Wheel weights vs filling tires for 5103

deerefan · Mar 29, 2006

Pros and cons...I'm not big on filling my tires b/c of some problems that can occur down the road (rust, seepage) but have never used wheel weights. I do cut some grass around the house that I do not want to tear up too much, so maybe weights are better b/c I can take them off and on. Any input from people that have expereinced both? Upsides and downsides to both?

JerryG · Mar 29, 2006

deerfan,
Normally it is hard to get as much weight on the wheel as you can get in it. Wheel weights will allow the tire to conform to the soil, rocks etc. better than fluid. They also lend themselves to being removed a lot easier than fluid. If you have a flat you will at least lose some of the fluid. That is some of the reason that I have wheel weights. I know that some think that fluid is the only way to go and in their case it may be. Just give me weights and I will be happy.

plowrup · Mar 29, 2006

I agree 110% with Jerry-get Wheel Weights! Although a pain, you can take them on and off for various chores/operations (not every operation needs all the Weight), and Tire Performance (Traction, Compaction) is greatly increased. Many of my Competitors (Dealers) around me recommend Fluid (increased profit margin) but I would only use it as a last resort. It just gives you more flexibility and less mess (as I have stated in previous posts, you will NOT be on your Tire Man's Christmas list with Calcium, Beet Juice, Anti-Freeze, whatever.

cowboydoc · Mar 29, 2006

I agree with wheel weights. I get it all the time for recommendinng wheel weights but unless you have a big ag tractor that is going to need the weight all the time I would definitely go wheel weights. Like others have said it gives you versatility and if you do have a flat it's no fuss to mess with.

Ledgemere Farm · Mar 31, 2006

I prefer wheel weights also. One thing: it is much less expensive (at least initially) to have your tires filled, than to buy cast-iron wheel weights. Some of our ag tractors have two or three weights stacked together.

tawilson · Mar 31, 2006

Why not just fill your tires with water and see how you like it?
I just filled my first tire, and now that the mystery is gone, I may experiment a little with loading and unloading them depending on the situation. And then just drain them for the winter. If I need weight then I can put the bh on. If you needed more weight, you add weights, you just wouldn't need as much. Is there a reason I'm not aware of that folks in the southern states can't use water, besides it not being as heavy?

Turkflyer · Apr 1, 2006

Wheel weights are fine, and what should be used if you want to change weight often. Some tractors need more weight than you can physically bolt to the wheel (three is usually the max). Then you have to use liquid. The 5103 should be fine with bolt on weights. The 5303, for example, will likely need liquid for tillage operations, because it has higher hp and needs to weigh more.

tawilson · Apr 1, 2006

I'm still curious. Water is free. Weights aren't. Water can be pumped in and out. Weights would have to be unbolted and handled. I don't know what each weight would weigh, but they must be a handful. Weights stick out beyond the edge of the tire. Maybe before the summer is over, I'll know why it isn't a practical idea to use water, but haven't come up with a downside yet.

JerryG · Apr 1, 2006

Tom,
Some types of weights are not that easy to take on and off, but it just isn't convenient at all to install and remove water from a tire. It takes a good amount of time and IMO is a real pain. Plus, you can't get anywhere near all of it out unless you break the tire down. There are some weights that are easy to take off or at least easier. I know that Ford had segmented weights that weren’t to bad and for smaller tractors there’s always the type that I have on mine.

tawilson · Apr 1, 2006

Thanks for the Reply, Jerry. I"ve got tubes and hadn't thought of someone without having a problem getting water out. I'm sick of paying $250 everytime I poke a hole in a rear tire so I'm on a learning curve this year. I need to replace my tires shortly and plan on doing it myself and dealing with filling and emptying them too. Course when I poke a hole in one they seem to empty just fine by themselves. I figured with some kind of inline pump I could suck the water out of the tube, maybe having to break the bead at one spot to let some air in between the tire and tube. But I still don't know why people down south don't use water, or do they and they won't say.