loaded tires?

[ymarianne]

I live on steep terrain and was wondering if anyone has loaded tires? I have a gator xuv. Probably make it too heavy and slow it down?

 

[FarmerGene]

I live on steep terrain and was wondering if anyone has loaded tires? I have a gator xuv. Probably make it too heavy and slow it down?

I don't know about you gator, by my tires are loaded on the tractor and you should not even see a difference with them, the reason being the weight in your tires are on the ground, not suspended off the vehicle.:thumbsup:

 

[SPYDERLK]

It will certainly make it more stable in slow going on side slope, but yes it will slow it down. More importantly, since those vehicles have a suspension, the addition of the significant unsprung weight will affect handling a good deal as speed and bumps increase. Better to add some steel or lead to the bottom of the chassis.
larry

 

[Wacky]

IMO. I don't believe that is a good idea because of the weight of the "liquid" is significant and would create, at higher speeds, "unbalanced" tire effect and could cause a steering problem at higher speeds. Not to mention rougher ride.

 

[ymarianne]

not worth the risk. I didn't think about going at faster speeds than my tractor, which I don't do often, and don't want to give up power. Thanks for making me think this through. If working in a more unstable area, I'll just put some weight on, that's a good temp fix.

 

[WV John Deere]

I have a 900 that I purchased new 4 years ago. My tires aren't loaded however, a friend of mine had his loaded and IMO, his rode smoother and didn't bounce like mine. Only drawback I noticed was that it did hurt the power some. I wouldn't be afraid of loading them.....just my opinion!

 

[2fast2]

Keep in mind that the tires are an active part of the suspension, at 14 psi, they have to have flex and compliance for traction and comfort. Filling them will diminish the traction and hurt the ability of the suspension to adapt to rough conditions.
If you're trying to lower your center of gravity to increase stability on steep terrain, maybe adding weight in the center, under the skid plate, would help. You could add a heavy steel plate and it would be sprung weight which would be better.
IMHO, YMMV.
etc.

 

[SPYDERLK]

It will certainly make it more stable in slow going on side slope, but yes it will slow it down. More importantly, since those vehicles have a suspension, the addition of the significant unsprung weight will affect handling a good deal as speed and bumps increase. Better to add some steel or lead to the bottom of the chassis.
larry

Keep in mind that the tires are an active part of the suspension, at 14 psi, they have to have flex and compliance for traction and comfort. Filling them will diminish the traction and hurt the ability of the suspension to adapt to rough conditions.
If you're trying to lower your center of gravity to increase stability on steep terrain, maybe adding weight in the center, under the skid plate, would help. You could add a heavy steel plate and it would be sprung weight which would be better.
IMHO, YMMV.
etc.

Yeah.
larry

 

[whistlepig]

It's a long story and I'm not telling it tonight. For off road (and on road) stuff that needs to go fast it's called "Sprung Weight" and "Unsprung Weight". Weight in the tires for things that go slow is a very good thing. Weight in the tires for things that go fast is a very bad thing.

 

[Rob-D]

It's a long story and I'm not telling it tonight. For off road (and on road) stuff that needs to go fast it's called "Sprung Weight" and "Unsprung Weight". Weight in the tires for things that go slow is a very good thing. Weight in the tires for things that go fast is a very bad thing.

You got it! That's why racing tires have alloy wheels.

Rob

 

[SPYDERLK]

It's a long story and I'm not telling it tonight. For off road (and on road) stuff that needs to go fast it's called "Sprung Weight" and "Unsprung Weight". Weight in the tires for things that go slow is a very good thing. Weight in the tires for things that go fast is a very bad thing.

Its actually a short story. ... Bumps are an irresistable force. They force the wheel to move up and over them. The wheel has to do this. ..RIGHT NOW. The heavier the wheel and the faster its going the more force the bump exerts to shove the wheel "out of its way"- so the more energy is stored in the wheel. If the wheel is going to stay in contact with the ground something has to absorb this energy and keep it pushed down. That would be the vehicle suspension and chassis. Thus, in proportion, the lighter the unsprung elements [wheels, axles, etc], the less the sprung element [chassis] reacts. ...Better handling.:thumbsup:
larry

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

when the tire goes up you probably won't notice much but if that tire freefalls down you will for sure yank out your axle. if you need weight get you some kolpen plastic water cans and lay them in the bed of the gator that way you can easily remove them when not needed. even on level ground the weight of them tired loaded will wreak havoc on your drive train . if traction is what you need get better tires the 589's or the outlaw msd tires are pretty good and being the gator has an unlocking rear dif you won't tear up the yard now if you want something that will dig and bite then get some regular outlaws they will pull you through anything but for working i would leave the water out and just get some 589's they are heavy enough just by themselves. heck get a few old 1 gallon milk jugs or water jugs and put them in the bed . now another thing i have been messing around with is arear and front bumper that you can strap a 6"piece of pvc pipe to with a drain vale and a fill vale on it a 48"one on the front and a 50"one on the rear filled with water should weight you down pretty good and when you don't need it just take them off or just drain them and leave them on.