Antifreeze to water ratio for ballasting tyres?

john432

Member
Location
Carmarthenshire
What's the amount of normal blue antifreeze needed in say 400 litres of water in a tractor tyre to protect from frost? And would it help at a very diluted rate help to stop corrosion of the wheel?
Cast wheel weights are out of the equasion, £800 for 200kg!
 

Pan mixer

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Near Colchester
Do you drive about a lot in the frost?

If not, park it indoors at night and don't fill the tyre right up.

We used to use Calcium chloride I think, I have been tempted to use sea water in a tubed tyre but last time I ballasted something the grip was so good it ripped several lugs off the tyre whilst ploughing. Won't be doing that again.
 

agrimax

Member
Location
Co Down
A 10% solution should be enough. So 40l per 400l of water.... Must be quite big tyres for 400l? I've 300l in 16.9x34s and 3/4 filled as per recommendation.
Screenwash fluid is said to work well instead and is around 1/2 the price of antifreeze.
 

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
Calcium is good in tubed tyres but very corrosive on rims if used tubeless.

Even 5% antifreeze would make a big difference to freeze point, I would think?
As with the calcium, no worries when it is in the tyre but creates a headache when it is time for it to come out, a small pump and into drums is good but not as good as just letting water squirt out under pressure :playful:
 
Calcium is good in tubed tyres but very corrosive on rims if used tubeless.

Even 5% antifreeze would make a big difference to freeze point, I would think?
As with the calcium, no worries when it is in the tyre but creates a headache when it is time for it to come out, a small pump and into drums is good but not as good as just letting water squirt out under pressure :playful:
Going on that I think I would be using normal antifreeze so. Aren't all modern tractors tubeless now?
 

Lincsman

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
What's the amount of normal blue antifreeze needed in say 400 litres of water in a tractor tyre to protect from frost? And would it help at a very diluted rate help to stop corrosion of the wheel?
Cast wheel weights are out of the equasion, £800 for 200kg!

Will you actually need to move the tractor when its Frozen, my big land work one only has water in as its not needed in winter.
 

john432

Member
Location
Carmarthenshire
Thanks for all your replies, .... I was going to experiment with a few different dilution samples of antifreeze mix in the freezer..but having done some thinking,...the ideal would be just water ,then it could be drained and filled as required. Have ordered the filling adapter some £10 of so, think I'll buy one or 2 of these so I can drain overnight if needed. Screenshot_20181128-150804.png
Connect up to a full tank compressor,with the regulator at 15psi, next morning they should be empty.
Problem I have with the MF6475 is pulling the 2200 gal slurry tanker up quite steep stone tracks, just not heavy enough, and yes need it over the winter and on frosty morning. But I am one to think out side the box.... and had a brainwave..... rather than throwing away antifreeze mix, why not fit heaters in the wheel , in case it gets real cold Screenshot_20181128-151032.png these are available for some £30 to £50 from the states, 120 volt , so use a site transformer and all ok.
Any thoughts? Or have I lost it!:scratchhead:
 

Lincsman

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Its not that hard or technical;
1 Turn wheel so valve is at the top and remove valve and let tyre down.
2 Find 3/8 black hose and push on valve.
3 Turn on tap and jack wheel up slowly as its filling.
4 when you think there is a little pressure remove hose and allow air pressure to drop and replace hose
5 when you pull hose off and water comes out its full enough, replace valve and top up with air to required pressure... with a gauge that can take water or just guess!

PS if it comes cold, check water squirts out the valve before driving.
 
Thanks for all your replies, .... I was going to experiment with a few different dilution samples of antifreeze mix in the freezer..but having done some thinking,...the ideal would be just water ,then it could be drained and filled as required. Have ordered the filling adapter some £10 of so, think I'll buy one or 2 of these so I can drain overnight if needed.View attachment 743078
Connect up to a full tank compressor,with the regulator at 15psi, next morning they should be empty.
Problem I have with the MF6475 is pulling the 2200 gal slurry tanker up quite steep stone tracks, just not heavy enough, and yes need it over the winter and on frosty morning. But I am one to think out side the box.... and had a brainwave..... rather than throwing away antifreeze mix, why not fit heaters in the wheel , in case it gets real cold View attachment 743080 these are available for some £30 to £50 from the states, 120 volt , so use a site transformer and all ok.
Any thoughts? Or have I lost it!:scratchhead:

Or wire them in series.
 

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
Going on that I think I would be using normal antifreeze so. Aren't all modern tractors tubeless now?
For a start, they are! :whistle:

It's not difficult to put a tube in the rears if you want to add something to the ballast, the main thing with tubeless ballasted tyres is to keep them fairly well full - thus the rim is always submerged, and corrosion likes a wet-dry cycle to work.
 

Lincsman

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
For a start, they are! :whistle:

It's not difficult to put a tube in the rears if you want to add something to the ballast, the main thing with tubeless ballasted tyres is to keep them fairly well full - thus the rim is always submerged, and corrosion likes a wet-dry cycle to work.

Tubes wont last long though, they wear badly in tractor rears.
 

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