PneuTrac concept from Mitas

Mitas’s latest innovation called the PneuTrac was launched at last year’s Agritechnica Show. It claims to bring together the best of both worlds of the traditional pneumatic tyres and rubber tracks.

The Mitas PneuTrac is a real revolution in the design of tyres. It is claimed to provide better traction efficiency with lower slippage, which results in lower operational costs and potentially higher crop yields when compared with standard tyres.

The tyres are claimed to provide a stable drive at low inflation pressures, ensuring comfort and safety.

The tyre appears to be run as a normal circular tyre at higher pressures. When you reduce the air pressure in the tyre, it behaves as a rubber track with a bigger footprint on the ground to give lower ground pressure and less compaction. The new design is still undergoing testing. The Czech-based tyre-maker accepts that the concept has given initial good results and could well be the challenge of the conventional tyre and cost of tracks.

Higher load capacity

Firestone has introduced the Maxi Traction IF radial for faster, more powerful tractors. The Maxi Traction IF is designed for 180+hp tractors. Compared to standard tractor tyres, the IF is designed to either carry a higher load at the same pressure or carry the same load at lower air pressure.

The company claims that the new tyre has a casing design, which allows a great degree of flexing, enabling lower pressure to be used for the same load and speed.

It is claimed that this allows the user to combine high road speeds with lower soil compaction in the field, resulting in higher crop yield, according to the company.

In addition to enabling the tyre to carry the same load as a standard tyre at lower inflation pressure, Firestone IF technology can also be used to carry a 20% higher load at the same inflation pressure and speed as a standard tyre. This gives the user the capability to use heavier implements or reduce the number of transport cycles.

An added benefit is that the IF version of the Maxi Traction does not require the purchase of new rims. Maxi Traction IF tyres can be fitted on the same rim as a standard tyre of the same size. It is also possible to fit Maxi Traction IF radials on wider rims, if required.

Firestone Maxi Traction IF is now available for the agricultural tyre replacement and original equipment markets in several sizes.

The company claims that independent tests, conducted in Belgium and Germany, prove the overall superiority of Maxi Traction IF tyres in terms of traction and work rate. Traction tests comparing Maxi Traction IF with three main competitors, including top-selling tyre brands in Europe, show that the Firestone tyre has the lowest slip rate.

The field tests also confirm Maxi Traction’s higher work capacity, showing a larger surface area work rate than the same three competitors.

The testing programme showed that Maxi Traction IF has an above-average tyre footprint, adding the benefit of lower soil compaction to its top traction performance. The independent tests also show that Maxi Traction’s superior traction and faster work rate is not compromised by its fuel efficiency, which proved in line with average results of tested tyres in the field and on the road.

Performer row crop tyres

In February, Firestone announced the Performer Row Crop series of tyres, which improve farming efficiency. The new tyres are designed to provide maximum efficiency in the field and on the road through their high load-carrying capacity. This will allow farmers to use large tanks and save time in spraying operations.

Firestone has carried this field efficiency through to the road, designing the new tyres with a high speed index. Combined with the Dual Angle Lug pattern, Performer Row Crop tyres allow farmers to travel at higher speeds, resulting in further savings. The tyres also claim to demonstrate impressive ride comfort and steering response, even at these higher speeds.

“Our new Performer range has been developed to meet the needs of farmers for higher speeds and less soil compaction, while using bigger tractors with heavier loads,” said Andrew Dowdall, Firestone’s ag specialist in Ireland.

Michelin’s new calculator

Farmers and contractors can now calculate the optimum tyre pressures for their tractors, harvesters, sprayers and trailers using a new tyre pressure calculator available at www.michelin-agricultural-tyres.co.uk

Michelin has developed the tool to help farm machinery operators get the maximum performance out of their tyres. It does this by ensuring pressures can be tailored to deliver the maximum soil protection for a particular machine and application, supporting every farmer’s desire for a high-quality harvest and long-term productivity.

Throughout the crop cycle, they have to operate with different attachments and trailers under weights and conditions of use that differ considerably from one season to another. It is little wonder, therefore, that tyre pressures can vary significantly, depending on the type of use or configuration.

To use the free online tyre calculator, users are required to select their machine or equipment type, which includes entering specifics such as axle weights (where known) or hopper sizes. Users can then choose the name of their Michelin tyre range and the speed at which they work to obtain the ideal tyre pressures.

The calculator also enables farmers to save their user profile and machinery configurations for future reference.

Mitas signs up Claas

Mitas Tyres has signed a long-term agreement with Claas to supply Continental and Mitas-branded farm tyres to Claas combines and tractors. The collaboration between Claas and Mitas dates back to 2004, when Mitas acquired the Continental farm tyre manufacturing division.

Claas uses Mitas-manufactured Continental and Mitas-branded farm tyres for combines, tractors and forage harvesters in Germany, France, Russia and the United States.

AGCO has signed a similar agreement with Mitas to supply Continental and Mitas-branded farm tyres to Fendt, Massey Ferguson, Valtra, Challenger and Laverda-branded tractors and combines for their plants in Germany, Finland, France and Italy for four years until 2017.

Bridgestone is new brand

Bridgestone Europe will expand its multi-brand strategy and introduce the Bridgestone brand in the agricultural tyre market in Europe alongside and complimenting Firestone.

Bridgestone agricultural tyres will target the growing high-end segment of the European market, meeting the special needs of the largest, most powerful agricultural vehicles and equipment. Bridgestone plans to launch its first product in May this year, making it available for sale in Europe during the second half of the year.

Daly Tyres Infinity range

Daly Tyres, based at Rathkeale Industrial Estate, Co Limerick, has added the Infinity range of tractor tyres to its offering. The new Infinity range of radial tractor tyres includes a strengthened sidewall that claims to reduce the possibility of punctures.

Over 50 new tyre sizes are planned including a new-generation, low-profile 65 Series tyre range to suit a wide range of applications. Daly Tyres also imports the Seha range of value-for-money agricultural tyres manufactured in Turkey. The company, which can supply a large range of other tractor tyre brands, can be contacted at 069-64899.

New King Road Tyres brands

Kings Road Tyres (KRT), based at John F Kennedy Drive, Dublin, now represents three of the Michelin tractor tyre brands in Ireland.

KRT now offers Michelin, Kleber and Tauras tractor and implement tyres to cover all sectors of the farming market.

KRT is the exclusive distributor for the Taurus range of agricultural tyres in Ireland. Taurus will be introducing some additional 65 Series low ground pressure tractor tyres for this year.

Last year, the new Taurus 650/65R42 Point 65 tyre was introduced. This year, KRT will add the option of 540/65R28 tyres with 480/65R28 and 540/65R30 tyres available towards the end of the year.

It is claimed that the new tyres provide greater load capacity and a higher road index than previous Taurus offers. The 540/65R28 tyres claims to deliver 25% more carrying capacity up to 50km/h compared with some of the competition. KRT deals with tyre retailers only rather than the public. KRT can be contacted at 01-4566077.

Mitas’s Super Flexion Tyre

Mitas is now offering a new Super Flexion Tyre (SFT) for high-horsepower tractors over 180hp in size. It is claimed that the SFT gives the flexibility of variable inflation pressure and optimal performance according to application. SFT is Mitas’s response to the compromised performance of one-pressure-for-all Improved Flexion tyres.

The SFT tyre 900/60 R42, for example, exerts a ground pressure reduced by 33% when compared with an IF tyre of the same size. The tyre has a contact area (flat plate) of 4,800cm2 and nominal load of 8t.

The 900/60 R42 tyre is currently the largest and heaviest Mitas farm tyre. It weighs 426kg and has a diameter of 2.15m. Its recommended inflation pressure spans from 0.8 to 2.8 bars, depending on speed and load.

Kirkby offer Alliance tyres

Kirkby Tyres is the Irish agent for the Indian manufacturer Alliance range of agricultural tyres. The company recently introduced the Alliance FarmPro II series tyres, which feature a multi-angled lug that claims to offer a smooth ride, improved wear and better soil cleaning properties.

Other new tyres from Kirkby Tyres includes a new 327 implement/floatation tyre, which is available in a range of sizes from 400/60R15.5 up to 700/45R22.5. Kirkby’s Irish sales manager is Martin Blaney and he can be contacted at 087-9461610.

New Firestone combine tyre

Firestone has launched the new Maxi Traction Combine with a high load capacity for ever-heavier harvesting machinery, claiming to cause a minimum impact on the soil.

The Firestone Maxi Traction Combine tyres are built to sustain grain tanks with a capacity of up to 12,500l. Reinforced tyre casing claims to help withstand these loads.

The tyre sidewall construction claims to allow for higher flexion, thus creating a bigger footprint and larger contact patch, which not only results in slow and even tyre wear, but also in reduced soil compaction under these huge weights. It is also claimed to use more durable cut-resistant compounds.

The Maxi Traction Combine uses Firestone’s unique high performance Dual Angle Lug design technology, which is claimed to enable better traction, lower soil disturbance and better self-cleaning.

Trelleborg’s tyre lug design

Trelleborg has been two years testing the new concept that it calls ProgressiveTraction technology.

After two years of simulations as well as indoor and outdoor testing, Trelleborg’s ProgressiveTraction technology has been applied to a 650/65R38 agricultural tyre for the first time. The new concept is based around a new tractor tyre tread pattern, the highlight of which is a double lug.

The company claims that the new ProgressiveTraction technology tyres will give increased efficiency and performance by simultaneously working on the tyre’s dimension compared with the traditional tread pattern. The new double lug operates on the soil at different times, claiming to progressively release higher traction when and where it is needed. The company also claims that the double lug provides the tyre with better flotation capability, ensuring an even pressure distribution over the extra wide footprint.

The tyre designs are continuing to undergo a variety of indoor and outdoor field tests to measure their performance, both in the field and on the road. The company claims that the first results have exceeded initial expectations.

During the latest field tests, ProgressiveTraction tyres demonstrated a traction capacity over 10% higher when compared with standard technology tyres.

It is claimed that the extra pulling force resulted in a 3% to 5% reduction in working time, providing farming operations with cost savings.

In addition, depending on the tractor and its tyre configuration, higher flotation results in better pressure distribution on the ground, while preserving soil from compaction and erosion, according to Trelleborg.

On the road, the new lug structure is specifically designed to reduce tread vibrations, limiting the tyre’s rolling resistance.

The company claims that fuel consumption, driver comfort and handling, as well as the tyre’s wear resistance, will benefit significantly from the change in tread.

Mitas celebrates a decade

This year, Mitas celebrates 10 years of manufacturing Continental agricultural tyres under licence with the announcement of an extension until 2019. Since 2004, Mitas has produced more than 300,000t of Continental tyres.

Currently, Mitas offers more than 200 variations of agricultural Continental tyres. Since 2004, the bestselling Continental tyre made by Mitas is 420/85 R 34 AC 85 142 A8.

In recent years, there has been huge demand for tyres for high-horsepower machines. From 2009 to 2012, Mitas tripled production of Continental SVT tyres. The largest Continental tyres made by Mitas are 710/75 R 42 SVT with a diameter of 2.15m and 1050/50 R 32 SVT with a diameter of 1.9m. Germany is the largest market for sales of Continental agricultural tyres, followed by Italy, France and Britain.

Trelleborg’s new tyre apps

Trelleborg has launched three new tyre apps called Tire Efficiency, Dealer Locator and Attraction, while also updating its existing apps, Load Calculator, Tire Book and Tire iBrochure.

Trelleborg’s new Tire Efficiency app measures the benefits provided by Trelleborg tyres, both in terms of cost savings and reduced working time, benchmarked against alternative tyres available on the market.

The Trelleborg Dealer Locator app identifies the Trelleborg tyre dealer nearest to a selected location.

The aTtraction App is a multilingual e-reader published by Trelleborg to update farmers on the latest product innovations and agricultural industry trends. It allows navigation through technical advice, interviews, articles and product information.

Trelleborg’s updated Tire Book and Tire iBrochure apps provide information and advice on Trelleborg’s complete tyre range. The updated Trelleborg Load Calculator app, which is designed to calculate load per axle according to a tractor’s configuration, recommends the optimum pressure for the selected application.

Kevin Burke offers Bandenmarkt tyres

Kevin Burke Tyres Ltd, based at Athenry, Co Galway, is the sole Irish importer for the Starmaxx, Bandenmarkt and Tianli range of agricultural tyres. The company provides wheel solutions for trailers and a range of flotation tyre options, as well as liquid and solid fill and tyre vulcanisation repair services. The Starmaxx TR- 110 Agri radial tractor tyres have shown continued improvements in terms of wearing properties and offer good value for money.

For Kevin Burke Tyres Ltd, Bandenmarkt has expanded its range of radial flotation tyres with the new Agro-Grip pattern of Tianli. These tyres are suitable for on and off road applications with a load rating of 5,800kg per tyre for the 650/55R26.5 tyre, for heavy-duty trailer and silage wagon applications with speed ratings up to 65km/hr.

Bandenmarkt claims that, because of the massive centre lugs, the tyres provide good on-road performance. Due to the tyre’s flotation properties, it is suitable for low ground pressure applications, minimising soil damage. The tyres claim to have good self-cleaning properties due to the size of the lugs and the space in between.

Bandenmarkt has also introduced the 455/40R22.5 HT+ tyre that is suitable for use with agricultural machinery such as low loaders, mixer-feeders, bale trailers, and livestock trailers. The benefits include suitability for on and off road applications with a big footprint that gives less soil compaction. These tyres are suitable for big 10-stud axles and claim to have less friction and help to give improved fuel efficiency.

Kevin Burke Tyres Ltd, based at Athenry, Co Galway, can be contacted at 091-845329.