filling tires with water & antifreez?

[cleev]

My new TC35 is being delivered tomorrow and the dealer suggested that the rear tires be filled with a mix of water and antifreez. Is this a good thing to do? Should I tell him not to
fill the tires. He said traction would be better, and I am sure it will. But are there any cons I should be aware of?

Thanks......... Cleev

 

[rmorgan]

Cleev--

If you're getting a front-end loader filled rear tires or another serious rear ballast is a must. See the "three-point hitch stress" thread that's going on for problems with other rear-ballast strategies. But there are a lot of choices besides antifreeze and water, usually calcium chloride solution, my NH dealer's solution, which is as freeze-proof but (I think, but don't knokw why) environmentally better. If you search the site you'll find a lot about filled tires and alternative ballast, including a threated started by Rogue on Kubota owning on July 17. As I recall the biggest complaints are the mess on puncture; the weight on removal; and the possibility of marring lawns.

Rick

 

[cleev]

Thanks Rick, I appreciate your comments. I could see where a puncture could be a mess. I am not getting a FEL, I already have a NH lx865 skid steer otherwise I would have gotten one. I am only getting a box scrape 5' and a Brown 460 bush hog

Thanks George

 

[Bird]

Cleev, the ballast in the tires provides two benefits; counterweight for a front end loader and better traction. You say you aren't getting a front end loader, so do you think you'll need more traction? If not, I wouldn't fill the tires. However, I have a front end loader and have water and antifreeze in my rear tires (maybe not environmentally friendly if you have a leak, but not as corrosive as calcium chloride). Calcium chloride is popular up north, and I don't know of anyone in my part of the country who would even consider putting it in their tires, plus the fact that I don't where you could get it if you wanted it. It may be more environmentally friendly; I don't know, but I do know that if you get a leak, it'll kill the grass and it'll be a long time coming back because a neighbor bought a used tractor from Minnesota and the first leak he had was right in front of my house so he pulled in to air it up in my shop and killed the grass where he stopped. That was when he found out he had that stuff in his tires. Since then he's also had to replace both rear wheels that rusted out.

Bird

 

[rmorgan]

Cleev--after reading Bird's post I need to talk to my dealer and find out why he's not selling antifreeze instead of CaCl--so much for my environmental knowledge!

Rick

 

[cleev]

Hey, thanks bird, I live on a mountain top and have steep hills
I bekieve the filled tires will help. I am going to use ther box
blade to keep up the roads on the place and need traction on the rocky hillsides. Thanks for the input. I never heard of using calcium chloride. Will it rest the rims? Should you fill the front tires also on a fwd?

Cleev

 

[glennmac]

This subject has been discussed extensively on this forum and CTB, and it would be worthwhile reading the older threads.

There are two types of antifreeze, one of which is fatal to animals. Calcium chloride is used because it creates a heavier mixture, more weight, than water and antifreeze. I do not know whether there are regional variations in the use of calcium chloride, but that mixture, in its solid form known as rock salt, is spread all over just about every road in the snowbelt many times every winter.

Having a flat with filled tires is an icky mess with any of the stuff other than pure water. Except for not using the poisonous kind of antifreeze, I dont know that either of the options is more or less environmentally friendly than the other in the event of a spill. People here seem to choose the calcium more than the antifreeze because of the increased weight. I have my rear tires filled up to the top of the rims with calcium chloride in tubes.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: filling tires with windshield water fluid

In the Northeast US, the Calcium Choride {rocksalt like/water mixture} is usually installed inside tire tubes preventing any wheel corrosion.

However, the past few years, many have gone over to windshield washer fluid, prevents the freezing, but not as heavy as CalChoride mix.

 

[cleev]

Re: filling tires with windshield water fluid

Thanks bird. I appreciate your comments
cleev

 

[jinman]

Cleev, it has not been mentioned by anyone yet, but filling R4s will add several hundred pounds and may make your tractor too heavy for a lightweight utility trailer. I have a TC45 with a FEL, and I would exceed the 7000 lb GVW of my trailer if I filled the rear tires. I don't know if you will be trailering your tractor very often, but I just thought I would mention this "extra weight" consideration.

JimI