Buy a new tractor with wrong tyres: the pitfalls to avoid
Some tractor buyers had the bad experience of buying new tires to re-equip a new tractor due to damage or inefficiency. And sometimes, the negative consequences of bad tyre fitment are not visible but have a financial impact on the company, as this example shows.
Following Efficient20 test with a farmer in United Kingdom near from Ludlow, who purchased a John Deere 6910 135HP, with ploughing equipment.
They made 3 tests during ploughing:
1st: original tyre fitment
520/85R38 and 420/85R28, over inflated (1,6 bar)
2nd: original tyre fitment
520/85R38 and 420/85R28, with the right pressure (1,2 bar)
3rd: adapted tyre fitment for ploughing
650/65R38 and 540/65R28, with the right pressure (1 bar)
Results:
From 1st test to 2nd one, he reduced is fuel consumption around 5%
From 2nd test to 3rd one, he reduced is fuel consumption around 30%
In total, the fuel consumption could be reduced drastically, around 34% !
Influence of size and pressure tyres on consumption
Why do we have these pitfalls?
When buying a tractor, we focus on the machine and the main options, assuming that the rest goes without saying. We rely on common sense. But for tires, it's not so simple.
A tyre must be adapted to the load carried, the time spent on road and on field, farm activities,.. Tyre must be conform with your expectations: soil preservation, road holding, comfort,...
So first of all, take time analyzing your needs, but how can you do it? Which criteria are requested based on my needs? Which data I need to collect before making my tractor order?
Depending of your farm activities and time spending on road and on field, “right” tyre must be completely different. As an example:
If you spend 90% on field, searching for soil care, the best choice will be a tyre with VF or IF technology.
On the contrary, I you spend a large part of your time on road, the tyre must support load at higher speed, need to have specific component to increase tire life and request sidewall able to absorb efficiently vibration and damages road, to secure transport in all conditions. In this case, you could choose a premium tyre in standard technology, from 70 series to Extra-large series. Etc.
Other key point to remain: always think about tractor + implement + mass. For tyre choice, you must take in account your full equipment!
Without being an expert on tractor tyre, how can you identify key information during tractor specification process?
Tyre technology
Standard
I need to adapt my pressure depending of load and speed
IF anD VF
I only adapt my pressure in relation with load. I keep the same pressure at any speed. Compared to standard tyre, for the same load, I can reduce my pressure, or for the same pressure, I can increase the load, till 40% (depending of work conditions).
IF, CFO and VF CFO
I only adapt my pressure in relation with load. I keep the same pressure at any speed. Only used on harvesting machine with cycling operations.
Tyre series
Serie define the ratio between tyre section (width) and sidewall height.
Smaller the series is, the wider the tire is and wider the tire is, the higher the footprint is. Higher the footprint is, better soil preservation is.
Tyre brand
You can chose your brand in Premium, Medium or Economic range
Don’t forget to compare brand inside each segment! All Premium brands don’t bring same benefits. For example, if you choose VF tyres, depending of brand you have to adapt your rim so have additional costs.
Look at tyre with “NRO” specification. It allows you fit tyre in narrow rim. So you could have VF technology in standard size as VT-TRACTOR.
The functioning of the specifications: it costs for sure, but less than a complete set of tires and rims to buy back!
To learn more and boost your farm's profits, Bridgestone-Agriculture is offering you a free, detailed eBook that explains the essential role your agricultural tyres play in your productivity.
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This information is intended only to make you aware of the technical and functional aspects of agricultural tires and their use. It does not allow you to make a judgment or a definitive conclusion on a given problem. Only your agricultural tire expert is able to make a technical assessment and take a final decision, case by case.
