Ice in tires

[SC2555HST]

I have straight water in my rear tires for ballast. I'm in Aiken, SC. We get a few freezing days a winter, but usually thaws out by mid-day. I see all the YouTube videos of people putting windshield washer fluid in for the -20 anti-freeze attribute.

My question is, besides a big chunk of ice stuck to one side of the tire creating unbalance if rolling, will ice freezing in a tire damage anything? My thoughts are that the rubber will flex enough to compensate for the ice expansion.

What are your thoughts?

 

[JD15302155870]

i'm in Northeast Ga and the tires on all three of my tractors have plain water. It won't freeze at 32. I run mine as long as it stays about 25 degrees or above. On the other hand if it gets cold enough it will freeze. My FIL let his tractor freeze at 12 degrees and then used it. the ice in the tires then shreded the tubes and in turn ruined the tire. I have left my tractors out at 3 or 4 degrees wihtout any issue. I let it sit until it warms up into the fifties for a couple of days before moving it. I've never had an issue withthat method.

 

[SC2555HST]

That's what I was hoping someone would say. Thanks!

 

[Cramby]

I would be worried about corrosion.

 

[atsah]

I would be worried about corrosion.

Me to and that is why we fill them with vegetable oil here..

 

[roadhunter]

Me to and that is why we fill them with vegetable oil here..

I can only imagine how fun that is when you have a flat.

 

[atsah]

I can only imagine how fun that is when you have a flat.

I know but it can't be any worse than calcium..

 

[aarolar]

It'll never get cold enough in Georgia for enough concecutive days to freeze my tractor tire solid and if it does I ain't going outside to ride around on the tractor. Plain water makes things so easy fixing damaged tires.

 

[roadhunter]

I know but it can't be any worse than calcium..

I suspect Oil has the potential to be much worse than calcium. For one it's flammable. Not to mention slicker than snot. If it leaked out near water it could be all sorts of trouble. Plus it's lighter than water.

I do not see the reasoning behind using vegetable oil for tire ballast. What would you say the benefits are?

 

[RickB]

Ice chunks and tire tubes don't mix. Theres no danger posed by ice in tubeless tires.