Tires 2015 HST Filled Tires?

[fyrewil]

OK....
I have read about "filling" the tires for extra traction. But what are you filling them with and how?

 

[driver444]

I have a 2015 gear drive with filled tires.

They use a few different things to fill tires. Calcium, winshield washer fluid, ant-freeze, and foam to name a few. Most tire places (especially agricultural) fill tires. The dealer I bought my tractor from did mine for me (no charge).
Also there are kits available at major auto parts stores to do it yourself, though I never had any experience with it.

Filled tires make ALL the difference in the world.

 

[art]

I have a 2015 gear drive with filled tires.

filled tires make ALL the difference in the world.

Weight on the rear makes all the difference in the world and the best weight is not liquid filled tires!
When you make a mistake with them it costs more then steel and a tractor doesn't perform as well with liquid!

 

[driver444]

I agree with the weight part Art. There's plenty of ways to add weight. The main reason I like the filled tires (as much as I like wheel weights) is that the added weight isn't carried by the rear axle and 3ph as it is with a weight box. But I think we'd both agree that the Mahindra 2015 (as heavy as it is) certainly needs the extra weight especially if you use the loader alot.

 

[YanmarFever]

Weight on the rear makes all the difference in the world and the best weight is not liquid filled tires!
When you make a mistake with them it costs more then steel and a tractor doesn't perform as well with liquid!

Art could you please give us a little more insight on this ?

Maybe im missing something

Thank You Ernie

 

[7AcherHaven]

Art could you please give us a little more insight on this ?

Maybe im missing something

Thank You Ernie

Yea, what gives with that? I agree that weights are great b/c you can always take them off, and they are not as susceptible to damage. But since tires only get filled to 75-80% anyway, the center-of-gravity is even a little lower than steel weights during normal operation. So, in that regard, I say the perform better than wheel weights. Maybe you're thinking about the viscosity of the fluid or something? I honestly don't think my 2015 notices that.

My 2015 HST has filled tires and I wouldn't be without them. The only wheel weights I could find were either some hokey ones I found from TSC or steel ones which were expensive and stuck out on the sides a bit - increasing my overall clearances - which I don't need.

In my case, I needed a smaller tractor to get into all the areas I need to work. I have even had to take off the box scraper to do some work in a little courtyard. It was a real mound of dirt I needed to move out of there, sure glad I didn't have to hire it done. I couldn't have done it safely without the filled tires.

 

[shvl73]

There was a TBN member who recently stated his preference for a weight box vs filled rears. His opinion was filled rears make the front axle the pivot point and that could lead to front axle damage, rather than weight on the 3pt which he stated would shift some of that balance to the rear axle. I have no idea if there is merit to this or not.

 

[bindian]

I would love to fill my tires and I would if I didn't have a BH. I can't fill the tires with the BH because the weight would over gross my trailer. I had the BH off the other day for the first time and WOW....I felt that loader in the seat of my pants! I hooked up the rotary cutter and felt better. Filled tires definitely have a lower CG over add on weights. Oh yeah.....foam is added in lieu of air to not have flats. Works great...........till you try to take the tire off of the rim.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Dougster]

Filled tires definitely have a lower CG over add on weights.

Wouldn't the center of gravity actually be the same for equal weight added: wheel weights (or weight box at axle centerline height) vs. filled tires assuming uniformly distributed foam and not half-filled liquid?

Dougster

 

[art]

Sorry I missed you guys. The steel weights on wheels is just as good as the liquid and you can get by with less because it doesn't hinder the tire flex which is what actually hurts traction.
To say the liquid is better because it is lower I question the differerence, both steel and liquid still use the same shaft or axle to attach to the tractor. To use a three point hitch weight does remove load from the front axle using the rear axle as a pivot.

 

[driver444]

That was my whole point with the filled tires. No weight is added to the tractor components, (axles, either front or rear.) Any weight you add to a 3 point is carried by the axles, and lift hydraulics, and will take some weight off the front end, and in some cases that's not ALWAYS the best thing on a 4x4 tractor.

 

[bindian]

Wouldn't the center of gravity actually be the same for equal weight added: wheel weights (or weight box at axle centerline height) vs. filled tires assuming uniformly distributed foam and not half-filled liquid?

Dougster

The correct procedure is to add weight on each end depending on how far the added weight is from the CG. But to figure that out you need to be up on your weight and balance formulas. The lower (in height) the weight is attached, the less top heavy the tractor is and thus has more stability for traction. Half or more (depending on how full) of a filled tire's weight is below the axle keeping the tractor bottom heavy where it counts for traction. Front bumper weights or 3PH weights are at or above the axle height. If they are lower you have overhang problems. Wheel weights would then be the next best thing to filled tires. Best thing to do is go with what your manual says.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Dougster]

The correct procedure is to add weight on each end depending on how far the added weight is from the CG. But to figure that out you need to be up on your weight and balance formulas. The lower (in height) the weight is attached, the less top heavy the tractor is and thus has more stability for traction. Half or more (depending on how full) of a filled tire's weight is below the axle keeping the tractor bottom heavy where it counts for traction. Front bumper weights or 3PH weights are at or above the axle height. If they are lower you have overhang problems. Wheel weights would then be the next best thing to filled tires. Best thing to do is go with what your manual says. hugs, Brandi

I see you are thinking CG in two (or three) planes while I am thinking in one. I was thinking vertical plane, rear tires only and filled with foam which I thought distributed itself evenly... and therefore had the same net effect on CG as rear wheel weights of the same total weight.

The reason that I am focusing on this is twofold: 1) I am passing up too much work that involves traversing some serious slopes (with and without the BH in place), and 2) I am concerned that with non-filled, non-weighted industrial tires that I will have trouble in certain cases grading with a 7-ft box blade and maybe should stick with a heavy-duty (think: heavier weight) 6-ft box blade. Like you, I am up against my trailer's load limit and truck towing capability with the BH in place... so anything that can be added/changed at a jobsite (if it turns out to be necessary) is a big plus for me.

Dougster

 

[JerryG]

Sorry I missed you guys. The steel weights on wheels is just as good as the liquid and you can get by with less because it doesn't hinder the tire flex which is what actually hurts traction.
To say the liquid is better because it is lower I question the differerence, both steel and liquid still use the same shaft or axle to attach to the tractor. To use a three point hitch weight does remove load from the front axle using the rear axle as a pivot.

From my experience, it doesn't seem like you need near as much weigh if you use cast compared to fluid. Something like 400 lbs. of cast vs. 6-700 lbs. of fluid ballast. It isn't scientific, just seat of the pants.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

This has been my experience with my 7520, tractor by itself okay, added 4 sets of wheel weights, okay just a little better, but not enough. Added fluid to all 4 tires per owners manual, oh my goodness, I could hardly believe the difference. Not only does it seem much more stable, but I feel like the tractor actually rides smoother.

I guess that my tractor weighs in around 12,000 lbs with the FEL, I still need rear weight on the 3ph when picking up maximum loads and even with all that weight, I still can stop the tractor with all of my grading implements and they are 81"- 96" wide.

Just some of my experiences, yours may vary.

 

[art]

This has been my experience with my 7520, tractor by itself okay, added 4 sets of wheel weights, okay just a little better, but not enough. Added fluid to all 4 tires per owners manual, oh my goodness, I could hardly believe the difference. Not only does it seem much more stable, but I feel like the tractor actually rides smoother.

I guess that my tractor weighs in around 12,000 lbs with the FEL, I still need rear weight on the 3ph when picking up maximum loads and even with all that weight, I still can stop the tractor with all of my grading implements and they are 81"- 96" wide.

Just some of my experiences, yours may vary.

I'd say your air presssure was off to begin with, I've never seen what you described for peformance. To have a loaded front tire is way over loaded for all but total heavy earth movement day in and out.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I'd say your air presssure was off to begin with, I've never seen what you described for peformance. To have a loaded front tire is way over loaded for all but total heavy earth movement day in and out.

Each to his own, the performance of my tractor is quite good I believe. My tires have 20lbs in the rear & 46lbs in the front. The maximum rated inflation, the tires bulge with the loads that are commonly carried. I am not going to change tire pressure on a regular basis to get optimum traction. I very seldom do one type of work for more than 1 day. That is why I have a utility tractor, and I have chosen what seems to work best for me in my environment.

 

[bindian]

Like you, I am up against my trailer's load limit and truck towing capability with the BH in place... so anything that can be added/changed at a jobsite (if it turns out to be necessary) is a big plus for me.

Dougster[/QUOTE]
Dougster,
You can always carry a water hose and fill the tires at the job site.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

To have a loaded front tire is way over loaded for all but total heavy earth movement day in and out.

From the photos I have seen of MtnViewRanch............you are describing Brian's operation. His 7520 and my 6520's front tires are bigger than a lot of little CUT's REAR tires. Just curious, what kind of mistake did you make with filled tires?
hugs, Brandi

 

[Offy]

That's just down right embarassin' that a girl has tires bigger than mine!