RimGuard Lifespan

TexasBoy · Jul 30, 2015

Ive been thinking about putting RimGuard in my rear tires, but was wondering about longevity. Does that stuff break-down and change over time? Do any precipitates form and fall out of the solution over the years?

The specs on that stuff look very good, but Im wondering how long will it remain in the same state over time.

RobS · Jul 30, 2015

I have over 10 years with the stuff and all I can really say is that my tires are still round and black. Good question though, looking forward to other feedback.

sandyc · Jul 30, 2015

Have had rim guard in all my tractors' rear tires without any problem

Parkanzky · Jul 30, 2015

I'm also subscribing. I just got quotes to fill my rear tires and I plan to get the tractor to the tire shop on my next weekday off.

TexasBoy · Jul 30, 2015

sandyc said:
Have had rim guard in all my tractors' rear tires without any problem

Oh I dont doubt the stuff works, but unless someone opens up a tire after many years and looks, a person really doesnt know what is happening in there.

Its been my experience with solutions (of many types) they work great for a given time frame, but as the years go by the mix breaks down and precipitates fall out and it all just eventually breaks down. You can end up with chunks of stuff floating around in there, sediments, and the characteristics of the solution changes and not perform as it once did. (ie: lose its anti corrosive traits and eventually start eating up or rusting the wheel) I looked on the RimGuard website FAQ and saw nothing about life span.

Thats the beauty of glycol based anti-freeze products is they have pH additives to help with corrosivity and Im sure there are published specs on how it behaves over time. While glycol anti-freezes might work okay as ballast, I wouldnt imagine they would stay in the correct pH range for just too long. (relatively speaking)

AStanton · Jul 30, 2015

I've got Rimguard in my tractors. If I had to do it again, I would of used foam. I hate checking the air pressure on a Rimguard filled tire.

Parkanzky · Jul 30, 2015

AStanton said:
I've got Rimguard in my tractors. If I had to do it again, I would of used foam. I hate checking the air pressure on a Rimguard filled tire.

I asked about foam, but the tire shops I asked all told me that it was ridiculously expensive. They didn't even think it would be worth giving me a number.

abcuster · Jul 30, 2015

Seems like most of the Kubota dealers are using Caliber M-1000 tire ballast. Weighs 10.8 lbs per gal.

http://www.innovativecompany.com/documents/Tire_Ballast_Trifold.pdf

Ivan49 · Jul 30, 2015

Is there a temp that rim guard will freeze?

jcummins · Jul 30, 2015

Parkanzky said:
I asked about foam, but the tire shops I asked all told me that it was ridiculously expensive. They didn't even think it would be worth giving me a number.

I've also heard rough ride.

Parkanzky · Jul 30, 2015

Ivan49 said:
Is there a temp that rim guard will freeze?

-35 F.

tcreeley · Jul 31, 2015

I have beet juice in my tires- I assume it is rim guard, but I don't know as I bought the tractor used. The tractor is a 2003 with all of the dealers decals. The temp here has been -34F. No freeze up yet. I like beet juice. It does not corrode like calcium chloride does. If the tire ever gets sliced open, I know that I won't have antifreeze all over the ground. Beet juice is a sugar byproduct (all of that white (beet) sugar we buy in the store. Does great.

My Hoe · Jul 31, 2015

AStanton said:
I've got Rimguard in my tractors. If I had to do it again, I would of used foam. I hate checking the air pressure on a Rimguard filled tire.

Just curious-why?

Parkanzky · Jul 31, 2015

My Hoe said:
Just curious-why?

Rimguard is the re-dissolved solids left after sugar is extracted from beets. It is beet-red and fairly sticky/viscous. He's probably talking about the syrupy goop that escapes when he checks the pressure.

I wouldn't put my good tire gauge on a tire filled with it...

My Hoe · Jul 31, 2015

Ivan49 said:
Is there a temp that rim guard will freeze?

I've been quite concerned about this, myself.

In the Northeast, my "inside storage" will consist of a "high cube" (9.5" H) by 8'W by 20' L, international shipping container, sitting on (sunken) 6"x6", so the container's frame is almost touching the ground--however, it has a wooden floor.

But one door is "sprung," leaving a 2.5" gap, all the way up (9.5'), when "closed."

Meaning, I can't just put the "proverbial light bulb" in there, to keep the Rimguard from freezing.

I'm told Rimguard actually has a freezing point that is a few degrees LOWER than water, which is great, but will NOT help me, I fear, in successive nights of near-zero temps.

I do NOT relish the idea of plowing snow (on frozen lawn and macadam driveway) with FLAT SPOTTED rears shaking the **** out of my beatiful, cabbed CUT.

Is there any "antifreeze" that can be added to Rimguard, that will:

a) Lower the freezing temp to, say, -10F or lower, and

b) NOT cause the rims to rust? (Which I'm told is one advantage of Rimguard, i.e., that it does NOT rust your rims?)

Thanks much,

My Hoe

Parkanzky · Jul 31, 2015

My Hoe said:
I've been quite concerned about this, myself.

In the Northeast, my "inside storage" will consist of a "high cube" (9.5" H) by 8'W by 20' L, international shipping container, sitting on (sunken) 6"x6", so the container's frame is almost touching the ground--however, it has a wooden floor.

But one door is "sprung," leaving a 2.5" gap, all the way up (9.5'), when "closed."

Meaning, I can't just put the "proverbial light bulb" in there, to keep the Rimguard from freezing.

I'm told Rimguard actually has a freezing point that is a few degrees LOWER than water, which is great, but will NOT help me, I fear, in successive nights of near-zero temps.

I do NOT relish the idea of plowing snow (on frozen lawn and macadam driveway) with FLAT SPOTTED rears shaking the **** out of my beatiful, cabbed CUT.

Is there any "antifreeze" that can be added to Rimguard, that will:

a) Lower the freezing temp to, say, -10F or lower, and

b) NOT cause the rims to rust? (Which I'm told is one advantage of Rimguard, i.e., that it does NOT rust your rims?)

Thanks much,

My Hoe

Rimguard's freezing point is below -35F. You shouldn't have anything to worry about.

AStanton · Jul 31, 2015

My Hoe said:
Just curious-why?

I would go with foam because once the tires are foamed, they are puncture proof. Secondly, with Rimguard-filled tires, you still have to maintain an air pressure. Checking the pressure is a pain in these tires. You have to spin the tires until the valves are at 12:00 o'clock. And beet juice remnants always spits out. You have to use a liquid air gage, not your standard air gage. The older I get, the more maintainance free the better.

My Hoe · Jul 31, 2015

Parkanzky said:
Rimguard's freezing point is below -35F. You shouldn't have anything to worry about.

WOW! Negative 35F? That's awesome!

Somehow, I thought Rimguard was only good for a few degrees below the freezing point of water--probably because I misread the "-35F" as "35F". But wait, that's goofy too, b/c 35F is warmer than 32F. Oh, well, who cares how I screwed up. I'm just REALLY glad I was wrong.

-35F is GREAT!

Thanks, Parkanzky!

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AStanton,

I apologize--I wasn't clear. The tractor I'm talking about is already filled with Rimguard. Otherwise, I might consider foam--though I've read that foam rides harder than liquid filled, and I've had back surgery, so if foam is a rougher ride, I'll gladly trade that for the legitimate concerns you raise.

And I admit that not having to worry about flats anymore would be a big blessing.

Oh well--most things are a compromise, right?

Thanks again, gentlemen!

My Hoe

Fallon · Jul 31, 2015

Beet juice also turns to slush a fair bit before freezing. I believe their listed freeze point is where it turns to slush, not solid. Slush doesn't present near the problems that freezing solid does so its even better than indicated temp wise.