Tires Tire Filling Liquids

SpinyMouse · Mar 29, 2004

So far, I have heard of filling tires with calcium chloride solution, glycol antifreeze mix, and windshield washer fluid to add weight while avoiding freezing problems.

What might be the advantages and disadvantages of each method?

A few of these products can be a bit toxic. The washer fluid is usually made with methanol which is toxic and flammable. Is the calcium solution corrosive to the rims? Does it protect down to -20 and below?

How full do you fill the tires? All the way, with no air space? Or just up to the valve stem with it at the top? Will any of these mixes damage a tire pressure gauge?

Thanks for the info.

shoppintractors · Mar 29, 2004

Spiny,

One more to consider is Rim Guard, made from beet juice.

http://www.rimguard.biz/

Don

Bird · Mar 29, 2004

( Is the calcium solution corrosive to the rims? )

Very much so. In the event of a leak, you need to wash it all off when the leak's repaired.

( How full do you fill the tires? )

Approximately 75%.

( just up to the valve stem with it at the top )

Yes, that's about 75%.

( Will any of these mixes damage a tire pressure gauge? )

Maybe and maybe not. You can buy an air/liquid tire gauge and they don't cost anymore than just the air gauge usually.

KiotiJohn · Mar 29, 2004

I understand some also use RV antifreeze which I believe is non-toxic. The water/antifreeze mix helps prevent corrosion as it does in a radiator, but can be toxic. As stated the calcium is very corrosive, many people put in tubes then that mixture. But as Bird said, if you have a pucture, you must clean it up thoroughly right away. Some also have their tires foamed. Don't know much about that, but I think it takes place of using air so no puncture problems, maybe very expensive? John

raynman · Mar 30, 2004

SpinyMouse,

Rim Guard (Beet Juice) is the only thing they use around my area any more, due to the problems of the other fluids when you get a leak and or corrosion.

The way it was explained to me was with the valve at 12:00 you fill to just above that point.

We had some days around -20 this past winter and I never had or noticed any problems with them.

My dealer stated it was around 100-150 bucks to have it done.

SpinyMouse · Mar 31, 2004

Thanks for all the info. That beet juice derivative or similar products looks like the wave of the future fo a variety of reasons.

KiotiJohn · Apr 7, 2004

Another alternative I've heard of is using non-toxic RV antifreeze. This is used in the water systems of RVs in the winter. It does contain propylene glycol which in small ingestions is not harmful. I'm not sure of the weight per gallon, haven't found that out yet. I think it might be a good way to go esp. if freezing is a problem in one's geographical area. John