Choices for tractor tire fill material

[Awnry Abe]

I had a front-end-loader question thread in which several of you rightly scorned me for not getting permanent ballast for my utility tractor. I promise, it has been on my "get 'er done" list. I suppose now would be a fine to do "get 'er done." I was once told that it should be strictly done be a tire place, but I have since discovered that there isn't much to it. There are some pitfalls to avoid.

So it's really down what material to add? I've heard of the following:

1) Straight Water
2) Calcium Chloride
3) Enviro/Animal-Friendly Anti-Freeze + Water
4) Non-Enviro/Animal-Friendly Anti Freeze + Water
5) Beet Juice/RimGuard
6) Windshield wiper fluid
7) Something foamy. Can't remember what it is called.

Some pertinent facts particular to me:
A) I live in Missouri.
B) The tires are tubeless.
C) Kubota painted rims.

#1 is a non-starter. So is #4. My inclination is towards anit-freeze+water because of availability and the DIY-ness of it, but I need to figure out the water/anti-freeze ratio for this zipcode. I liked the sound of #5 until I found out how much it costs--although I haven't priced out everything else, yet.

Comments? Is there a #8? Any guidance on how what the anti-freeze/water ratio should be for mid-Missouri?

[bja105]

I have experience with Calcium, wiper fluid, and antifreeze.

The calcium and antifreeze were in when I bought the tractors, and I did the wiper fluid myself.

My big tractor has 15.5x38 tires filled with Calcium Chloride in tubes. I just had the tire truck to the farm to replace a tube. $476. I can't handle that big of a tire myself, especially with 700 lbs of ballast in it. He had to pump out the ballast, then replace the tube, then refill.

The one I did with wiper fluid was a very small garden tractor with tubes. I took out the valve cores. I removed the handle from a pump sprayer and hose clamped the hose over the valve stem. I pumped the fluid for a while, then opened the sprayer to let the air push back out. You are supposed to leave some air for cushioning. If you fill with the valve stem at 12:00 and fill to the valve, you will be good.

Google ballast charts, it will tell you how much per your tire size. My tractor's operator manual also has the chart.

I have read that with beet juice or calcium, tubeless is better, because you can plug leaks just like an air filled tire.

Calcium rusts, but my rims have lasted almost 30 years with the tubes.

[Darren]

Negative on the calcium chloride. Whatever you use, make sure it won't corrode the rims. I went with solid foam for the weight. The rims will never rust or leak. That was 14 years ago. I have no idea what it would cost now. It does make the tires absolutely flat proof which is a real bonus.

I've used the tractor for demo work. Misc. hidden hardware, nails sticking up in boards, etc. is not a worry.

[DaleK]

I wouldn't use anything tubeless everything I have ballasted is calcium chloride in tubes. Tube them or use iron wheel weights or something on the three point or a rear rack.

[FarmboyBill]

That stuff is high if you have it put in. I just had 2 walk behind tractor tires filled. 8 1/4gal and one tube, $95.00

[rambler]

Only thing I would use is calcium chloride.

My 1977 tractor has had CC in all 4 corners since it was new, no inner tubes in rear tires, and it is just fine. CC needs oxygen to make it rust anything, flush off any leaks and a tractor you use you maintain it, everything is fine.

If it is ashow tractor, then I would use cast weight for the little bit of weight such a machine would need.

Antifreeze is too light, it weighs perhaps 7lbs per gallon, while CC weighs close to 11 lbs per gallon.

The foam filled makes a very harsh ride.

I'm glad you eliminated the 2 that you did.

My coop that does my tire repairs would be upset if I contaminated their CC supply with some antifreeze/wiper junk. Perhaps it is a southern/ northern thing because this comes up so often, but seems like such a poor choice for weight and durability.

A #8 would be cast iron weights.

Paul

[DaleK]

Something else to consider if you aren't adjusting the rims would be to lay them flat and fill the rim with concrete, put plastic between it and the rim so it doesn't stick and run some long bolts through so you can take them off. Wouldn't suggest it on something with a lot of field use but I've seen it work for a yard/ utility tractor

[sammyd]

We've always run CC in our tires but we always have tubes.
If all you really need weight for is when slinging bales I'd look at just hanging a back blade or mower off the three point.
If traction isn't an issue during regular operation there is no reason to add ballast to your wheels.

[arabian knight]

I Second the CC choice.

[GunMonkeyIntl]

Are you positive that your tires aren't filled? Most dealers that are worth a darn and understand how their customers use their products will offer of just go ahead and fill the tires when they package in the loader. Getting rim guard (the right stuff) done predelivery is cheap.

Double check before your get too spun up. Park with the valve stem on one of your rear wheels down and poke the valve. I wouldn't be surprised I you see liquid come out.

I won't try to talk you out of loadin your wheels if they're not already, but it is not as efficient as the same amount of weight hanging off your 3PH. The further behind your rear axle you can get the weight, the more leverage it exerts and the more weight it will take off your front axle.

You can find some DIY plans for a 55 gallon drum with 3PH pins welded on and filled with concrete. Cheap, effective, and flexible. When you need it, you back up to it and pin it on your 3PH. When you don't need it, you park it and unhook it.

[highlands]

Originally Posted by Darren

Negative on the calcium chloride. Whatever you use, make sure it won't corrode the rims. I went with solid foam for the weight. The rims will never rust or leak. That was 14 years ago. I have no idea what it would cost now. It does make the tires absolutely flat proof which is a real bonus. I've used the tractor for demo work. Misc. hidden hardware, nails sticking up in boards, etc. is not a worry.

Any more info on the foam? Brand? Sources? Is this polyurethane foam? DIY?

We get a lot of flats. Sharp land.

[bja105]

I built a 1000 lb counter weight to go with my loaded tires, 700 lbs in each rear. The counter weight was a big help.

What kind of tractor are we talking about?

[Awnry Abe]

Kubota L5740 w/o cab. Tires are definitely not filled. It is a bouncy little thing. I like the ballast of a large bale, but not the sheer size of it. I have been conjuring up a plan for 3pt ballast box. But filled tires definitely sound like the way to go, regardless.

[idigbeets]

We use an enviro friendly antifreeze water at 50/50 mix. CC ruins rims, I've seen a rear wheel come off a 130hp tractor due to cracked rim where the CC ate it out. I know it has been used for a long time.. if you're not against having to repair a rim once or twice in 30 years, then go for it.

[Awnry Abe]

Originally Posted by idigbeets

We use an enviro friendly antifreeze water at 50/50 mix. CC ruins rims, I've seen a rear wheel come off a 130hp tractor due to cracked rim where the CC ate it out. I know it has been used for a long time.. if you're not against having to repair a rim once or twice in 30 years, then go for it.

No beet juice?

PA should be as cold or colder than down here. Any issues with the ratio?

I'm still waffling on the CC vs. anti freeze. I like the extra weight, but still have a small, nagging concern about damage to the rim.

[Darren]

Originally Posted by highlands

Any more info on the foam? Brand? Sources? Is this polyurethane foam? DIY?

We get a lot of flats. Sharp land.

It's the same foam used in scrap yard loaders. The dealer made all the arrangements. That was part of the tractor spec. They took the tires to a shop in Philadelphia. I believe they used something like Tyrfil-HD. The tractor does run a bit rough on pavement because the tires have no give. I don't tun it on pavement much so it doesn't matter to me.

I don't think it's a do it yourself job. there's no valve core in the tires and there was a screw in one point of the tire to allow air to escape. Anyone who handles equipment tires probably has the setup. It adds quite a bit of weight. Each rear tire weighs about 800 lbs. for a smallish tractor tire. Front tires are about 100 lbs. A large tractor tire may push 2,000 lbs or more when filled.

http://www.pathwaypolymers.com/www/docs/110

[highlands]

I'm interested in the performance and your terrain. I tried to order this with our second tractor but the dealer strongly discouraged me.

We are on dirt road, pasture, snow and ice.
We have a lot of rocks, many sharp, in our fields, as well as pokey sticks.
I've gotten flats from the pokey sticks. The rocks cut the front wheels that don't have chains.
I run with the logging chains on the back tires year round - they protect the tires to a degree from sharp rocks.
I get about two flat tires a year on the back and about four on the front. Very annoying and a waste of time.
I drive slowly. Rarely out of first gear. On our rough, steep terrain that's a good place to stay.
Thus I'm interested in the foam fill to eliminate the flats.
I have one tire that I'm about to have to replace at a cost of around $1,000 and am wondering if filling it with foam would be cheaper and a better idea. All that is wrong with it is that it has a sizable hole that lets sticks in to puncture the tubes I've been using for the last four years. Looks to me like if it were filled with foam I might get another decade out of that tire.

The dealer said it will remove the spring from the tire, make the the ride rough. Based on what you just said he might be thinking of when driving fast on roads. I don't have pavement and I don't drive fast so I wonder if the foam might be fine for my situation.

Can you tell me more about your usage, terrain and thoughts?

I'll check out that web site, thanks.

-Walter

[rambler]

On your steep ground, my concern would be the foam filled tires don't give as much. I suspect you get better traction, grip, holding, with a tire on the lower side of the inflation guide? It will squat down and put more bars on the dirt?

A foam filled tire would not squat or conform to the surface as well, and might be a bit more slippery.

I do not know the right answer for you, but would ponder on this part of it, if it may help or hurt you. In your softer dirt would not be a problem, but if you are on rocky ground with no dirt to grip into, the harder tire will want to slide more? So it depends what surfaces you are mostly on. The most scariest ride I've ever had with a tractor was on grass, with dew on the ground. Tractor slid all the way down the hill like I was on skis, empty trailer pushing me down. A harder tire would slide more on hard surface or wet grass.

The extra weight of the foam might outweigh the stiffer tread and you actually may gain overall, but something to think about. I presume you do not have your tires filled with anything but air, with that many punctures.

Paul

[Darren]

Rambler is correct in that you do lose the traction gained by a normal fluid filled tire's ability to squat. A foam filled will not do that. They'll probably dig a rut better than a fluid filled tire too. I run the tractor on steep terrain. The heavier tires lower the center of gravity. Even with the tires filled, the loader will still pick up the back of the tractor with a log winch on the 3pt if you get into something too heavy.

I haven't seen any additional skidding or slippage going downhill. I helped a friend demo six railroad hopper cars with the tractor. One of the tires ended up with a slice working in the scrap. It made no difference whatsoever.

[highlands]

Hmm... Interesting point on the low fill issue gripping better. .... For the rear tires the tread is not actually on the ground but rather it is the chain that is getting the grip. We use the chains year round. Pictures of the types of chains we use are here:

http://SugarMtnFarm.com/tractor-tire-chain-wear/
http://sugarmtnfarm.com/peanut-butter-pallet-fork-lift/
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/cold-of-outer-space/

In the past we had the Rimgard in the tires and liked that but we lost the fluid on one tractor when when the tires both went catastrophically flat in a two week span. Since then we've been using tubes so we can keep using the outer tire but we have no fill now. The backhoe on the back end helps. The other tractor has filled tires and has not had a flat, yet, knock on rock.

I sympathize with your grass ride. At just the right temperature ice is hard enough to stop even our tire chains from digging in. I once skated 200' down a road on the chains. It was the fastest I've ever moved in the tractor by far! I've avoided that experience successfully since then since I now know to look out for it. The things we survive... What doesn't kill us, well, it didn't kill us!

I called the TyrFil place but the guy I need to talk with was out until Monday. If I go with that I'll pass along my experience to those here on the thread. I have a big nasty flat right now. Might be the time to do it.

-Walter