Tires Unloading Tires - Questions?

[Neophyte]

Is it possible to unload loaded tires? If so, how would you go about doing it?

 

[B7500]

Just wondering..
Why would you?

 

[Neophyte]

I ask because many used tractors that I look at have loaded tires and I would rather not have them. I would rather use a rear weight/ballast for loader use and be able to remove the extra weight (loader and rear ballast) for finish mowing. You don't have this luxury with loaded tires.

 

[GreenMtnMan]

When I bought my tractor I paid extra for loaded tires and thought they were a good thing. Now I am planning to unload them the first time I have a a flat which requires a service truck. Why you ask? For one thing it's not easy to lower pressure unless the solution is below the valve stem - that exposes the interior of the rim to oxygen which can lead to corrosion. The fill also reduces the tires ability to flex which reduces traction. Filled tires are so heavy they are nearly impossible to change or work with by yourself unless you buy some special equipment or a hoist. Lastly, if you have a situation where you don't want the weight (soft soil, avoidance of soil compaction, etc) you are simply out of luck.

 

[Egon]

You should be able to drain most of the loading solution out of the valve stem. Otherwise you can also break the bead.

You will also have to contain and dispose of the solution.

Egon

 

[GreenMtnMan]

Yeah, but without rinsing the inside of the tire and rim well the leftover solution is likely to cause corrosion. For peace of mind I'd like to take the tire off the rim. Not so hard with the right tools, but I probably don't have enough air to reseat the bead on reinflation even with a band around the tread.

 

[Egon]

Sounds like a tire shop solution.

Egon

 

[Hambone]

I asked my dealer about loading tires and he said a lot of people are putting in used anti-freeze instead of coolant. I would not think that would be as bad to get out as the calcium stuff.

 

[GreenMtnMan]

The anti-freeze isn't corrosive, but it is toxic. I wouldn't like to leak large quantities onto the ground and have it seep into the water table.

 

[slowrev]

They do have non toxic antifreeze now. And from my pricing it costs about the same as using calcium chloride. Not as heavy though.

 

[stvman]

I have unloaded a tire before useing an air hose. I took about a 6 foot piece of airhose with an air chuck that clamps the valve stem on the end, stuck the cut end into a plastic 55 gallon drum stuck the chuck on the valve stem and bled off the pressure. After I bled pressure I removed the valve stem and put a piece of hose over the stem an clamped it. Next I bought a six dollar drill powered pump from Home Depot and pumped all the solution into the 55 gallon drum.

 

[Neophyte]

It sounds like it is feasible for me to do but probably easier to pay a tire shop or tractor dealership to take care of it. It also sounds like I would want to remove the tire and clean the wheel to make sure there is no remaining solution that would cause problems. I don't have the equipment to do that. Plus, I would rather have the dealer dispose of the solution.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Slamfire]

If you are talking about that new expensive antifreeze that is supposed to be non-toxic, I've got a grave where my puppy is buried, you can come and see. Reading the fine print, on the jug, says that it is LESS toxic. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[GreenMtnMan]

Sorry to hear about your puppy. That's so sad /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[chrisjbell]

Sorry to hear about your dog. That kind of thing is always tough. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I don't live in a climate where it freezes and my tires all have tubes in 'em so I just use water (handy when you have to pull a wheel - just remove the valve stem and let it run out). But if I had to deal with freezing I'd probably suggest windshield wiper fluid. Could still kill something, but that would be alcohol poisoning.

 

[Egon]

Very sensible decision.

Egon