Tires Questions concerning fluid in tires.....

onegreenday · Nov 28, 2004

Firestone Technical<<<<Fill the tube with ballast to slightly above valve level with valve at the 12 o’clock position. This assures that no air contacts the valve during wheel rotation. Corrosion can be minimized or prevented if the valve and housing are completely submerged at all times.>>>>>

Considering that ballast is used to increase weight/stability of the tractor and to prevent tipping/rolls; I would think that any fluids in the tires above the center of the wheel would "raise the center of gravity" of the tractor and "increase" the possibility of a rollover.

The fluid in the downhill wheels (going across the hill slope) above the wheel centerline would act as a lever on the tractor and the fluid in the uphill tires (above the wheel center) would seek to roll towards the downhill side (gravity) and increase the pressure towards a downhill roll.

But I'm not an engineer so I'm not sure.

Henro · Nov 28, 2004

Considering that ballast is used to increase weight/stability of the tractor and to prevent tipping/rolls; I would think that any fluids in the tires above the center of the wheel would "raise the center of gravity" of the tractor and "increase" the possibility of a rollover.


Nope, just is not so. Would only work this way if the tractor was upside down and the wheels were on the top... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Reason is that any weight added to the tractor changes the center of gravity of the whole mass of the tractor, which now includes the added weight.

Almost without question one can state that the center of gravity of the tractor wil always be above the wheel centers.

The center of gravity of a balanced wheel is in the center of the wheel. When liquid is added to the wheel, since the tire is not completely filled, the center of gravity of the wheel is actually lowered.

The net affect is that adding fluid to tires essentially lowers the tractor's overall center of gravity a shade, and in no way can raise it.

So the net result is that filling tires with liquid or even totally filling them with a solid like foam fill, will always (at least in a practical world) result in a lower center of gravity and more stability.

Once issue that could be a concern though is sloshing in tires that are only half filled. At least in theory, if a condition would arise that caused the liquid in the half-filled tire to slosh to the top of the tire, then at this moment in time, the liquid being high in the tire, rather than on the bottom would cause a net increase in the tractor's center of gravity, and decrease stability, to some degree...

That's the way I see it working anyway... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Westonium · Dec 3, 2004

Just a random thought, but would used veggie oil of some kind work ok? I mean... it won't freeze, corrode, etc and the stuff has to be pretty heavy.

Too heavy? It would get pretty thick in the cold perhaps?

Too thick?

I am really glad I found this thread. I have been trying to figure out if I am going to fill or not fill. I don't think I will go with the calcium chloride if I do.

btolle · Dec 3, 2004

( Just a random thought, but would used veggie oil of some kind work ok? I mean... it won't freeze, corrode, etc and the stuff has to be pretty heavy. )

One problem would be that it would be awfully messy. It would not flow as freely as water based mixtures which may or may not be a problem.

I would also be concerned about what effect it might have on the rubber in the tires. And if it is used you don't know what kind of "stuff" is in it from whatever it was used to cook.

I'd rather clean up anti-freeze than vegetable oil.

Bill Tolle

California · Jan 26, 2005

( would used veggie oil of some kind work ok? I mean... it won't freeze, corrode, etc and the stuff has to be pretty heavy. )

Heavy, but lighter than water. Keep in mind it will float to the top if you pour it into water.

woodchuckie · Jan 26, 2005

The Kubota dealer here in Tuscaloosa puts one gal. of regular anti-freeze in each tire and fills with water. I couldn't operate my
L 2800 without the extra weight.

Kaliburz · Jan 26, 2005

Well, the old main stay was calcium chloride in tires (tubes installed) for decades. That new stuff made out of beets is expensive. JD dealer here wants about $3.00 a gallon and it's about the same weight as CaCl. I have tractors that have had CaCl in them since they were bought (and my father bought it them new in the mid 60's).

Rusting of the rim only becomes an issue long down the road. filling to cover the rim (about 70+%) reduces the rusting factor. In order to "rust", one needs "oxygen", so if there is liquid all the way up over the rim..... The I have yet to loose a rim due to rusting (fingers crossed). If one gets the leaking tube fixed (if tubed), it should last a long time. Putting in tubeless tires, fill till rim covered I say.

And the tractors I'm dealing w/ are 50+ HP and one handles a 3 bottom plow....

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif