Filled Tire Performance

[Mrwurm]

I plan to have my rear tires (turf) filled with Rim-Guard to provide ballast while using my FEL. Can anyone tell me what to expect about tractor handling or performance after the fill. Will it take longer to stop? Will I hear it sloshing around? Will it be harder on my trans? Will it take longer to accelerate? Will it be harder on my turf? You know, what did you notice after you had your tires filled?
Jerry

 

[rf33]

The addition of liquid ballast to tires should not have a large effect on the performance of your tractor in terms of acceleration or stopping distance. It might however be harder on your turf as the ground pressure will increase. Ground pressure is generally measured in psi, and since you are increasing the pounds, and not changing the number of square inches of tire in contact with the ground, you are increasing the ground pressure. The best way to counter this effect, if it is imperative that you do so, is to change to wider tires as these will have a larger ground contact patch, thereby distributing the increased weight over a larger surface.

Adding fixed wheel weights will have a larger effect of increasing driveline wear, taking longer to accelerate (0-60 times for your tractor?), and taking longer to stop, but still not very noticeable.

 

[Dozernut]

I have had both wheel weights and fluids. You will not hear the sloshing of the fluid in the tires. I have not noticed any accelerated wear with weights or fluid and this is with hundreds of hours of usage. Your biggest two concerns with fluid, depending on type, is damage to your wheel rims. Calcium based fluids will rust out your rims eventually. As rf33 already stated, this will up your psi on your tires. A spring time lawn, if you use the tractor for mowing, will get rutted up by a heavy tractor. I have a 4610 that is just too heavy to mow with in the spring. It has to be dry or I will leave some pretty good sized ruts. one more thing, with fluid if you get a flat tire, you will probably need to call a tire service company for repair. This is due to the weight, and replenishment of lost fluids. Good luck!

 

[chrisjbell]

Hi Jerry,

You won't notice a difference, I'll bet. Until you have to change a tire /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. That's one of the advantages of putting the ballast inside the tire - you don't get much of a momentum shift that impacts the motion of the tractor.

...Chris

 

[Bird]

Jerry, a few years ago a neighbor bought a used 85hp tractor and had no idea the tires were filled with calcium until he punctured a tire. I couldn't tell any difference at all with my B2710 except for the increased traction after I filled them with water and antifreeze.

 

[RoyJackson]

<font color=red>"taking longer to accelerate (0-60 times for your tractor?)</font color=red>

0 to 60???!!!

 

[chim]

When I filled the R4's on my B7500, the differences were better traction and the rear wheels both stayed on the ground when using the loader. The grass didn't seem to notice the added weight. I liked rf33's explanation above. It would be interesting to see the weight per square inch of rubber (rubber actually in contact with) on the ground on different tractor / tire combos....................chim

 

[Kodiak]

Is that 0-60 minutes?

 

[billfires]

Kodiak, I believe that is 0-60 feet!!

Bill C

 

[JTD]

I never noticed much of a change when I filled the rears and later the fronts. The ride may be a bit stiffer, especially on pavement, but it's not really an issue. You will tear up the grass more when wet and turning.

 

[Mrwurm]

I have 400 ft of concrete driveway and I have noticed that (with FEL attached) that the tractor bounces a bit when I run at top speed (10 to 14 mph) up the driveway. I believe the bouncing is caused by the cantilevered weight of the loader out front. I am hoping that filling the rear tires will make the tractor a little more stable in this regard.
Jerry

 

[Anonymous Poster]

What about side ways on a hill? Is it more stable? Dan

 

[rf33]

It should be more stable sideways on a hill (I think) because with filled tires, the center of gravity should be lower, thus making the tractor less likely to roll over. I do not want to be the one to test this theory however...

 

[Anonymous Poster]

It does make sence rf33.. That is where I need it most for cross hill work... Slight grade under 10% but still get butterflys! Dan

 

[rf33]

Another thing which would help to improve the lateral stability would be to have the widest track possible. Many tractors have adjustable rear axles, and by widening them or by flipping the rear wheels around, perhaps you can increase the track which also should help to stabilize the tractor from side to side.

If you routinely run across slopes, perhaps a tiltmeter would also be a good addition to your tractor. Do a search here on tiltmeter, and you should find all the info you would ever need on them.

 

[snowman]

Chim

I've got the same as you - B7500 with R4's.

One reason I was thinking about filling the tires is to help with the ride when mowing. I bounce all over the place now and need the seat belt just to stay on. I'm not going fast; it's just that my lawn (really an old field) is very rough.

Do you get a much better or more solid ride with the filled tires? I would think that you would, but I don't know if the weight in the tires would be enough to affect the ride much.

Just curious.

 

[rf33]

I do not think that the filled tires would affect the bounce all that much, as I suspect alot of the bounce is due to the short wheelbase of your (as well as almost all) tractor(s). I could be wrong here, but I cannot seem to think of any reason that adding 10% more weight or so to the tractor would affect the ride quality very much.

 

[frank_f15]

filled tires will add to your traction, don't beleive u will notice any diff in riding. but remember that the weight of the filled tires will always be with the tractor, and sometimes this could be negative. i prefer to add my weight by using an implement on the 3pt. know its not the same but i like it that way. some guys swear by filled tires, i don't.just mho. it really comes down to use of the tractor and your personal prefercences.

 

[chim]

Snowman, I really didn't notice a difference in the ride filled/unfilled. I did air the tires down a bit, especially the rears. That seemed to make a difference. I think they are around 15# at present....................chim