What was used to fill my tires?!

MMagis · Nov 13, 2015

There are only a handful of things that can be used. It’s not Rimguard (beet juice) and it’s not windshield wiper fluid. Therefore, it’s calcium chloride. (It does have a slight chemical smell). It’s not that big of deal, millions of tires have been filled with it. Unless you have some need to remove the tires, I wouldn’t worry about it for now.

farmer2009 · Nov 13, 2015

Calcium chloride has a sticky feel to it. Like it leaves a residue on your skin. It will also burn your skin especially if it's mixed very strong.

Looking4new · Nov 13, 2015

I work with calc. chloride in spring and fall and it does have a slightly sticky feel. Get it on your skin and it WILL dry your skin out to the point where you can peel (the skin) off in sheets. It is uber salty water. It will burn but not like an acid burn. Your skin will get red and itchy if you let it dry. If you get it in a cut, you will wish you hadn't. Rubbing alcohol has nothing on this stuff.
Wear rubber gloves when you handle this stuff and if you do get it on your hands DO NOT touch any sensitive areas (eyes, nose, take a p) before washing your hands thoroughly.

Clay45 · Dec 4, 2015

Possibly antifreeze & water mix.

Gary Fowler · Dec 5, 2015

Lots of stuff out there to use as ballast when freezing is a possibility. If you are just concerned if it is CaCl then just taste it. If it is salty then its CaCl, if not then it is something else. A little taste on the tongue isn't going to hurt you regardless of what it is, just spit it out and rinse your mouth.
By the way, antifreeze mix will be slightly sweet, methanol mix will be a bit bitter. If it is clear, it isn't beet juice.

oldpilgrim · Dec 5, 2015

MMagis said:
There are only a handful of things that can be used. It’s not Rimguard (beet juice) and it’s not windshield wiper fluid. Therefore, it’s calcium chloride. (It does have a slight chemical smell). It’s not that big of deal, millions of tires have been filled with it. Unless you have some need to remove the tires, I wouldn’t worry about it for now.

I'd guess that there are more tractors out there running cacl than any other stuff. Certainly over the past 100 years, more have used it than all other materials combined.