Tire sealants and liquid ballast - Compatible ?

[KentT]

When I did some checking and found that the military uses Armor-Seal in their combat vehicles that don't have "run-flat" tires, I figured that if it the basic technology was good enough to stop the leak from a small-arms round, it'd probably be good enough for me...

So far I have no regrets...

As far as "cheap WW" freezing points, I agree that different brands/mixes have different freezing points based on the percentage of alcohol. However, I've run Walmart-quality in my garden tractors in Massachusetts for several years now. (I think I actually bought what's in the PT-425 from Napa though.) It may get a bit slushy (could clog WW pumps and hoses) but never freezes solid even below zero....

And, they do get out in the cold...

 

[Reg]

I keep WW fluid on hand in the form of a dozen or so gallon jugs that hand as tensioning weights on the boat tarps. I think W-Mart (right NOW) has the cheap Spring seasonal blend that "offers freeze protection to 30 above zero F".
I probably bought my tarp weights in the late fall, early winter when if was the "high test" stuff good for -25 F.

Yes, Armor seal might well be mil quality - it is not clear that Hydro seal also is.
B'sides, there isn't much small arms fire on my property (yet), I figure the simonize seal-tite will be "ALMOST" as good for a whole bunch less of my hard earned (adult beverage) money. The military is tax payer funded, right ?
I'm not.

 

[dknarnd]

This simonize sealtite is a very good product if it is still the same as when I researched it a few years ago. I used to have a link to the manufacturer who also sold this same item under the brand name Sparty TXT which at that time was sold in Cabela's.

At the time of my research it was a glycol based product which will not freeze until well below zero, unlike the slime product which will freeze near the freezing point of water. I was actually able to talk to an engineer at the facility who sent me msds sheets on the couple different styles of this they had. They offered different grades, sold under different trade names, one grade would be for high speed vehicle tires and another would be used on comercial vehicles used at low speed. I purchased a 5 gallon bucket of it to use in my ATV tires and they have not lost any air in the three years.

(except the one time I smashed the rear tire sideways into the point of a log and popped the bead on the tire)

I want to put it in my front tires but I can only find it on eBay now.

 

[Reg]

dknarnd,
You might be interested in this link;
Land Line Magazine - June 2003
It has links that might help you find a Sparty distributor.

 

[dknarnd]

Thanks Reg...however that link gets you back to eBay also. Guess they don't have the Sparty Systems, LLC web site up any longer; the phone number listed on your link is the same number I have on my receipt that I just dug up.

In March 2004 I purchased a 5 gallon pail of the Sealtite Off-Road for $97.50. I have to dig the pail out and see the recommended usage per tire size. It is very good stuff, it is in three sets of ATV tires plus I put some in a leaky garden tractor tire two years ago and hasn't needed air since. When I broke the bead on my ATV tire I can tell you that if you were to have a flat this stuff would not be fun to deal with when fixing a flat or even changing a tire.

 

[buickanddeere]

in an ideal world.This is why cast iron ballast and dry tubeless tires are superior.

 

[roadhunter]

If you want to never worry about flat tires and want ballast just have them foamed. It's expensive but so it taking tires to the shop and it never seems to happen at a good place or good time. I have enough things to worry about so taking flats off the list on my equipments worth it in my opinion and the ballast is really nice for traction and loader work.

 

[Reg]

WOW, old thread.

Only one data point (or two, since I did all both rear wheels) but looking back 8 1/2 years I can say that I have had no leaks using Rim Guard and the simonize sealtite. I can't remember having topped up the pressure either.

I haven't inspected the tires in detail to see if there are any filled holes, basically I forgot about the topic after the initial impressive added traction and stability through that first winter.

re: dry tires and plates - I think I looked into plates and couldn't get anywhere near the 500 or so pounds per tire that RimGuard provides.
Not PRACTICALLY, although hanging enough plates WAY OUT there may have added more stability
My memory isn't entirely clear on this, but it was probably some combination of having 24 inch rims and not wanting to increase width due to trailering requirements - this is my little tractor that "goes places".

 

[prs]

Last Spring I was able to buy the Winter formulae of WW fluid at WallyWorld for 0.99 per gallon, plus sales tax. It was end of season, on sale and they had lots of it Some sealants seem to be latex based and alcohol breaks down latex.

prs