Should you load tires if you do a lot of mowing?

[ModMech]

When you say "mowing" and four times per year, I presume this is not for a LAWN.

given that, loaded tires are more of a benefit than not for your use.

 

[fried1765]

Load them.

We all got a bit confused when you mentioned mowing duties. Most people think of a lawn. You are talking about brush cutting a pasture. Load your tires. You won't regret it.

P.S. Don't use CC. If money is a consideration use WWF. Buy it bulk in barrels it's even cheaper that way.

RimGuard is great, but ........ WWF is 1/3 the cost.
No Calcium Chloride! ..... EVER !!!!

 

[aarolar]

No question load them.

 

[plowhog]

My bad. I will bush hog the pasture several times per year. Using my tractor with tires filled with rimguard. Thanks for the great replies!

 

[Texasmark]

I'm homing in on a tractor purchase. Need advice on whether to load the rear tires or not.

A big project is forestry cleanup with grapple, rake, maybe a skidding winch. I understand loaded tires are desirable for that. This is a big project but a one-time project even though it make take two seasons to finish.

Every year, year in and year out, I need to mow at least monthly, probably 4 times or so per year. I understand loaded tires are not desirable for mowing?

Not sure what the trade-offs are. More convenient to have the dealer do it, but am wondering if it makes sense to try unloaded tires to start, then load my own tires later if I want to? I understand tractor supply has some sort of tool for doing that, but I haven't located one yet.

Dealer suggests calcium which I believe is past its day due to rust issues. If I do this, its either Rimguard or windshield washer fluid. I've heard of folks using methanol but that stuff is highly flammable. I wouldn't go that route even though its encased in a tire.

I have 3 out of 4 loaded for the following reasons:

Ford 3000: Had a JD 4010 and changed loaded tires. Needed a place to put the fluid so the 3000 got it. Secondary reason was that I used it for plowing at the time and it helped with traction.

Branson 6530: Loaded due to FEL. Had local tire store do it and put 50 gallons of antifreeze mix in each 16.9x28s

Branson 2400: Currently waiting on turf tires to arrive and will more than likely load as I want a softer ride specifically for when I mow and a secondary reason is to offset the FEL. Heavier weights on soft tires makes for a smoother ride and I am after that regardless of the cost. I bought 20 gallons of windshield fluid for $1.50 a gallon for it and will probably run them three fourths full on the 33x12.5x16.5 tires.....That fill level defined as even with the valve stem with it on top. If I can't get there on 10 gallons per tire I'll top off with tap water, or just see what 10 per gets me. May leave it there. On both Bransons a counterweight box or wheel weights were not even considered.

 

[GManBart]

What kind of tires are you going to get? It does make a difference.

One downside to loaded tires is when you get a puncture, which is fairly common while doing the kind of woods work you're talking about, you're out the fluid, and have to pay for it again.

I did a lot of work in the woods with my LS, and I was happier with a 3pt counterweight (1,400lbs) and unloaded tires. For mowing a pasture loaded tires won't help or hurt unless it's really uneven ground and then it would be good for stability.

 

[ovrszd]

I also do a lot of woods work. In the last 14 years I've never had a tire removed for repair. I've only found one leak that I plugged. Loaded rears ride better when mowing pastures. Only time loaded tires is a downer is if working on pretty sod.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I wish I had your luck Ovrszd with punctures. I've got to repair my rear left on the Workmaster and I have a trade worked out to get a set of 28 wheels and tires for the 4610.

Every tractor we have ever run here on the farm had loaded rears. I just try to be careful when finish mowing. Stability is excellent especially when using the FEL.

 

[k0ua]

No operation on lawn. Will be woods work and mowing dry pasture / 2-3 foot high grass and weeds.

Load them then for the increased traction in your other work. You will not have any problems with mowing a few times of the year in dry weather.

By the way the Methanol is a mix with water in your tires, and is not really much danger. It is what is in my tires and thousands of others. Rimguard or Propylene glycol is probably preferred but Methanol and water mix is cheaper. Rim Guard is the most expensive option (and weighs more than the other two), but Propylene Glycol costs more than Methanol mix also. I did do my last tractor in Propylene glycol myself and it worked well and is non toxic and of course non flammable. I "cheaped out" with my current tractor and went with the Methanol mix.

 

[GManBart]

I also do a lot of woods work. In the last 14 years I've never had a tire removed for repair. I've only found one leak that I plugged. Loaded rears ride better when mowing pastures. Only time loaded tires is a downer is if working on pretty sod.

My two neighbors and I have a combined 8-10 tractors (it's varied) and in the past few years I can think of at least four of them getting a puncture doing work in the woods, and it's not like we're not being careless.

Many folks here have reported punctures doing work in the woods and every time the discussion turns to R4 Vs R1 the increased puncture-resistance of the R4s is brought up, usually with a phrase something like "if you work in the woods a lot."

I don't think anybody would say that should be a deciding factor, but it's a valid consideration.