Fluid filled rear tires

[Tractorrr]

This is a random question, but I have been wandering lately how often the fluid can leak out of rear tires?

I keep the tractor in the garage and sometimes think I am going to go down there one day and find all the fluid in the tire in the floor of the garage.

Has anyone had problems with the fluid leaking out of their rear tires? I have yet to have any problems, but think it would be a pretty nasty clean up if they did leak.

 

[Tx Jim]

As long as you don't run over an object that will put a hole in tube you should be fine.

 

[dadster4]

Be sure to check the air pressure in all tires, whether filled or not. Low pressure can allow the bead of the tire to let loose...along with all your fluid!

 

[buickanddeere]

If there is calcium Chloride in the tires. It will eventually corrode any metal and some plastics and cause valve or stem seepage. After seepage starts the paint is removed and metal rapidly deteriorates. As the leakage is often from the inside to outside. By the time a little bit of minor surface corrosion is observed visually , there is lots rotten down between the tube and the rim.

 

[oosik]

I had CaCl in my previous tractor for 25 years. Every year the valve stems would start dripping and I would need to replace the cores. It was a real PITA.

Sooo- - I had rimguard put in the new tractor - that was seven years ago - and not a drip in all those years.

 

[aircommuter]

This tractor I bought had calcium chloride aka salt. Before I bought one of the stems had leaked and destroyed the wheel. I put on a new rim and filled them with windshied washer solution.

 

[AStanton]

Personally, if I ever had to load another set of tires, I got one word for you: foam!

 

[JWR]

Personally, if I ever had to load another set of tires, I got one word for you: foam!

I agree ! Our family's 1954 MH Pacer had salty fluid in the rear tires for roughly 35 years before one of the rims rusted thru. Most people ignore it buying a new tractor because they never intend to keep the tractor that long, but then tractors are NOT part of the throw-away society so foam is a darned good idea.

 

[aircommuter]

I have foam in my manlift tires and that is good because you won't tip because of a flat. But it does not add enough weight for pulling a scraper box, and if you own a skid steer it a can be very costly cutting the old ones off and foaming again. It has it's place but not for everything. That wheel came off of 32 year old tractor but it had tube in it when I got it, probably had many tires before.

 

[48 chevy pick up]

X2 Windshield washer fluid. 12 yrs no problems. It is easy and cheap.

 

[Will_C]

WW fluid for 7 years-not a drop has leaked.

Will

 

[Tractorrr]

I put RV antifreeze from tractor supply in my tires a couple years ago. It hasn't leaked. I guess It doesn't leak like air from the tires which I was or am kind of worried about.

 

[JWR]

X2 Windshield washer fluid. 12 yrs no problems. It is easy and cheap.

I forgot that foam lacks weight which is the whole reason for loading the tires (though there may be other reasons.) For chronic "thorn leaks" the foam might still be great in front tires. WSW fluid seems like an ideal load for rear tires. Don't know if you can get it in bulk for filling large tires ? Just thinking out loud...I believe WSW fluid is alcohol based. Your 12yrs is a good data point when wondering if the alcohol softens the rubber or has some unplanned effect. Apparently not. Has to be better than salt solution which we know eventually eats the steel wheels.

 

[PhysAssist]

I had CaCl in my previous tractor for 25 years. Every year the valve stems would start dripping and I would need to replace the cores. It was a real PITA.

Sooo- - I had rimguard put in the new tractor - that was seven years ago - and not a drip in all those years.

I saw too many CaCl leaks in my youth, so we filled ours with Rimguard 5 years ago, which does not corrode wheels nor poison the environment if it leaks, unlike any of the other options.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I forgot that foam lacks weight which is the whole reason for loading the tires (though there may be other reasons.) For chronic "thorn leaks" the foam might still be great in front tires. WSW fluid seems like an ideal load for rear tires. Don't know if you can get it in bulk for filling large tires ? Just thinking out loud...I believe WSW fluid is alcohol based. Your 12yrs is a good data point when wondering if the alcohol softens the rubber or has some unplanned effect. Apparently not. Has to be better than salt solution which we know eventually eats the steel wheels.

Foam is heavy. But it doesnt ride as well as fluid.

 

[PhysAssist]

Foam is heavy. But it doesnt ride as well as fluid.

I have not had any experience with foam, but have read that tires become stiffer, and that the ride gets very abrupt over rough ground.

 

[idaho181]

I have had beet juice in my wheels since the day I bought it. Nary a drip!

Mike

 

[Fallon]

I have not had any experience with foam, but have read that tires become stiffer, and that the ride gets very abrupt over rough ground.

"Foam" is more like filling the whole tire & rim with liquid rubber that sets up than the spray foam you are thinking about. It adds a lot of weight. Also makes it behave like a solid rubber tire rather than soft pneumatic... rough ride, etc.

 

[JWR]

"Foam" is more like filling the whole tire & rim with liquid rubber that sets up than the spray foam you are thinking about. It adds a lot of weight. Also makes it behave like a solid rubber tire rather than soft pneumatic... rough ride, etc.

So does liquid. Normally fluid fills around 80 to 90% of what would otherwise be air. Since the water is not compressible, the small amount of air in there that is compressible leaves the tire very rigid and rough riding compared to 100% air.

 

[DT86]

I had a buddy that bought a tractor with foam filled rear tires.

I raked hay all day with it once. It might as well had square wheels. The next day I could hardly get around.