Authored by: Tractor tyre expert | 19 June 2024
Heavy clay soils are often quite a challenge for farmers. They are rich in minerals and extremely fertile, but there are disadvantages. Their dense, impermeable texture makes work trickier, especially in wet conditions when the earth becomes muddy and sticky or during dry periods when it hardens and cracks appear. Choosing the right tyre is essential to maximise your efficiency and minimise the problems linked to complex soils.
An agricultural tyre that is suitable for clay soils must not only have a good traction capacity to avoid excessive slip, it must also reduce soil compaction in order to preserve the soil’s structure and fertility. By choosing the most suitable tyre model, not only will you improve the efficiency of your machines, you will extend your tyres’ wear life while reducing fuel consumption.
With a clay content of more than 40%, clay soil is characterised by its density and impermeability. This soil composition has major benefits: it is rich in minerals and can retain water and nutrients efficiently, which are essential elements for plant growth. Unlike other types of soil, clay soils prevent the earth drying out too rapidly. The plants have constant access to moisture which boosts their growth and plant health.
That’s why it’s considered as fertile soil.
Clay soils pose unique challenges for agricultural machinery. Tractors face greater resistance when they drive on this type of soil in wet conditions. This rolling resistance is due to the low bearing capacity of the soil when wet. The tyre sinks into the ground, increasing the effort required to get past the obstacles in front of it. In addition, the sticky, compactness of the clay makes vehicle movement even more difficult.
This results in an increase in fuel consumption associated with premature tyre wear.
Wheel slip in clay soil is a frequent problem. When the tyres cannot grip the ground properly due to the slippery texture of the soil caused by excess water, they slip, which leads to a loss of traction efficiency. Excess slip will considerably compromise agricultural vehicle performance.
This results in delays in agricultural labours and a loss of productivity.
Excess wheel slip on clay soil will also lead to additional fuel consumption. When the wheel slips, the engine requires more effort to propulse the vehicle forward, which in turn leads to extra fuel consumption.
This results in extra fuel costs for farmers and a negative impact on overall profitability.
Clay soil in wet conditions is particularly sensitive to the formation of ruts. When the tyres of agricultural machinery pass over the same spot several times they sink in which ends up forming ruts in the ground. These may encourage soil erosion by channelling the surface water and compromise the quality of harvests by disrupting proper plant development.
When the soil dries up and hardens, the ruts make the circulation of agricultural machines difficult, often requiring soil rehabilitation work which takes time and requires an additional fuel budget.
Soil compaction is a major problem for clay soils. When agricultural vehicle tyres exert excess pressure to the ground, this causes a high level of compaction. This phenomenon reduces the porosity of the soil, impeding the circulation of water and air and is detrimental to proper plant root development. Compaction leads to a drop in crop yields and long-term deterioration of soil fertility.
A good agricultural tyre that is suitable for clay soil must be designed to protect soil fertility. The choice depends on several criteria.
Working at a low inflation pressure is the first criterion to take into consideration when choosing an agricultural tyre for clay soil. This characteristic effectively increases the bearing capacity and spreads the load better over a larger contact area with the ground. Due to this, the risk of soil compaction and the tyres sinking deep into the ground will be limited.
The ideal tyre for clay soil must therefore be able to work at different pressure settings depending on the weather conditions. It must be able to provide optimal traction without compromising the soil structure.
A well-built casing which allows more versatility: it must be sufficiently supple to mould into the shape of the land and spread the pressure to the ground more evenly. The tyre must be able to be used at low pressure for delicate work on soft or wet clay soils as well as with a higher inflation pressure if carrying a load when the ground is very dry.
A good tread profile: the tyre lugs must have an optimal grip capacity to offer maximum adherence on clay soil, while limiting compaction. Deep well-spaced lugs, positioned asymmetrically, offer better traction.
Lastly, tyres with a good self-cleaning capacity are indispensable if you wish to avoid earth and mud accumulating between the lugs, especially when it’s wet. This characteristic allows you to maintain optimal adherence to the ground, thus reducing the risk of slip and premature tyre wear. A good self-cleaning capacity means that you can maintain constant traction and improve productivity by limiting the stoppage time necessary to clean your tyres.
The Maxi Traction agricultural tyre stands out due to its exceptional casing. Its ingenious and innovative design provides increased resistance associated with remarkable suppleness, which allows the tyre to work at low pressure. This characteristic is essential in reducing the risk of excessive compaction and in protecting clay soil against compaction.
By opting for a larger size when it comes to replacing your tyres (series 70, 65 or even extra-large), you will obtain a larger contact area with the ground, allowing you to work with a greater load while limiting how much you sink into the ground, which means that wheel slip is kept under control in wet conditions on clay soil. The large size Maxi Traction tyre spreads the load over a larger contact patch with the ground. This high-tech tyre minimises rolling resistance and preserves the structure of the soil.
Moreover, its design leads to optimal traction on clay soil. Thanks to its patented Dual Angle lugs which optimise traction while faciliting self-cleaning, this tyre offers better adherence while limiting soil damage. In short, you are guaranteed an efficient work rate without compromising your soil health.
Clay soil, while fertile, presents unique challenges when working with heavy machinery in wet conditions. Choosing suitable agricultural tyres is essential if you are looking to optimise your agricultural campaigns, protect the soil structure and ensure optimal productivity.
An ideal tyre for clay soil must combine several key characteristics, such as the ability to work at low pressure, a supple, versatile casing and deep, well-spaced lugs to ensure a good self-cleaning capacity.
The extra-large version of Firestone’s Maxi Traction tyre meets all these criteria. It offers an efficient solution for work on clay soil. Its innovative design and state-of-the-art technology will improve your work rate at the same time as protecting the health of your soil.
With Firestone, you have the guarantee of tractor tyres that deliver a real advantage, and that in choosing our brand, you can work worry-free.
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