Which agricultural tyre lets you do more with the same tyre size?

Every little detail counts when it comes to maximising your yield. Your implements and equipment are generally chosen for their sturdiness and efficiency, but what about your tractor tyres? They are neglected too often, but play a key role in the productivity and preservation of your soil.
Imagine if you could reduce the number of passes through your fields, protect your soil against compaction and use up less fuel. You think that’s idyllic? Yet the choices you make today when equipping your machines could actually transform your future operating results.
Agricultural tyres with the same dimensions are not necessarily equivalent. Certain allow you to transport heavier loads, work at low pressure without compromising your soil or lead to energy savings due to better traction.
So how do you pick out the innovative tyres that can meet your needs while improving overall performance levels?

In this article, we guide you through the essential criteria in defining which agricultural tyre will help you do more with the same dimensions. Stay tuned to find out which solutions are suited to your farm and can help achieve your objectives in terms of yields.

1. Agricultural tyres that can carry more weight: a lever for better productivity

You are looking for solutions to optimise yields and reduce production costs?

Start by choosing the right tyres.

Standard versus IF technology tyre comparison

The limitations of standard tyres

Standard agricultural tyres, while efficient in many situations, reach their limits when it comes to carrying heavy loads.

The only way to compensate for the load is to increase the inflation pressure. Effectively, their internal structure does not allow them to work at low pressure.

They do not have enough deflection capacity to spread the pressure to the ground evenly. This can have several consequences:

• Compaction: excess pressure to the ground leads to compacted earth, reducing the soil’s capacity to retain the water and nutrients essential for crop growth.

  ---

• Premature tyre wear: standard tyres are more likely to wear rapidly. When they face heavy loads, the pressure in the tyres has to be higher, which increases the slip ratio and as such the amount of rubbing between the tread and the ground.

  ---

• Reduced traction: a highly inflated tyre loses adherence and may slip considerably, leading to a slower work rate, loss of time and more fatigue.

The benefits of IF tyres: 20% more load capacity

To meet these challenges, manufacturers have developed high-tech IF (improved flexion) tyres. These tyres stand out due to their ability to deflect without being damaged.

Thanks to their reinforced structure, they can carry up to 20% more load than standard tyres of the same size, without increasing the inflation pressure.

Direct impact on productivity

The use of IF tyres has a direct impact on farm productivity:

• Use of heavier implements: thanks to their higher load capacity, IF tyres allow you to use wider and heavier implements, without the risk of damaging your soil.

  ---

• Reduction in the number of passages: by working with larger implements, you can reduce the number of passes across your fields, which saves time as well as reducing fuel costs.

  ---

• Preservation of soil quality: by limiting soil compaction, IF tyres contribute to preserving soil structure and fertility, thus helping to achieve higher long-term yields.

2. Working at low pressure: preserving the soil for better yields

Working the soil is a crucial step in the agricultural production cycle.

However, the repeated toing and froing of heavy machinery can compact the soil, reduce its porosity and its capacity to retain water and nutrients.

To limit these harmful effects, working at a low inflation pressure is clearly the best way forwards.

Reducing pressure to protect the structure of the soil and improve yields

Thanks to their reinforced structure, with IF tyres you can work at a much lower inflation pressure than with standard tyres.
For example, an IF tyre can be used at a pressure of 0.8 bar, whereas a standard tyre generally needs to be inflated to between 1.2 bar and 1.5 bar to be able to carry the same load.

• By working at 0.8 bar, the IF tyre exerts much less pressure to the ground, thus limiting compaction of the topsoil.

  ---

• Working at low pressure allows for good soil aeration and does not block the infiltration of water and nutrients.

  ---

• Porous, aerated soil leads to a better germination rate and lets the roots develop more easily deeper down, in search of the elements necessary for rapid growth. Low-pressure tyres improve the soil’s ability to store water, thus reducing water stress for crops, especially during dry periods

  ---

• IF technology tyres create less ruts, which reduces compaction and preserves a good structure in the topsoil. As such, these tyres reduce the need for soil rehabilitation, avoiding decompaction work which is time consuming and costly in terms of fuel.

3. Optimised tread design: reduction in slip for fuel savings

The tread design must not just be a simple copy of a competitor’s tread profile, but the result of multiple research and design studies to improve its structure. The way the lugs are designed, their number, angle and tilt effectively have a direct influence on traction, slip and rolling resistance.

Impact of the quality of the tread on slip

High-tech tyres such as the Maxi Traction IF tyre offer optimal performance levels in terms of traction and soil preservation. The design of their lugs has been meticulously studied to maximise grip and minimise slippage:

• Optimised angles: the lugs of these IF tyres have specific angles which allow them to penetrate easily into the soil and to evacuate the earth efficiently. This ensures better adherence and reduces the risk of soil accumulating between the lugs, leading to less slip.

  ---

• Lug profile: this has also been designed to improve traction. The lugs have a specific sloping edge design which allows them to get a better hold on the ground horizontally, thus improving traction.

Results in terms of fuel consumption

Numerous studies have shown that the use of IF tyres leads to significant fuel savings.

These substantial savings are due to the reduction in rolling resistance: thanks to better grip on the ground, IF tyres optimise the use of engine power, and as such, reduce fuel consumption.

These premium tyres allow engine power to be transmitted more efficiently to the ground, which means that your tractor will need less power to carry out the same task.

4. The technological advantage of an IF agricultural tyre: a versatile ally

Among innovations in the field of agricultural tyres, IF technology has established itself as a reference in terms of traction, soil preservation and versatility. Firestone’s Maxi Traction IF tyre is a perfect example of this.

The advanced design of Firestone’s Maxi Traction IF tyres

The Maxi Traction IF tyre design is based on a technological innovation: a reinforced casing associated with flexible sidewalls

• Reinforced casing: this characteristic makes the tyre particularly sturdy, allowing it to carry heavy loads without distorting the tyre. The layers of fabric and rubber compounds used in the production of the casing are selected for their resistance and durability.

  ---

• Supple sidewalls: unlike standard agricultural tyres, IF tyre sidewalls are more supple. This flexibility allows the tyre to increase its contact patch with the ground, so as to reduce compaction.

Versatility and durability

Maxi Traction IF tyres stand out due to their versatility and durability:

• Adaptation to all types of land: thanks to their specific design, IF tyres can be used on a large variety of land, whether on soft, hard or wet ground. Their ability to work at low pressure and their excellent traction make them especially well-suited to work in the fields.

  ---

• Increased longevity: the reinforced casing of IF tyres makes them exceptionally long-lasting. The tyres are better resistant to wear, to shocks and external aggressions, which leads to a reduction of costs by avoiding frequent tyre replacements.

  ---

• Initial cost versus savings made: the purchase cost of an IF tyre can be considerably higher than for a standard tyre. However, the savings made on fuel, wear and low maintenance, considering the improvement in yields, rapidly make up for the initial investment. The Maxi Traction IF offers an excellent return on investment.

The main advantages of Maxi Traction IF tyres are as follows:

• Better traction
• Soil protection
• Higher load capacity
• Driving comfort
• Reduction in operating costs
• Durability

Investing in Maxi Traction IF tyres is a strategic choice which helps you improve your productivity and protect your environment.

To find out more and extend the lifespan of your tractor tyres, download our free comprehensive guide: “How to adjust the pressure in my tractor tyres to gain hours more use”.

Most people who read this article have also read some of the following articles:

• 9 vital technical points in relation to agricultural tyres
• Advice for mounting and demounting tractor tyres
• Consequences of incorrect agricultural tyre size
• 10 traps to avoid when mounting and demounting tyres
• How does load transfer impact the rear tyres of a tractor?
• In which cases should I call in my agricultural tyre expert?
• Emergency agricultural tyre breakdown service, what do you need to know?
• Hot or cold repairs for damage to my agricultural tyres
• Winter period: advice on how to store my agricultural tyres
• What is the impact of a front loader on my agricultural tyres?