Tire ballast RV anti freeze ?
 

I loaded 2 sets of tires with straight "up to -50° protection " RV anti-freeze" last fall. One set of Deestone 23-8.50-12 ags, and one set of Carlisle 23-8.50-12 turf-chiefs. The Deestones were new, sat outside all winter,and were never used on the tractor. They cracked around the chevron bars, and were exchanged by the seller for BKT ags. The Carlisles showed no signs of damage. I tested the RV fluid with an anti-freeze (ethelyne glycol) tester and it read safe to 10°. I understand that the RV fluid can actually freeze at much higher temp. than the -50° protection rating but does not expand untill it reaches -50. Could the anti-freeze have been responsible for the damage with a lowest temp of -20 this winter ?

I don't think so.

I'm not a fan of Deestone tires. I remember reading somewhere that they don't hold up well and will crack. I don't know if that is true or not. I also use tubes when I load my tires. Did you use tubes?

I absolutly did use tubes . I will never use Deestones again. They were "cheap" in every respect. The BKTs(like the Deestones made in India) were a much better tire but they aint no Carlisles either. The Bkts were the best I could afford.
I tested the RV antifreeze with a Prestone automotive antifreeze tester,and it showed a 10 deg. freeze temp. Apparently the RV antifreeze requires a propylene glycol tester,not an ethylene glycol tester. RV antifreeze rated @ -50 deg. actually begins to solidify @ a much higher temp.,but does not expand until it reaches the -50 deg rating.

I'm sure it not the problem but I've always used purple windshield washer fluid in mine.

Which is what I will use the next time.!

I had that problem too, so I moved south and just use water now.:biggrin2:

The issue is not the fluid.

My BIL (he lives near Williamsburg VA) kept tractor tires filled with straight water.

Yea, not a good practice, but, the freeze they got in the winter was "not much", and the tractors were not used in the winter.

It worked great for years, until his son got stuck hunting one winter. Out of the shed came the 4430 JD. He was down the road about 1/4 mile when the ice and innertube started coming out of the tire!! It only effected one of the 4 duals on the back of the tractor. Only that tire was frozen enough to fail the tube.

The tires should expand, not hurting the tire. A real hard freeze I guess could bend the rim, but, it should not hurt the tire.

A buddy gave me a set of rear tires that looked like Carlisle turf tires. They were made in China, the name started with "N". At 3 years old, the tires showed extreme dry cracking. No fluid had ever been in them.

Before I used them, another guy needed them, so I "regifted" them!! :bigeyes:

I think he is still using them.

:bigthink:

I've never loaded my deestones until this year, I usually just run a IH weight on the inside and a 50 and 26 on the outside on my 123, never had and cracking issues with mine, and I've had them about 3 years. My brother just loaded the ones on the 106 for plow day this year(in tubes), have to see how they hold up.:bigthink: Though I keep then inside when not in use, which im sure helps a lot.