Load Rear Tires with Cast-Iron rims?

[Boltzie42]

I'm planning on purchasing an M7040HD that has cast iron rear rims. I've always loaded the rear tires and am not sure if I need to with the cast iron rims. It's included in the price to load the tires. Each cast iron rim is 300 lbs heavier than the standard steel rim. The 16.9-30 tires hold 73 gallons per tire, which would be around 8.3 x 73 = 606 lbs. With the cast iron rims and loaded tires, I'm adding 906 lbs to each tire....1800 lbs to the tractor! I'm also getting 4 front weights at 100 lbs each. I don't want the tractor to be way out of balance and definately don't want to overstress the rear gears by adding 900 lbs to each tire. Recommendations?

 

[TomSeller]

Will you have a loader? Fluid in the tires doesn't stress the tractor that much since the weight is straight to the ground, same as the cast iron wheels. You do have more rotational mass to get in motion, which is probably what you are referring to.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I believe its the hubs/wheel centers that are cast iron -- the rims are steel. Those hubs add weight and rigidity to the assembled wheel. Still, in most cases more weight on the back end is good. Fluid ballast can be much cheaper than wheel weights and a temporary experiment with water will give you free info to decide whether more weight is good for you. ... You could buy the tractor unballasted and get used to the characteristic before pumping it full of water from your garden hose. If you like the change get it drained and refilled with a freeze pruf solution or buy wheel weights. If not, drain as much as you can and add a gallon of antfreeze to the remainder.
larry

 

[Soundguy]

if you are using a heavy laoder. I'd load the tires.

rolling weights like tire and rim are easier than carried weights like frame and 3pt and front axle weights..e tc..