Pros and cons of putting water in the back tires of a tractor

Water is pretty much just permanent weight. If your tractor is light in the arse for what you're doing add water. Bout all there is to it.

My tractor has water in the rear tires. No issues at all.

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I run water in all four tires of my tractors

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Got alcohol in all 4 of mine, but that's because it gets much colder here in the winter than it does down there. Alcohol won't freeze. And yes, the added weight makes a big difference with traction, balance, and safety.

Your "pros" section is also one of- if not the biggest con- that a tractor operator can do, too. It is a primary concern for why rear counterweighting is done by default on tractors with a FEL. In short, if you ever find yourself doing something that is lifting the rear end of a tractor up...don't. If it's a common occurrence then the machine is too small for the task or you need counterweights of some kind, e.g., water, wheel weights, etc.

Outside of doing something stupid, one of the most dangerous situations a man can find himself in while on a tractor (or at least a compact/subcompact utility tractor) is when his back tires leave the ground. Because of the way nearly all tractors are designed, once the weight of the machine is placed onto the front of the tractor, along with the pulling pressure of the weight/anchored object that caused it, you have a very limited amount of time to get things back in order or you're going for a ride. If you don't right the ship, the best you can hope for is that something breaks before it rolls- because then something is really gonna break (probably including you).

Agreeing with Nodust, there is no real "con" to putting water in your back tires for most people. Some use alchohol, some (like myself) use a mixture of the non-toxic (or toxic) antifreeze and water. A heavy tractor that sticks to the ground is a safe, hard pulling tractor. A tractor's worst enemy is being too light, and it's one gripe I have about my Kubotas: They're notoriously light in weight, and other measures (sometimes extensive ones) have to be taken to mitigate for that- and those measures cost extra time and money.

Regardless, even if a tractor I buy is manufactured "heavy enough," water/antifreeze will be going into the tires.

The heavier a tractor the better; because gaining as much ground contact and traction to get the most out of all that torque is what makes tractors do tractor stuff.*

*The one exception to that rule are machines used exclusively for turf applications; where as light of a footprint as is possible to allow the work to be done is most desirable.

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Adding water or wheel weights doesn’t place the counterweight far enough back to actually take weight off that front axle - it just makes the back axle/tires heavier. You only remove weight off front axle by counterweighting further back.

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I get what you're saying here but your physics is off a bit.

The further back you add weight, the less weight it takes to offset the front load. It takes a lot at the tires vs not as alot hanging way off the 3pt hitch. Ballasting the tires is definitely effective though.

Like someone said earlier, the vast majority of tractors benefit from water/weight at the tires.

I have a tractor for cutting a piece of property in Lafayette. The other day I went changed the oil and was planning on going to some cutting. I notice the tires look low so I go to add air and water just comes out when I put the air chuck on the stem. What is the trick to putting air in water filled tires.

Since I realized the rear tires have water in them I bought a air gauge for water filled tires to check the pressure. Also, my plan is to jack up the rear of the tractor and hopefully by taking the weight off the tires it allows the water to drop below the tire stem.

If this doesn't work I'm out of ideas other than taking the tractor to someone and getting the water completely taken out of the tires. All I use the tractor for is bush hogging. I think the previous owner had a frontend loader installed and that is why they put water in the tires.

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Make sure the valve stem is at the very top when filling tires with air

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did this

To much water in tire
Let some water out

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I get what you're saying here but your physics is off a bit.

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Maybe.

But my scales are not and neither are the manufacturer’s recommendations. You simply arent transferring enough weight off the front axle using fluid. Does it help - maybe and maybe not. On tractors I’ve used in the past it simply did not work and led to premature axle wear on the front end and a rear end failure. Additionally, you need to go by your manufacturer recs because some models are not designed for additional ballast on axles. Check out the Deere recs here. Additionally, as I stated, radial tires filled with fluid will not be warrantied and I’ve seen Michelin, Goodyear, and Firestone turn down customer claims.

I once saw a claim submitted to Goodyear turned down on tires less than a year old. I wouldn’t use water on anything larger than a 40 or so horsepower tractor and it would be my last resort.

the video you linked says that adding water to tires is a recommended method for adding weight to the back of a tractor.

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You simply arent transferring enough weight off the front axle using fluid. Does it help - maybe and maybe not.

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adding water to the rear tires of a tractor does help.

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On tractors I’ve used in the past it simply did not work and led to premature axle wear on the front end and a rear end failure.

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How does adding water to the tires lead to premature axle wear? This weight is not supported by the axle unless the tractor is jacked up off the ground.

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Additionally, you need to go by your manufacturer recs because some models are not designed for additional ballast on axles.

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Well this would mean you shouldn't add wheel weights or a three point weight either.