Ballast Say Goodbye to Water in Tires?

[7000]

Please respond right away. I'm buying the tractor today.

I'm worried about rust and corrosion to the wheels in my new tractor. The dealer wants to ad water in the tires. Should I let him do that? I've heard about RV antifreeze and RIMGUARD. Do I need to add anything at all?

Thanks for the concerned replies.

 

[k0ua]

Please respond right away. I'm buying the tractor today.

I'm worried about rust and corrosion to the wheels in my new tractor. The dealer wants to ad water in the tires. Should I let him do that? I've heard about RV antifreeze and RIMGUARD. Do I need to add anything at all?

Thanks for the concerned replies.

I have had 5 tractors, 3 with tire ballast and 2 without. The ballast adds much stability on hills and help to keep the rear tires on the ground.. You still need 3pt ballast as well to unload the weight off of the weaker front axle. I have had Calcium cloride (wouldn't recommend that, very corrosive stuff.) RV anti-freeze (good non corrosive stuff, but expensive) and currently have Methanol/water mix in mine. Most say that the water wont corrode the wheels because there is a limited amount of oxygen in the tire.

 

[dusty3030]

San Diego - so no freezing.

Straight up water and rim is completely covered you probably will be OK.

 

[k0ua]

San Diego - so no freezing.

Straight up water and rim is completely covered you probably will be OK.

Yep a lot of the guys further south do just that. Doesn't seem to be a problem. It wouldn't work for me up here, because it gets just too cold.

 

[FTG-05]

OTT site, so I hope it's OK:

6 reasons to ballast your tires: 6 Reasons to Liquid Ballast your Kubota

How to ballast tires: How to Ballast your Kubota

Type of ballast: Comparing Types of Liquid Tire Ballast | OrangeTractorTalks

Good luck!

 

[Gary Fowler]

Where you are, straight water is all you need. The rims will have a good acrylic paint on them and will rust more from the outside due to scratches than ever will in the water. I have personally seen old tractor rims from 8N Fords look brand new after being on the tractor with straight water for 50 or more years when tires are replaced. Sunlight is most damaging to paint and being underwater and out of sunlight in fresh water, paint lasts a very long time.
I wouldn't sweat it about rust from the inside. Keep the outside painted and they will last you a lifetime.

 

[RandyT]

The newest thing is to run Calcuim chloride in tubeless tires. If you totally submerge the rims the CaCl won't rust the rims. Or that is what I have been told by a dealer.

 

[nc redneck]

My first tractor was a 8-N with loaded tires, this was 25 or 30 years ago. One time we had a hard freeze that lasted 2 weeks. I was using it to clear record amount of snow off of driveway and you could feel the solid ice with each rotation of back tires. I will bet it was loaded with water when new. I never had a problem with rims or tires.

 

[square1]

You definitely want to get loaded

 

[DT86]

The newest thing is to run Calcuim chloride in tubeless tires. If you totally submerge the rims the CaCl won't rust the rims. Or that is what I have been told by a dealer.

CaCl, the newest thing?