How to Fill Tires with Liquid Ballast
A step-by-step guide to filling tractor tires with GEO BEET® Tire Ballast.
This guide is simply a general recommendation. Always refer to your tractor and tire manufacturer’s requirements, warranty and instruction manuals.
Before you begin, prepare an adequate work area. Ensure the work is done on a level, stable, and clear surface, ideally outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Gather all necessary tools and materials needed:
Correct Amount of Geo Beet Tire Ballast
Air-Water Tire Valve Adapter
Air/liquid Tire Pressure Gauge
Valve Core Remover/Valve Core Tool
Heavy-duty Garden Hoses
Drill Pump, Transfer Pump, Small Submersible or Siphon
Appropriate Jack and Jack Stands
Always use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Raise the tractor with a jack stand to completely lift the tire you intend to fill, ensuring all weight is off the tire. Secure the tractor firmly with sturdy jack stands. CAUTION: Never work around a tractor that is not properly supported.
Manually rotate the tire until the valve stem is at its highest point, precisely at the 12 o’clock position. This positioning is critical for achieving the target 75% fill level and allowing displaced air to escape efficiently.
Let out some of the air in the tire to reduce the air pressure. Use a valve stem tool to slowly remove the valve core from the valve stem. Be prepared for air to escape rapidly. Allow all air to escape until the tire is fully deflated.
Select the correct adapter fitting for your specific valve stem. These adapters are designed to fit standard garden hose, air/water valves and should have a bleeder button to release trapped air. Screw the air-water valve adapter securely onto the tire valve stem, ensuring a tight seal.
CAUTION: Verify your tire’s valve stem is designed and rated for handling both air and liquid ballast, as standard rubber stems can dissolve with prolonged liquid contact.
Connect one end of a heavy-duty garden hose to the air-water adapter. Connect the other end of the hose to your chosen transfer method. (drill pump, transfer pump, small submersible pump, or siphon).
If using a pump, ensure the intake hose is in the beet juice container, and the other hose still is securely connected to the tire valve before you start the pump.
If gravity filling, raise the bottom of the container above the tire height and keep it elevated above the tire. Ensure the fluid is continuously feeding into the hose.
If siphon method, ensure the siphon is continually pumping fluid into the value with minimal air.
Continue filling the tire until the liquid level reaches approximately 75% of the tire’s internal volume. With the valve stem at the 12 o’clock mark, this level is just below the valve stem.
Important – Manage Air Displacement (“Burp” the Tire): As fluid enters, displaced air builds pressure inside. To allow continuous and efficient filling, periodically release trapped air using the bleeder button on the air-water adapter. This “burping” technique involves closing the fluid inlet valve, opening the air outlet valve (bleeder button) to force air out until pressure equalizes, then closing the air outlet valve and opening the fluid inlet valve to resume filling. Repeat this frequently throughout the fill.
Failure to release trapped air can lead to excessive pressure buildup and tire explosion.
Once the 75% fill level is achieved, turn off the pump (stop siphoning or lower the gravity tank). Carefully disconnect the garden hose from the pump. Slowly unscrew the air-water adapter from the valve stem. Expect a small amount of residual fluid to escape.
Promptly reinstall the valve core into the valve stem using the valve stem tool, ensuring it is snug but not overtightened. Inflate the tire to the manufacturer’s recommended air pressure using an air compressor. Note that a significantly smaller volume of air will be needed compared to an empty tire due to the liquid ballast.
Always use an “air/liquid,” “tractor,” or “wet” tire pressure gauge, which is designed to withstand fluid contact and provide accurate readings. To minimize fluid emergence when checking pressure, position the valve stem at 12 o’clock and blow a quick burst of air into the tire before placing the gauge.
Thoroughly inspect the valve stem and the entire tire for any leaks. Tighten connections or re-check the valve core as needed. Clean up any spilled beet juice immediately. While non-toxic, spilled beet juice can become slippery and cause stubborn stains. Use cold water and mild soap, white vinegar, or lemon juice for cleanup, blotting rather than rubbing to prevent spreading the stain. Dispose of empty beet juice containers responsibly according to local regulations.
Carefully lower the tractor from the jack stands to add its weight back to the tire and recheck the pressure.
Regularly check tire pressure, as internal pressures fluctuate with temperature changes. Standard tire pressure gauges are not suitable for liquid-filled tires and can be damaged. The liquid provides weight and load-carrying capacity, while the air maintains structural integrity, shape, and operating pressure.
It is important to balance and align sets of tires for tractors and heavy machinery.
**Always refer to your tractor and tire manufacturer’s requirements, warranty and instruction manuals.**
Need more information on GEO BEET® Tire Ballast or want to request a quote? GEO BEET Tire Ballast is available for immediate shipment, call for availability in your area.