Trelleborg Wheel Systems has released the results of research testing the effect of a wider tire footprint on the efficiency and productivity of farming operations.
The company says a wider tire footprint generated savings of up to 3,800 euros ($4,796 based on the exchange rate on Oct. 7, 2014) when farming 500 hectares (1,235 acres).
In its field demonstration, Trelleborg had two Massey Ferguson 7617 Dyna – 6 Efficient tractors compete over a 200 meter track simultaneously. With one tractor fitted with Trelleborg’s wide 710/60R38 TM1000 High Power tires and the other a standard 520/85R38 tire, digital chronometers measured the time taken for each tractor to complete the track, while two pipes were set up to show fuel consumption to allow calculation of efficiency savings.
Trelleborg holds a long-standing commitment to helping farming professionals produce more with less, according to Piero Mancinelli, R&D director, Agricultural and Forestry Tires. “As such we set out to showcase the potential of our latest solutions which have been specifically designed to boost productivity and efficiency for future farming operations, while also reducing operating costs and the overall environmental footprint.”
The company says the results of the field demonstration are testament to the advanced design of the tire tread and the implementation of Trelleborg’s Blue Tire technology.
The combination of the width of the tire and the high flexibility of the sidewall, guarantees a flat and large footprint at very low pressure. In addition, this combination enhances mud ejection, maximizing the self-cleaning capability of the tire.
As a result, the tire lugs work much more efficiently. The working lug surface is over 46% larger and ensures better traction and greater cost efficiencies. The entire footprint of the tire is wider than a standard 520/85R38 tire by up to 36%, providing a much more even and low pressure distribution on the soil as well as better flotation for higher crop productivity.
The performance of both Trelleborg’s wide 710/60R38 TM1000 High Power tires and the standard 520/85R38 tires were tested in dry (15-18%), medium (18-25%) and wet (> 25%) soil moisture.
Trelleborg says the cost efficiencies that can be obtained through the overall reduction of operating time and maintenance cost are as high as 17% in dry to medium soil conditions, 14% in medium conditions and 13% in wet soil moisture.
Fuel consumption can be reduced by over 16% in either dry to medium, medium or wet conditions. The company also says using a tire with a wider footprint such as the 710/60R38 TM1000 High Power significantly reduces soil compaction drastically increasing both the quality and output of crop yields.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems is a global supplier of tires and complete wheel systems for agricultural and forest machinery, forklift trucks and other materials-handling vehicles. For more information, visit www.trelleborg.com/wheelsystems.
