Let's discuss filling or not filling tires

[9973720wb19]

Let's not discuss what product is better than the other...let's talk about...

1. what percentage have filled tires
2. do you fill all four or just the rear?
3. what are the pros and cons of filling:
Better or worse in mud?
Better on hills?
less or more rutting?

I have hills and muddy spots. Using a JD 5000 series 4WD with R1 tires, I use a 15 foot batwing - my tires are not filled. going straight up and down hills even with front weights, I can feel it's a bit light on the front, but nothing scary. If I were to get my tires filled, I'd like to get all four. But there's no turning back and I don't want to regret filling my tires.

Let's here your experiences

 

[wagne223]

R4's operated 10 hrs not filled.

Then filled rears to 75%. Noticable traction improvement. Noticable stability improvement using loader.

 

[boomer1025]

Filled tires have their good and bad points.
Good for hard surfaces
Bad for wet area's where the ground is soft or muddy.
When debating on filling or not take a look at the ground/surface conditions you are going to be mainly operating on. You can always add weight to the 3ph for doing loader work. With filled tires the weight is always there which is somewhat limiting the conditions.

 

[9973720wb19]

Filled tires have their good and bad points.
Good for hard surfaces
Bad for wet area's where the ground is soft or muddy.
When debating on filling or not take a look at the ground/surface conditions you are going to be mainly operating on. You can always add weight to the 3ph for doing loader work. With filled tires the weight is always there which is somewhat limiting the conditions.

Understood. I do have muddy areas in early spring and fall. I try to avoid getting stuck at all costs.

 

[CobyRupert]

Filled tires have their good and bad points.
Good for hard surfaces
Bad for wet area's where the ground is soft or muddy.
When debating on filling or not take a look at the ground/surface conditions you are going to be mainly operating on. You can always add weight to the 3ph for doing loader work. With filled tires the weight is always there which is somewhat limiting the conditions.

IMHO, I think that's debatable, and depends on the mud. Whether you're trying to float, or dig.
Is a 2wd truck better in mud with or without additional weight in the back?
With liquid filled, the bulk of the weight is added below the tractors center of gravity, thus lowering the tractor's center of gravity and making it more stable on side hills. Assuming center of gravity is near rear axle height, wheel weights add as much weight over axle as below.

I have loaded tires. Rear only.
Good (partial) ballast for FEL.
I don't have front loaded as it doesn't help on side hill given that front axle pivots.
I have felt front end being light with loader off and 7' mower on back and thought about adding front suitcase weights, but its more useful to leave loader on as a counterweight to be a "feeler" when mowing through tall stuff. Could always load it with dirt for more weight.
More weight (steel or liquid) = more rutting. ...unless it's just your front tires rutting, then rear weight takes weight off of front axle.

:2cents:

 

[mopardude318]

M7060 R4 tires, filled with water, rear only. I have additional 400 lbs of wheel weights on the rear, I might add the last set of weights (another 200 lbs)

 

[LouNY]

I am not a fan of filled tires;
1) the ride suffers, harsher
2) if you are doing any road hauling or traveling the liquid fill will slosh and suck up horsepower
3) flat repairs become a major time and money expense
4) properly inflated tires with iron will pull betterand have better traction then liquid filled
5) i have worked hills most of my life and I have not noticed an appreciable difference in stability comparing iron weight to liquid weight

 

[9973720wb19]

I am not a fan of filled tires;
1) the ride suffers, harsher
2) if you are doing any road hauling or traveling the liquid fill will slosh and suck up horsepower
3) flat repairs become a major time and money expense
4) properly inflated tires with iron will pull betterand have better traction then liquid filled
5) i have worked hills most of my life and I have not noticed an appreciable difference in stability comparing iron weight to liquid weight

interesting.

 

[5030]

I am not a fan of filled tires;
1) the ride suffers, harsher
2) if you are doing any road hauling or traveling the liquid fill will slosh and suck up horsepower
3) flat repairs become a major time and money expense
4) properly inflated tires with iron will pull betterand have better traction then liquid filled
5) i have worked hills most of my life and I have not noticed an appreciable difference in stability comparing iron weight to liquid weight

I'm in agreement 100%. I farm with 2 M9's and neither have loaded tires and never will. Both have the cast centers which gives me an additional 500 pounds on each side and that is plenty. If I require more traction I put them in FWA.

Filled tires are power eaters. I road my tractors and would never fill them. The other issue is, excessive weight equals excessive compaction and crop loss. I also run hay and a heavy tractor crushes the plants and drops yield. If I had it to do again, I'd probably run a tracked machine.

 

[shooterdon]

Most people are not farming with their tractors. My main uses are snow blowing/plowing, processing firewood (grapple work), road grading and clearing out saplings. Loaded tires male sense for my needs.

Again, one size does not fit all.

Determine what tasks you have and decide if filled tires make sense.

 

[Professor Marvel]

i have my rear tires filled and always have them filled
I use calcium chloride but I have no claims on the best fill
front tires NOT filled and again do not know if front tires filled is good or not

 

[atsah]

My last tractor had loaded tires, wont do it again, rims rusted, got a flat and made a huge mess, driving on the road is terrible, weight box works for me unless my bush hog is on..

 

[CalG]

If you can buy iron center weights, do it.

 

[jimmychew]

Steering on my Ford 4000 is poor when I'm running some type of rear implement. I just got some new tri ribs for the front and was thinking about loading them. I might do front suitcase weights, not sure.

Weight in the tire or on the wheel means no additional weight on the wheel bearings, spindles, etc...

Suitcase weights means more stress on those parts.

 

[LouNY]

Steering on my Ford 4000 is poor when I'm running some type of rear implement. I just got some new tri ribs for the front and was thinking about loading them. I might do front suitcase weights, not sure.

Weight in the tire or on the wheel means no additional weight on the wheel bearings, spindles, etc...

Suitcase weights means more stress on those parts.

I would definitely recommend the suitcase weights, also the standard type tube for the front tires on a 2wd usually will not have the large bore liquid fillable valve stems.

 

[Wagtail]

Again, one size does not fit all.

Determine what tasks you have and decide if filled tires make sense.

Air filled tyres on my 4105... of course I'm dealing with an incredible 2% gradient on my sprawling 6 acre property.

Once a year, for about a week, I'll help bring in a neighbour's hay crop with my tractor. They have some pretty 'hairy' gradients (and all of their tractors are 'loaded'); I just take my time and work smart = angles, when it comes to that.

 

[jimmychew]

I would definitely recommend the suitcase weights, also the standard type tube for the front tires on a 2wd usually will not have the large bore liquid fillable valve stems.

Hmmm...

I got new rims too and metal valve stems. I was gonna go tubeless, beet juice. That'll give me an extra 210 lbs up front.

Hmmm...

 

[Professor Marvel]

Steering on my Ford 4000 is poor when I'm running some type of rear implement. I just got some new tri ribs for the front and was thinking about loading them. I might do front suitcase weights, not sure.

Weight in the tire or on the wheel means no additional weight on the wheel bearings, spindles, etc...

Suitcase weights means more stress on those parts.

YES THIS!!!

 

[Motorboatin]

I’m new to tractors so I decided on the wait and see approach to filling the tires. After seeing the ruts I make with and without a 500lb attachment hanging off the 3 point I decided on no fill. I can always add ballast when needed

 

[LouNY]

YES THIS!!!

Amazing in over 60 years I don't recall a single 2 wd farm tractor with liquid in the front tires, and the majority had iron bolted or hanging on the front.