Frozen filled tires - how can you tell?

[FTG-05]

Rim Guard® is nearly 30% heavier than water.
Rim Guard® is non-corrosive.
Rim Guard® is non-toxic and biodegradable.
Rim Guard® is freeze-resistant down to -35°F.
Rim Guard® is cost effective because inner tubes are not needed and tires are easier to repair.
Rim Guard® is the one and only Beet Juice™ tire ballast!
I use rim guard it was 2 or 3 dollars a gallon installed

You live in NH. I live in SC TN.

The closest RG dealer is somewhere in southern KY - about 150 miles one way. This is according to RG. "We can't compete against free!" (they were referring to straight water).

 

[rd_macgregor]

The best way to tell if your tires are frozen is to watch for them sweating (like a glass of ice water) on warmer moist days. IT wont work when temps are well below freezing though.

The fluid doesn't have to be frozen in order to cause this condensation. It only has to be colder than the dew point. If, on the other hand, you see frost forming on the tire (rather than condensed water vapor) on an above-freezing day, then the fluid in the tires is below 32F (maybe frozen, maybe not).

 

[prichard]

Wow! I'm sure glad you posted this. I never thought about tire damage due to frozen fluid. It's been in the teens here at night and barely above freezing during the day. I was about to go fire up the tractor to move a trailer. I'll call dealer tomorrow and see what they filled the tires with.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Trying to drain water is not effective to gauge how much freezing, because IF the fluid is freezing the valve, being exposed, will freeze first.​

To gauge freezing extent in the tire, you can push firmly on the sidewall of the tire with the heel of your hand - elbow braced on your hip. With very thin ice you will get movement and a crackle. ... MAYBE safe to move. If it is rigid its definitely frozen too thick to move safely.

 

[FTG-05]

I'm not going to bother doing any tests until it's been a couple days above 45 or so, which is supposed to start today. Mid-60's by mid-week - Yay!

Fortunately, I don't need the tractor right now. I do need to run the road but it's supposed to rain tonight, hence the road be dry for several days, so I'm good short term.

Thanks for the help!

 

[k0ua]

RV antifreeze is already diluted for the right temperature. Diluted with straight water as in your tire will make it almost useless against freezing.

You should have used a antifreeze concentrate and mix it to the right levels for the temp needed for protection, or premixed for a certain temp protection.

Yep, RV antifreeze is "ready to use", You don't ever dilute it and put it in your tires. When I used it in my Kubota, it went in straight.

 

[fried1765]

Yep, RV antifreeze is "ready to use", You don't ever dilute it and put it in your tires. When I used it in my Kubota, it went in straight.

Exactly correct!
The OP 10% (or whatever) MIX of RV anti freeze, provides absolutely NO FREEZE PROTECTION!
RV antifreeze straight, is fine,.... but it is quite expensive.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Here's a pic I took today about mid day. It's +32 F at the time. You can see the frost line on my tire. These are filled with Rim Guard.



I thought it made an interesting picture.

We're having a freakish warm spell right now, so it's a little bit odd that it was plus 32 today (I think it made it to +36 F, which is unheard of at this time of year).

 

[k0ua]

Using AUTOMOTIVE anti freeze in tractor tires is a TERRIBLE idea, if you have animals.
Spilled automotive antifreeze (ethelene glycol) will attract animals to the DEADLY sweet taste.
It doesn't take much!
If you love your dogs and cats......don't use it!

Agreed, BUT, RV antifreeze is NOT automotive antifreeze. It is NOT ethylene glycol it is propylene glycol. You can drink it in moderate amounts. It is called RV antifreeze NOT because it goes into the cooling system of an RV it goes in the toilet and water distribution system of an RV. Yes into the water lines. You flush it out, but it is not toxic if ingested in moderated amounts. Propylene glycol is added to many foodstuffs and you have ingested much of it in your life. Now I am not saying you should drink it like strawberry soda pop, (which it resembles ) but it is not like ethylene glycol which is highly toxic for pets and humans alike.

You probably already knew this, but I bring it up for the benefit of others that might not.

 

[gwstang]

I've heard of a guy, that would go to get on the older type tractor, and in an area of extreme cold, the tires would freeze to the ground. When started up and put in gear to move forward the tractor rotated around the frozen rear tires and flipped over backwards and killed the operator. Terrible way to go, if this is true?