Anyone regret filling your tires?

[ericm979]

I had Rimguard put in the rears on mine. They fillled them a little too full. Letting air out to get the pressure down where I want it is a challenge. The stuff clogs up the valve so when letting the extra out I periodically have to put in a hit of air to clear it. It also clogs up the pressure gauge, even the special one made for tractor tires. When checking PSI I bring a container of warm water out and immediately flush out the gauge. When I check the tires I either drain out the Rimguard in the valve stem or put a small hit of air in before using the gauge but it still gets Rimguard in the gauge and needs immediate flushing. If you let that stuff harden in there it takes quite a bit of work to get it out.

I wouldn't go so far as to say I wish I didn't have the Rimguard in there because I think it makes the tractor more stable but it does add a lot more hassle than I expected.

 

[kthompson]

eric, I agree you need to flush the air pressure gauge made for filled tires.

However, I have no idea when I have used a gauge to check my rear tires. At least mine with ag tires, the loader tires yep must use gauge as the sides are so stiff have to use a gauge on mine, but the bag of the ag tires has worked well for me for years.

 

[oosik]

kthompson - EXACTLY. The first year I owned my new M6040 - I would check the pressure in the rear tires often. It soon got real old - douching out the air pressure gauge. I DO use the gauge on the front tires.

I simply drive the tractor out on the beginning of my driveway - where its hard as concrete and check to ensure that the full width of the bar tread is just touching the ground. That's just about 16 to 18 psi and exactly where I want the pressure to be.

If I do it early on a summer day like today - I can see the full bar width imprint on my still damp driveway.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I don't regret filling my tires. I would hate to drive on flat ones.

 

[Lnk]

To prevent having to climb on and off your tractor to check pressure, you could place each valve stem up and paint a spot on the inner rim/tire to indicate that it is up. That is what I did and it is easy to check pressure now.

 

[oosik]

If I do ever check the air pressure in the rear tires. Spit on my thumb and make a mark on the rear tire exactly where the valve stem is. This way I don't have to lean over and check the stem location and drive the tractor at the same time. Just go forward until the "spit mark" is at high noon.

Just another chapter in the educational series - " A good use for your spit & your thumb".

 

[MtnViewRanch]

kthompson - EXACTLY. The first year I owned my new M6040 - I would check the pressure in the rear tires often. It soon got real old - douching out the air pressure gauge. I DO use the gauge on the front tires.

I simply drive the tractor out on the beginning of my driveway - where its hard as concrete and check to ensure that the full width of the bar tread is just touching the ground. That's just about 16 to 18 psi and exactly where I want the pressure to be.

If I do it early on a summer day like today - I can see the full bar width imprint on my still damp driveway.

Working smarter, no harder. :thumbsup:

 

[Groo]

Mine are filled with rim guard, plus I have a weight box with 250lbs, Only downside is on road driving, you can feel it rolling but that痴 the only negative for me.

care to expand upon this? What is your fill %

Anyone have some opinion of 75% fill vs 40% fill?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

care to expand upon this? What is your fill %

Anyone have some opinion of 75% fill vs 40% fill?

On my 32hp and on my 75hp tractor, all 4 tires on each tractor are filled 75%. (just over top of rim) I have had zero ill effects from this. My 75hp tractor does about 20MPH at top speed and I have noticed no ill effects.

I needed-wanted as much weight as I could add, 40% fill would not have done it for me. I work on a few slopes quite comfortably that I did not dare without the filled tires.

 

[Piston]

care to expand upon this? What is your fill %

Anyone have some opinion of 75% fill vs 40% fill?

You will generally be better off filling your tires with the most weight you can. It will give you the most loader stability and traction. The tractor will be a lot more planted. It will feel like a different tractor.

As I understand it from studying advanced stability for ships (doesn’t mean I’m an expert) the full tire will technically raise your center of gravity, (IF your center of gravity is anything higher than where your axle is) vs the half full tire. However, the added weight should far outweigh the mathematically small amount of righting arm that you would lose with an increased center of gravity.

In other words, it’s not going to make a huge difference in “real life” stability wise as far as tipping your tractor over. What WILL make a HUGE difference (exponentially larger than the minor difference of 50% vs 75% Full, is widening your stance of the rear tires.

If your concerned about hillside stability, widen the stance with wheel spacers. If your concerned about loader stability, fill your tires with as much weight as you can. If you want the best of both worlds, do both.