Loaded tires

ArkCivEngr · Jan 26, 2005

I'm seeing a lot of folks extolling the virtues of loading tires for added weight/traction/ballast. Is it normal to load all 4, or just the rears? And load with what? I've heard of several things, but most popular seems to be windshield washer fluid. Is there also something I can (or more accurately, have the dealer) load them with that will also plug holes and act as a stop-leak?

RoyJackson · Jan 26, 2005

Filled tires do add a heck of a lot of stability! I know some folks fill all four, but my tractors have just had the rears filled.

My tractor has the windshield washer fluid...my previous machine had Calcium Chloride (CaCl). Both are good, but CaCl has a reputation for corroding the steel wheels. Of course, there are a lot of decades old tractors running with CaCl in those tires.

As far as something that will plug the holes...sorry, never heard of anything that would do that.

Of course, some folks here fill the tires with foam. I've no experience with that, so I won't comment...but it would eliminate flat tires.

DHennet · Jan 26, 2005

Is filling the tires something I can do myself or should it go to the dealer? I have an LT133 that desperately needs the tires filled and I'm ordering a 2210 this week. I'll have the R4s on the 2210 filled before delivery.

ArkCivEngr · Jan 26, 2005

As small as those tires are on the LT133 (I had an LT155...great little machine), they make some sort of foam that you can shoot in right through the valve. It comes in a red aerosol can, but I can't think of the name of it. It's made for automotive tires, so I'm sure a can of it will probably do all 4 tires on your LT.

dmp437 · Jan 27, 2005

Mine are filled with RimGuard. RimGuard has higher density and is non-toxic. Check them out at RimGuard
I only have the rears loaded and wouldn't consider loading the fronts. The fronts have a smaller footprint and carry the weight of the loader plus most of the weight of the mid mount mower when it's on. As a result, even unloaded the fronts do more turf damage than the rears do fully loaded.

JD2210MAN · Jan 27, 2005

My John Deere dealer only charges for the RimGuard, not the labor. I don't know why but I am not going to complain. He charges $2.50 per gallon and I had my fathers Craftsman filled (I only had the rear loaded and we got nearly 50 lbs in each tire). I can not tell you how much of a difference it is! From traction to stability. I had only wheel weights but they do nothing for stability compared to the RimGuard. I am not sure the front would make much difference because of the pivot on the front axel. You would have to be already going over before that would factor in. But then again, it may be the last hope in that event. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

My opinion, if your dealer does not charge too much... it is much easier to just have it done. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bowhunter · Jan 27, 2005

There have been several posts in the upper forums of the main page on loading tires. I know that Henro has some tires that are foam-filled. I agree with what's been said thus far, it's a big help in the rear tires, probably not so much in the front. I had a local garage fill my rear tires with used anti-freeze (cheap) and it helped the stability on side hills. With the added weight you will leave more of a footprint on wet ground however.

nephromancer · Feb 4, 2005

None of my local dealers are using the calcium anymore. They are all offering to fill them with antifreeze, (ethylene glycol). I had not heard of the windshield wiper solvent, which is methanol and water. I am suprised that they can use that mix, seems to me that it would definitely corrode,(rust), the rims. The antifreeze seems less likly to cause problems.

turbo36 · Feb 5, 2005

Filling the tires with anti-freeze is a bad idea, dogs and other animals love the sweet taste and just a small amount can be fatal. If you develop a leak in the field the ecological damage could de devastating,