Tires Questions before loading tires with water

Roger_H · Sep 6, 2005

Hi all,

I've been reading the posts about "loading" tires with water with a lot of interest. I love my tractor (Kubota L-2800 with front loader), but if I get a good load of gravel, dirt or even manure (but not as bad since it's lighter) in the loader I can really get the back wheels to bob up and down over bumps, even with my box scrapper on the back. Putting water in the back tires to help trim that out seems like a natural for a little extra ballast. I ran into a local guy over the weekend that's done this with his own tractor tires. He says he got an attachment from NAPA for his house water hose and filled the tires up straight from the spigot.

I've got a few questions first:

1) Is there any special additive you need for the water to keep the rubber in the tires from degrading? Does it actually damage the rubber at all over time?

2) Do regular tire pressure gauges work for determing the water pressure in the tire?

Are there any other special considerations I'm missing before I attempt this?

Thanks!
Roger

Woodsman_Pete · Sep 6, 2005

Liquid ballast is probably a good idea, but straight water will be very hard on your rims, when we had the farm, we ran tubes and filled the tubes with a calcium water, any time we had a leak it was a mess. Straight water will freeze thats why the calcium additive. I have heard of guys here using windshield washer fluid... I think that after a while, the alcohol or what ever chemical will evaporate, my grandfather always had extra windshield washer fluid bought at the end of season on sale and after a year or so would freeze in an unheated shed, so I'm not personally convinced that washer fluid is fullproof either. I know that there is an alternative product on the market that others here have used, the name escapes me right now, but i know it will come up in a search.

Other things to look at if the liquid ballast doesn't end up serving your purpose, are the different varieties of TPH ballast boxes, and or wheel weights and a TPH weight bar.

good luck

Pks · Sep 6, 2005

Hi Roger,

You don't need an additive for keeping the rubber healthy. But if your area is subjected to freezing temps then you most definately need a liquid that will not freeze. I use "old style" radiator fluid in my tires.

Depending upon the type of fluid you select, you may or may not need inner tubes. Any sort of salt solution will require inner tubes. The salts will eat the steel rims. Sugar-beat juice (sold around Michigan) won't eat the rims. Ethylene Glycol (old style radiator fluid) won't eat the rims. Plain water might cause rusting over many years.

Tires with a solution of salts or sugars will be heavier than the radiator fluid or water approach. Some folks use windshield whiper solution.

To measure tire pressure with liquids, you will need a liquid capable pressure gage. I got mine from Gemplers.

I too have a hose attachment. It leaked but it worked. I don't think it was made very well. The job isn't very hard to perform.

Good luck.

wushaw · Sep 6, 2005

Rotate your tire to the 12:00 position and fill away, this will fill the tire to 75% capacity, relieve the pressure every few minutes..your tap water pressure will exceed the tire pressure rating.
Always check your tire pressure at 12:00 position.
I used windshield washer fluid in my tires to keep the freezing temp lower. The R4 tires will hold 29.5 gallons each and add 500lbs to your rear.
Filling your tires will smooth out your ride a little also.

Roger_H · Sep 6, 2005

Thanks for the reply. I get how to hook up my hose to the tire to fill it up. How would I get other liquids into it, such as anti-freeze? Pour through the hose? I don't have a way to pressurize it separately from the water if it needs pressure to make its way in.

I don't live in an area that's subject to heavy freezing. I _could_ frost, but that's a rare instance.

Roger

gmsssi · Sep 6, 2005

I put 100% wiper fluid in mine, good to -20F. Your talking 60-70 dollars. You could calculate the amount of water and fluid to protect to a high temperature but I highly suggest you just use straight wiper fluid. Mix or place the fluid in a container that holds 30 gallons (twice) to fill each tire and pump from the container!

ericbx1500 · Sep 6, 2005

To measure tire pressure with liquids, you will need a liquid capable pressure gage. I got mine from Gemplers???????

Pete do you use a special gage to check tire pressure /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif i have loaded tires and use a standard gage at the 12 o'clock position /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Bird · Sep 6, 2005

Eric, you can use a regular air gauge, but it probably won't last long. I've used one by having the valve stem at 12 o'clock, but I always also got my air hose and gave it one short blast of air first to try to blow any liquid out of the valve stem. The price on air/liquid gauges isn't much different than the price on regular air gauges, so I think they're a good investment, and I think nearly any auto parts store has them, as well a tractor dealer, Tractor Supply Co., etc.

ericbx1500 · Sep 6, 2005

thanks for the info bird. i will pick one up next time i drive by an auto parts store or tractor supply store /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

one thing i noticed is beet juice sure gets sticky /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

woodchuckie · Sep 6, 2005

To put the anti-freeze in I cut an old hose, put a funnel on one end and the other end screwed to the little NAPA thing. It goes in slow but it goes in. I did mine before I put the water in so I would have less pressure build up and it went in faster.