Tyre know-how: the farmer’s secret weapon
It is very important to check tyre pressures regularly and constantly make sure that they remain at the right level
Farmers face many challenges, most of which are beyond their control. According to Stephan van Staden, National Agricultural Specialist at Bridgestone, manufacturer of Firestone’s portfolio of specialised agricultural tyres, these include fuel prices, market fluctuations and unfavourable weather conditions. “So it really makes sense not to neglect those factors they can do something about,” Stephan said. He said one of the most important, but frequently misunderstood ones are tyres.
“Farmers are generally very open to innovation because they know they need all the help they can get. Clearly, that’s absolutely the right approach but they must also be careful not to ignore the large gains that they can obtain from managing their tyres.
“In particular, maintaining proper tyre inflation pressures and setting up ballast can save an enormous amount of money and increase productivity.”
Stephan said tyres account for 20 to 40 per cent of horsepower loss. Optimising their efficacy through correct pressure and ballast will reduce that percentage.
He said it is key to ensure that the optimal amount of tyre surface engages with the field surface – an optimal footprint will maximise a tractor’s efficiency in performing its task while minimising fuel use. It will also prolong the tyre’s life.
“Achieving the optimal tyre footprint means calculating the lowest tyre inflation needed to carry the load. Of course, part of the load will be the ballast needed to give the tractor the necessary weight for a particular job.
“Another advantage of the lowest practical tyre inflation is that soil compaction is minimised, thus contributing to the overall health of the soil.”
Stephan said it is important to understand that there is no ‘best tyre pressure’ for a tractor. “The tyre pressure must be calculated according to the load it is carrying in each case,” he explained. He said the benefits can be quite extraordinary.
“A study at Ohio State University showed that using the correct tyre inflation improved fuel consumption by between 5,3 per cent and 26,5 per cent, and the time spent per acre by 0,8 per cent to 11 per cent. Achieving these kinds of savings can have a significant impact on a farmer’s margins, especially if they are sustained over the long term.”
He added that fuel has now become the second-largest input cost to farmers, so any consistent saving in fuel costs is highly advantageous.
Stephan said in order to set up a tractor correctly, the first step is obviously to ensure that tyres of the correct size are fitted.
Then it is necessary to determine the correct weight split between front and rear, and then the amount of weight on each tyre. Ballast may need to be added, depending on what equipment the tractor is pulling, and this will affect the weight split.
He said while hydro inflation is cheap and has been traditionally used for ballasting, it has a number of disadvantages. The modern trend is to rely on dry weights. Hydro inflation is, in any event, not suitable for radial tyres, which are increasingly being used in agriculture because they offer a six to 14 per cent performance improvement over cross-ply tyres.
“It’s important to check tyre pressures regularly to ensure that tyres remain at the correct pressure. This should be done weekly at a minimum, and an accurate gauge will pay for itself very quickly,” Stephan concluded.
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