Tires To load or not to load tires

[motownbrowne]

Motownbrowne said:


"Edited to add: if you have info about a softer riding foam filled tire, please do share it. I think that'd be good knowledge for a lot of folks here. "

My comments are:

When I got the four tires filled on my BX2200, the tire shop had a display showing different densities of foam filling, which was set by the pressure it was cured at.

One sample was very soft, another medium and one very stiff. You could squeeze it with your fingers to feel the difference. The guy told me it was a function of the pressure they cured the foam at, or something like that. It has been over ten years now...so I don't remember exactly.

But my tires do have flex to them if I push on them with my foot. I also foam filled the fronts on the larger B2910 tractor, about 15 years ago, after flatting a few days after it was delivered. The rears on the larger tractor are filled with WW fluid, which I did myself. I made up my mind if I flat on one of those I will bite the bullet and get those foam filled as well...

I believe foam filling give the highest weight for tires, as it is a 100 percent fill factor.

Great product and no downsides that I can see except for the cost.

Bill

Huh, cool. That's good to know.

 

[motownbrowne]

Feel free to describe driving foamed tires as you like. Since you have never driven a vehicle with foamed tires it certainly won't bother me one bit just like your comment about concrete didn't' bother me, it simply made it seem as if you didn't' know what you were talking about. I was simply trying to help correct the misinformation you were spreading because you lacked experience with tire foam.

You said foaming tires was like filling them with concrete which is absolutely not accurate. Glad we got that straight. Before you go making any more incorrect claims about foamed tires riding rough or you latest statement "like solid rubber" why don't you check this video out. It may help you to better understand how tire foam works and compares instead of making statements like "It's not like the foam in a mattress" and "It's like filling your tires with concrete" or "the farmer couldn't even drive 5 mph with foamed tires". LAffin

This is a good discussion. Thanks for the video. Is tyrfil the only foam they use, or is it a specific type? Are other brands similarly squishy? Of course that video is put out by the manufacturer, and I'd basically an advertisement but I get the point.

So perhaps you're right, and I was spreading misinformation. I maintain that many people who run foam say it rides rough. In the future, though, I will say something like "foam filled tires have benefits and drawbacks (like everything) many operators report that they are stiff and make for a less comfortable ride."

While true thati don't personally have any experience to base this on, it is accurate, and not misinformation. After all, if we all only shared info that we had gotten from our personal hands-on experiences, we wouldn't have much to say.

 

[TheMan419]

Sand works really good...no air spaces like you'd get with rocks, bricks, etc. And, as it settles, you can add more
Some folks use concrete and use PVC pipe to make holder for shovels, rakes, etc. Good idea too!
I like sand for two reasons: 1) you can shovel it out to adjust the weight and 2) you can shovel some out to provide better tractor in slick conditions. I've never had any need to adjust the weight, but I have used the sand to aid in traction on occasion.

I'd estimate my weight box, including sand, goes around 900 lbs.

Yes I would start with sand/rocks before I filled the thing with cement. Need to iron out the kinks first. Also having the sand for use in traction would be a benefit. You can always put a pipe in and then fill around it with sand to use for a tool holder if that is important.

Having the ability to adjust if some need arose would be important to me. Even having the additional 500lbs of the mower seemed to make a huge difference.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Feel free to describe driving foamed tires as you like. Since you have never driven a vehicle with foamed tires it certainly won't bother me one bit just like your comment about concrete didn't' bother me, it simply made it seem as if you didn't' know what you were talking about. I was simply trying to help correct the misinformation you were spreading because you lacked experience with tire foam.

You said foaming tires was like filling them with concrete which is absolutely not accurate. Glad we got that straight. Before you go making any more incorrect claims about foamed tires riding rough or you latest statement "like solid rubber" why don't you check this video out. It may help you to better understand how tire foam works and compares instead of making statements like "It's not like the foam in a mattress" and "It's like filling your tires with concrete" or "the farmer couldn't even drive 5 mph with foamed tires". LAffin

It doesn't really test vs liquid filled tires, just run flats, foam and pneumatic tires.

I would guess the hardness of the foam also depends on how they fill it, in my mind if it over expands it could be very hard, doesn't expand enough and there's a possibility of flat spots so it sounds like it's more of the skill/experience of the guy filling the tire where any monkey with a manual pump can fill a tire with beet juice and washer fluid.

I also would like to think liquid would be easier on the tractor vs foam since the tractor doesn't have to spin the water weight like it does the foam weight. I'm kinda picturing a full glass of water with something floating in the water, if you spin in a circle the glass moves but the liquid stays kinda stationary along with the object in the water, at best it moves much slower than the glass, I would think a liquid filled tire would be similar. Less HP loss. But I have not researched it yet, just a thought.

 

[City Farmer]

Have you considered getting some burn outs? I had some made for my tractor from a fab shop up the road. They were reasonably priced, $320 for (4) 22.5" dia. X 2.5" thick about 1150lbs. When I went to pick them up the guy asked me what they were for. He said if he would've known, he could've burned out for the lugs also. He also said if I was a month earlier, it would've only been $260.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

https://m.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/3c9h39/how_does_the_air_inside_the_tire_of_a_moving_car/

I may be getting a little too involved but this site brings up some interesting points on the forces of water filled tires.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Here is some more things I found on the subject

Comparing Types of Liquid Tire Ballast | OrangeTractorTalks

Ballast: The Tractor Tire Fluids Rundown - Countryside Network

http://www.rimguard.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Hydro-Flation-tables-2014-PDF.pdf

If I filled my rears with rimguard it would add 920lbs to the machine, 13.6-28 rear tire size. Putting me at a over all weight of around 6200lbs well under a light tandem axle trailer so that's not an issue. But that would bring the center of gravity way down on the tractor.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

There's plenty of benefits to foam for sure but for my use, I don't need it. I don't work my tractor commercially, I mainly use it for cows and gravel driveway maintenance. Eventually I plan todo some bush hog work and redo driveways later down the road when I get more implements. So for my needs it comes down to washer fluid or beet juice.

Also I want to note, my tires aren't new so foam wouldn't be as viable since my tires are most likely original to the tractor. 2005. If I had a new tractor I would look into foam more closely

 

[motownbrowne]

Thanks for the links above. Cool info. Re: beet juice vs washer fluid, beet juice is heavier. It's also non-toxic. And more expensive. WW fluid you can do yourself with a few cheap tools and some spare time.

 

[oosik]

Sooo...... I have a couple ??. Does foam add much weight or is it mainly to prevent flats. I've heard that foam filled tires are a PITA when it comes time to install new tires - true?