Tires: Using CO2 to fill tires., chemistry question, acid etching


Question
For a few years now I have used CO2 to fill up my Jeep's tires after lowering their pressure while offroading. A few of our club members are claiming that using CO2 causes carbonic acid to form inside the tires beacuse of the water vapor present in normal fill air. That the carbonic acid eats away at the tire from the inside out.
Are they correct?

Answer
Flavio,

This is more or less a chemistry question and while I don't have the expertise to answer the question, your friends have a point.  Why not dismount a tire and see if there is any evidence of acid etching on the tire or on the rim.

The only other thought is:  Is reinflating the tire with nitrogen or air not possible in your case?  Why are you using carbon dioxide?