FYI...

I have an old GMC Jimmy S15 with alloy wheels that won't hold tire pressure longer than about a day. I used to fill the tires with CO2 because a bottle of CO2 and a regulator was cheaper than a compressor. As it turns out, it wasn't cheaper in the long run. The CO2 combined with the moisture in the tires forming carbonic acid. This corroded the alloy wheels to a point where they won't form a good seal at the beads. I won't make that mistake with my CTD.

 

Racers use nitrogen.

 

Tractors use water

(Not suggesting you try this with your truck)

Rich

 

I use compressed air.

 

Too bad my warning came too late for you. https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...threadid=37244

 

I'm an avid paintball player and use C02 in all my guns that I have, 90% of them are made of aluminum, along with the tanks that hold the liquid C02. None of them show any type of ware or corrosion like you talk about.

You got me curious, so I pulled a valve off one of my aluminum tanks, clean as a whistle, no pits or sign corrosion.

Just thought you might find these interesting.

Here is a company that markets C02 for tire use www.powertank.com

This guy uses it on his Dodge http://www.off-road.com/dodge/deserttank/2002_06/

JMO but I don't think C02 is your problem.

Warning to those that do use C02 in tires, make sure you don't get liquid in them. Can cause pressure to build and blow a tire.

 

I'm not sure that your CO2 bottles have to face the same temperature extremes that a wheel & tire are subjected to while running down the road.

 

dctoner-
I have been in the compressed gas business for 5 years. There must be water present to to form the carbonic acid that causes corrosion. If your paintball tanks are being filled properly, there is no moisture present in the tank, thus no corrosion. Getting all the water out of a tire is pretty dang difficult. Carbonic acid killed Rattle's rims, no doubt about it. Good point about not getting liquid CO2 into the tire, though.

 

CO2 has a great affinity for water. When water is present with CO2, carbolic and carbonic acids will form. Gas compressors that handle significant amounts of CO2 require special non-corrosive "trim".

If there is any residual moisture in the tire when it is charged with CO2, corrosion of unprotected reactive metallic components will ultimately take place.

If I were going to fill my tires with anything other than air, I'd go with nitrogen.

Rusty

 

Shovelhead-- you are correct there is not quite the exteme change is temps.

Wannadiesel-you are also correct there is little if any water in the tanks used in paintball, there is some moisture but probably not enough to do any harm.

I have never had to use C02 on a tire, but I do cary a small 20oz tank with me while camping, and in the back woods.

On a normal basis while at the house, I use my compressor, saves the C02 for the other activities.

I have never had experience with tires/ water/C02 but I will keep this info as a reminder.

For those that do use C02 make sure you have a good regulator that keeps out liquid and also a antisiphon installed in your tank. Fixing a flat with liquid C02 is worse than running flat.

Just a note: The warmer C02 is the higher the pressure. My tanks can get up to 3000 psi.

 

Just curious....what is so beneficial about filling tractor tires with washer fluid or antifreeze that it would make you want to spend all of that money? Air is much cheaper and if you cut a tire you don't have the mess (not to mention whatever environmental issues you get with dumping gallons of antifreeze). How do you fill a tire up with windshield wiper fluid anyway??

 

Hoss one of the advantages is weight.

 

Weight=traction. The tractor can pull better if the tires are planted harder in the dirt. There is air in the tire to pressurize it, but most of the volume is taken up by liquid.

 

What about filling the tires w/ Helium? Would the tire float away if it's not bolted to the hub?

 

Could be the way to go if you're running overweight, might save you a fine.