First is a bulletin from Firestone. Side note on this - Firestone had no problem with us factory filling tires tubeless. Their statement was that free air for oxidation is quickly used up and reaches an equilibrium at which there will be no rust. However they do have this bulletin and date. We were filling all drive tires on our machines at the factory when I retired in 2008.
Date: FEBRUARY, 1998
Field performance of liquid ballasted tubeless rear tractor tires is revealing certain concerns of end users:
- Liquid seepage between tire bead and rim
- Rim rust
- Potential for rim to tire slip
- Wide knurling on some older rim bead seats, which are more conducive to tube-type tires, allows air and water to leak between rim and tire
The Firestone Agricultural Tire Company recommends that a natural rubber innertube be installed prior to adding liquid ballast to the tire. The innertube will protect the rim from rusting, will stop leakage of air and water between tire and rim, and will keep the beads dry to resist rim to tire slip. It is the responsibility of the end user to purchase an innertube prior to adding liquid ballast. NOTE: Firestone's warranty does not cover a tire that has failed due to a rust rim.
Titan's handbook is actually the Goodyear tire handbook. Page 104 covers hydro-inflation showing the prescribed method - for tubeless and tube type.
We used Firestone tires in USA and Goodyear tires in Europe. An important thing was to follow the Goodyear method - inflate to 35 psi with the tire suspended, let out the air, then install the liquid ballast. One of our plants deflated the tire with the machine resting on the ground. That resulted in fluid streaks down the tire and rim. Following the Goodyear fill method took care of the problem.
My largest tractor is filled with beet juice. I have not yet had a puncture. I have heard that it can create quite a sticky mess if the puncture is such that it sprays the beet juice on the tractor, like onto an open operator platform. CaCl is also a problem but washes off easier.
As for getting it on the ground, all of our gravel roads are sprayed with the same CaCl solution during the summer, and the concrete & asphalt roads are sprayed in winter. Yes, it creates corrosion, but the highway department says better than people crashing. Can't remember all the vehicle recalls I have had due to component corrosion in snow belt states - and that doesn't include body rust.
