Sleepless Nights!!

JayC · May 14, 2004

Calcium Chloride (CaCl) is HIGHLY corrosive and will kill any vegetation if it spills. Most of the time a tube is put into the tire if it is filled with CaCl. I think Rim Guard (aka Beet Juice) is probably the best alternative. It is not corrosive and safe for the environment. Here is the link to their site:

Rim Guard

Poppa · May 14, 2004

Yes, depending on what the fill is. With Foam I think there are no bad effects. with CACL very corrosive. Antifreeze, CaCl are harmful to environment if released (read tire puncture). Rimguard is supposed to be non-corrosive and environmentally inert. I haven't been able to find it here in CO but keep looking.

Personally, I am not getting the tires filled at first. This alone is a controversial decision on this forum. I know I don't want CaCl (personal decision not meant to alter anybody's beliefs please leave me be /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif) and CaCl is what is available around here. I will look for foam availability in my area because I think it is what I want both because it doesn't leak out and because I have nasty plants that make holes in tires. This is the same reason I hesitate looking to hard for Rimguard. By not having it done at the time of purchase I will probably spend more later but to me it is worth it to get what I want. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Mike

JayC · May 14, 2004

Maybe you can answer my questions about foam or someone else may be able to.

Is it a special kind of foam that they put into tires? How to they put it in? And lastly, how much weight does foam add per-wheel; for example in R4s?

Henro · May 14, 2004

The foam is specifically designed for use in tires. I have the fronts filled with foam on my B2910.

They drill a hole in the tire to let the air out and the foam is put in via the valve stem. You have to leave the tires overnight so they can be sure they cured properly. THe hole in the tire is filled witha sheet metal screw with a washer on it.

I don't know how much weight is added, but it is the heaviest tire-filling option, as the tire is filled 100%, while liquid filled tires are only 75% filled.

I can tell you my front tires were MUCH heavier with the foam inside. But I don't know how the weight compares to the weight of water or calcium solution...

Poppa · May 14, 2004

Actually, I can't answer those questions with any degree of certainty.

We need Henro, He's the only one I know that has the foam. Also, I believe Big Mike was going to look into it.

As far as I know, the weight is similar to that added by CaCl. or Rimguard. I "Assume" it is the same kind of foam filling that is common in Forklift tires. And, I "Assume" that forklift tires are foam filled for the very reason tractor tires are foam filled i.e. more weight below Center of Gravity hence better stability. However, as you see I am running on a lot of assumptions and that is /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif crazy /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.giftalk but I couldn't help myself. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

okay, now you got me thinking about it more so here are a couple links I got just by searching "foam filled tires" on TBN

Henro

Arnco

Foam Filled tires

Mike

Poppa · May 14, 2004

So Henro, I guess I was wrong. I thought you had all tires foam filled. What if anything, do you have in the Rears

Mike

JayC · May 14, 2004

Thanks for the links. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JayC · May 14, 2004

Would you happen to know if foam filled tires make the ride harder?

Also, if you need to replace the tire, would you need to replce the rim, too or can they remove the foam?

Henro · May 14, 2004

Poppa,

I have WW fluid in the rears. I was going to get them foam filled if I had a flat, but although the fronts flatted easily, the rears have not yet so the ww fluid was much cheaper than foam. I filled them myself. It was easy and cheap. I found ww fluid on sale for aomething like 60 cents per gallon. Rated for -34F or something like that... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JayC,

I think the foam filled tires ride harder. I visited Nixon [formerly Cerberus] and when I lifted the loader on his L3130 I immediately noticed a bounce that I don't have on my B2910. I think that is because my foam filled front tires are more rigid than air filled tires. ON the rears I don't have a clue. I am running my ww filled reart tires at 12 psi, more or less. I better check them. I have not checked tire pressure since filling them over a year ago.

The foam cannot be removed. But the tire can be cut off the wheel and the wheel reused.