Tires Rear ballast

[wmonroe]

I am thinking about adding windshield washer fluid to my rear tires but have a question hopefully you guys can help with. I don't necessarily want to go the full fill (48 gal.) which would be about 400 lbs per tire (14.9x26 ag tires). My main goal is for a little additional stability on the hills around my place and I thought if I only fill to just above the axle it would keep all the weight below the center of gravity. I'm thinking about 35 gallons per tire, which would be about 300 pounds. Anyone see any downsides to this thinking?

 

[George2615]

The traditional fill is 75% but I don't see any harm filling to 50% other than the wheels won't be submerged. As you drive around, the inside of the wheel goes in and out of the fluid. Once you park, the top half is now exposed to air in the tire. That could promote rust to form on that part of the wheel.
I think the reason to fill to 75% is a submerged wheel can't rust without oxygen.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Personally I would go 75% and not worry about it. I run that on my tractor and finish mow with it. I don't turn sharp and don't mow wet. No issues thus far. You will like the added stability. I would think that the added weight from the lower part of the tire will more than offset the added weight for the top 25% fill of the tire. Are you having stability issues now?

 

[RoyJackson]

Personally I would go 75% and not worry about it. I run that on my tractor and finish mow with it. I don't turn sharp and don't mow wet. No issues thus far. You will like the added stability. I would think that the added weight from the lower part of the tire will more than offset the added weight for the top 25% fill of the tire. Are you having stability issues now?

I agree with this....any problems with tearing up grass will be due more to the type of tire (R-1's) then the weight.
One caveat...if you have a septic tank and drain field...the weight is more a factor than the tire type.

 

[motownbrowne]

They're filling ag tires to a lot less than 75% in a lot of cases now. I'm not exactly sure the reason why, but i think lots of tires on big tractors are only 30-40% filled.

 

[wmonroe]

Not currently having any stability issues but more margin is always good. I was thinking the tears had tubes but I need to double check. If there are tubes then rust shouldn't be an issue. The tractor doesn't really tear the grass up now unless turning tight in 4x4 or if it's real wet.

 

[Henro]

I think you are splitting hairs.

I would, and did, fill my rear tires on the larger tractor to about 75% with WW fluid, years ago. Do it once and be done with it.

My opinion anyway.

At the end of the day, do what you think is best for your particular situation.

Bill

 

[wmonroe]

Me splitting hairs, making a simple thing harder than it has to be???? Sounds like you've been talking to my wife. Lol. I live about 10 minutes from seven springs (if you know where that is) so that is the hills I'm dealing with.

I was thinking only filling to the axle would help more on hills than going to the full 75% but it sounds like the consensus is go for full. Luckily I bought enough ww fluid to fill all the way so I'm covered.

 

[wmonroe]

I bought the ww fluid last night and got enough to put the full 48 gallons in each tire. Now just trying to decide if I'm going to put it all in or give a partial fill a try. I looked at my tires and they appear to be tubed.
For fun here is a picture of the ww fluid.

Can anyone confirm that these are tube tires?

 

[Fallon]

Never fill a tire more than 75%. A pneumatic tire uses air to compress & absorb shock. If the tire is 100% full of uncompresable liquid that shock won't be absorbed, it will get transmitted straight to the tire & blow it off the rim.

Just covering the top of the rim is 75%. Keeping the rim covered helps prevent corrosion as well. Corrosion is much more likely if the rim is partially exposed to air.

 

[wmonroe]

That is very true about only going to 75%. The 48 gallon number I'm using is from the rim guard websites tire fill chart. I'm assuming their numbers are to a 75% fill. When I go to fill mine I will go to 75% max.

 

[LD1]

The difference between 75% fill and 50% fill is not much at all. The majority of the fluid is in the bottom of the tire. Once it starts coming around the rim.... well the rim takes up a lot of space.

There used to be charts that listed 50% fill as well as 75% fill but I cannot find them now. So just guessing, but if 75% is a 48 gallon fill, 50% is still probably gonna be ~40 gallons or so. To go to the full 75%, you really wont be adding that much more weight above the axle.

 

[Deere Dude]

I bought the ww fluid last night and got enough to put the full 48 gallons in each tire. Now just trying to decide if I'm going to put it all in or give a partial fill a try. I looked at my tires and they appear to be tubed.
For fun here is a picture of the ww fluid. View attachment 493214

Can anyone confirm that these are tube tires?
View attachment 493215
View attachment 493216

That looks like mine. It looks like a tubeless setup but don't hold that to me, only my valve stem has a metal nut and that looks like plastic. I don't like the plastic part on yours as it looks like it wold break easily, if in fact it is plastic.

It also looks like the base stays put when filling, but insert unscrews from the base portion and not jut the Schroeder valve. That makes a larger opening for fluid to enter.

I don't know how you plan on filling the tires but if you leave them on the tractor I would jack the tractor up far enough so the base of the tire stays on the ground. There is also a fill valve that allows air to leave the tire while filling.

 

[Shaneard]

That is for sure a tube in that tire. Be careful when filling not to break that plastic nut off. If you do the valve stem could go in the tire and you will have to break the bead to fish it back through hole.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

You have a tube in that tire...didn't notice where you mentioned what "pump" you were gonna use...I used a small sump pump and a washing machine hook-up hose...oh, yeah and a five gallon bucket to poor the fluid in...got the "connector" that was mentioned earlier, but found that the air release didn't really work that well..block the tractor and jack the rear tire you're filling off the ground...rotate the tire till the stem is at the level you want to fill to...if you get too much in you'll know it when you take the nozzel off..otherwise it will drain to the level you want...you probably won't be able to get all the fluid in that you think you will...I couldn't...didn't mean to seem like I'm telling you what to do, but I've done this before....good luck. BobG in VA

 

[arizona98tj]

I think the reason to fill to 75% is a submerged wheel can't rust without oxygen.

It will rust....for the same reasons that fish hooks, nails, etc. that sit in a lake will rust.

 

[RoyJackson]

The traditional fill is 75% but I don't see any harm filling to 50% other than the wheels won't be submerged. As you drive around, the inside of the wheel goes in and out of the fluid. Once you park, the top half is now exposed to air in the tire. That could promote rust to form on that part of the wheel.
I think the reason to fill to 75% is a submerged wheel can't rust without oxygen.

When most tractors used Calcium Chloride as ballast, keeping the wheels totally submerged was essential. With Rimguard, windshield washer fluid and the other less corrosive liquids; it may not be as essential, but still (IMHO) best practice.

 

[wmonroe]

The difference between 75% fill and 50% fill is not much at all. The majority of the fluid is in the bottom of the tire. Once it starts coming around the rim.... well the rim takes up a lot of space.

There used to be charts that listed 50% fill as well as 75% fill but I cannot find them now. So just guessing, but if 75% is a 48 gallon fill, 50% is still probably gonna be ~40 gallons or so. To go to the full 75%, you really wont be adding that much more weight above the axle.

That's a very good point and part of the reason I'm leaning towards just filling to 75% to start with.

 

[wmonroe]

That is for sure a tube in that tire. Be careful when filling not to break that plastic nut off. If you do the valve stem could go in the tire and you will have to break the bead to fish it back through hole.

I don't like the plastic nut, I'll have to see if I can find a couple that are metal instead.

 

[wmonroe]

You have a tube in that tire...didn't notice where you mentioned what "pump" you were gonna use...I used a small sump pump and a washing machine hook-up hose...oh, yeah and a five gallon bucket to poor the fluid in...got the "connector" that was mentioned earlier, but found that the air release didn't really work that well..block the tractor and jack the rear tire you're filling off the ground...rotate the tire till the stem is at the level you want to fill to...if you get too much in you'll know it when you take the nozzel off..otherwise it will drain to the level you want...you probably won't be able to get all the fluid in that you think you will...I couldn't...didn't mean to seem like I'm telling you what to do, but I've done this before....good luck. BobG in VA

I was thinking about trying to use my 25 gallon electric sprayer to pump the fluid in but I haven't looked at it yet to see if I can adapt it. If that will not work I'll get one of those cheap drill mounted pumps. I did get the air bleed adapter so I just need to adapt from a hose to what I use for a pump.
Thanks for the advice, I've never done this so I'm looking for any pointers I can get.