worked. I explained it to him trying to stay a safe distance away because his nose was sticking out of his mask( YIKES COVID!) All of a sudden one of the guys who works in the tire shop is out helping him get his tires filled…Awesome that he was aware and kind enough to step away and help this guy! Totally a Merry Christmas moment!
calll me a crazy guy but i use to work at autozone if theres anyway u can get ahold of a $50 tank from the store u can fill the tank up with im not sure how much psi but i think its 100 thats 3 tires. in the trunk u can carry to colordo. if u ever need it. the autoparts shops if they have nitrogen if ur willing to pay im sure they will fill the tank for u. now traveling with a filled nitrogen tank idk if u can get fined or penalized i know will a gas tank for a bar b q pit u CAN GET FINED LIKE 5,000$ to 15,000$ if pulled over.
wow this entire comment section needs to go back and review their introductory highschool chemistry class. compressed air is 80% nitrogen already so it is going to behave almost exactly like “pure” nitrogen. nitrogen, in fact, *does* expand and contract with temperature just like air. nitrogen does not leak out slower than air because air is mostly nitrogen and behaves the same way. basically, “nitrogen” is an advertising ploy to make gullible people come in to expensive tire stores where they can be sold more things they don’t need. no harm in using it. but also no benefit other than psychological
Not true. 100% nitrogen does leak slower than air. See Consumer Reports.
These stations do not use 100% nitrogen like they use in the tire center, they just use air like any other compressor.
Thanks for the helpful response, Dorfy!!
The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
Oh no!!! I’m so sorry that happened, Holly!😲
The Costco we use has two nitrogen pumps. It was great. This is a very nice benefit that Costco provides. The tire shops want $5 a tire when the machines are working, which is rarely, or I have to drive to the car dealership. thumbs up to Costoco.
Thanks, Fred! We sure appreciate you sharing this feedback.