Flotation Tires Growing in Use as Ag Equipment Grows in Size

Flotation tires are being used more and more on North American farms because of the increasing weight of the equipment and wagons and the load carrying capacities needed.

Rather than digging and clawing through terrain, flotation tires conquer difficult loose terrain primarily by expanding the tire’s contact patch and “floating” on top of the surface.

Flotation is the ability of a tire to stay on the surface of soft ground, soil or snow without rutting or digging as much into the surface.

The newest flotation tire from CEAT Specialty is the FLOATMAX CARGO PLUS, which offers high traction, stubble puncture protection, uniform pressure distribution, and minimal soil/crop damage for tank and trailer applications. Available initially in size 28LR26, more sizes and a VF variant are planned for release towards the end of this year.

The FLOATMAX CARGO PLUS was developed on the recommendation of the folks at Millersburg Tire Service, a longtime CEAT dealer in Ohio.

According to John Miller of Millersburg Tire Service, “We mentioned to the CEAT folks the need for this tank tire and provided input of what we thought would improve the product over current designs. With CEAT’s willingness to grow in this market we had the new FLOATMAX CARGO PLUS within a year.”

CEAT Specialty offers a wide range of flotation tires, including the CEAT Flotation TX 440 recommended for use on trailers. The TX440 provides many benefits for agricultural applications, including minimal compaction to the soil while providing outstanding grip in the field.

In addition to keeping farm vehicles above ground, flotation tires minimize soil disturbance in agricultural environments, as compared to other types of tires that tend to dig in and damage the soil. Soil compaction occurs when soil particles are pressed together, reducing pore space between them. Heavily compacted soils contain few large pores, less total pore volume and, consequently, a greater density. A compacted soil has a reduced rate of both water infiltration and drainage. This happens because large pores more effectively move water downward through the soil than smaller pores. In most cases, the more soil compaction, the less crop yield.

As farmers embrace advanced technologies and seek to optimize their operations, the demand for reliable farm tractor tires is expected to surge – tires like the CEAT YIELDMAX.

CEAT YIELDMAX is a new generation agricultural radial tire meant for the combine harvester market. Its main purpose is to support massive machinery and provide a higher load capacity . The CEAT YIELDMAX is engineered and designed  to ensure minimum impact on soil, which has become an increasingly large concern for North American farmers.

Features & Benefits:

The CEAT YIELDMAX features a lower lug angle around the shoulders that ensures higher traction. Sharp shoulders enable excellent grip. A higher lug angle around the center lug provides better side stability.

This high-tech Ag radial has a tough casing and rigid belt that provides all the advantages of radial construction while supporting heavy equipment and loads. It is suitable for all types of harvesting applications, like combine harvester, forage harvester and sugarcane harvester.

CEAT Ag and OTR tires have been rolling in North America for five years now and the feedback from tire dealers and their farmer customers keeps rolling in!

Brent Sisson, Agricultural Tire Specialist for Tirecraft Sarnia in Ontario, Canada, says it takes him about four years to truly evaluate an Ag tire brand. He’s been selling CEAT farm tires for five years now and is all in!

“It’s about a 4-year process before I can feel confident in telling my customers I have confidence in a farm tire product,” Sisson says. “I must see it first-hand with known comparisons. CEAT is one brand that has surpassed my requirements. They provide a high quality, precision product. We have had lots of excellent customer feedback.”

“We have been very pleased with the CEAT tires,” says peanut farmer Justin Studstill, whose John Deere tractors and implements travel over a 60-mile square area in southeast Georgia.  “Our tractors spend a lot of time on the road, and the CEAT tires provide a smooth steady ride. They don’t get squirrelly like some tires do; very stable even when pulling heavy implements.”

Whether its YIELDMAX radials for harvesting machines, FARMAX tractor tire radials or other tread patterns in the CEAT Specialty line-up, the company is fulfilling its mission to offer high quality tires at a better value to North America’s farmers and ranchers.

CEAT Specialty has developed a well-deserved reputation in the North American tire industry for being nimble and responsive to customer input on market needs.

Case in point: Brad Schmucker, owner of Millersburg Tire Service in Ohio, had been asking a leading tire manufacturer to build a 28LR26 tank tire for over 15 years, knowing that there was demand in the market for a quality high speed radial flotation tire. There are a couple in the market now by other manufacturers, but Schmucker felt that there could be an improvement on the current offerings.

Millersburg Tire Service was one of the first US dealers to take on CEAT Ag tires when the company entered the North American market five years ago and is one of CEAT’s top dealers today. CEAT Specialty executives visited Millersburg Tire Service last December and posed the question, “What products do you need in the US market?”

“We mentioned the need for this tank tire and provided input of what we thought would improve the product over current designs,” recalled John Miller of Millersburg Tire Service. “With CEAT’s willingness to grow in this market we had the new FLOATMAX CARGO PLUS in less than a year. We already have well over 100 units performing in the field!”

Miller continued, “CEAT is a company that is willing to listen to the needs of its customers and tries to meet those requests. They are amazing to work with because they want dealer and customer input to help make them stronger in the market.”

The FLOATMAX CARGO PLUS was unveiled at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, IL, in August. The tire offers high traction, stubble puncture protection, uniform pressure distribution, and minimal soil/crop damage. Available initially in size 28LR26, more sizes and a VF variant are planned for release towards the end of the year.

This is what sets CEAT apart from other Ag tire manufacturers – a willingness to receive input from valued dealers like Millersburg Tire Service and the ability to quickly put their recommendations into action. This company-wide mindset is one reason why CEAT became the first tire company in the world to receive the prestigious Deming Grand Prize for TQM (total quality management) excellence.

The farming and ranching industry aren’t for the faint of heart. It takes determination, hard work and smarts to cultivate the land and raise livestock. That’s why it’s crucial for farmers and ranchers to have tires that can withstand the tough conditions that come with their line of work and deliver such attributes as dependable traction, good roadability and low soil compaction.

This is where CEAT Specialty Tires comes in.  The company’s mission is to offer high quality tires at a better value to North America’s farmers and ranchers. By all accounts, the company is accomplishing its mission after five years in North America.

Brent Sisson, Agricultural Tire Specialist for Tirecraft Sarnia in Ontario, Canada, says it takes him about four years to truly evaluate an Ag tire brand. He’s been selling CEAT farm tires for four years now and is all in! “It’s about a 4-year process before I can feel confident in telling my customers I have confidence in a farm tire product,” Sisson says. “I must see it first-hand with known comparisons. CEAT is one brand that has surpassed my requirements. They provide a high quality, precision product. We have had lots of excellent customer feedback.”

Featuring innovative rubber compounds, tread design and construction, the CEAT FARMAX radial tractor tire line delivers long tread life, dependable traction in the field, a smooth and steady ride on the road, and low soil compaction.

Torquemax, available in VF and IF versions, is also a key product from CEAT Specialty Tires. Designed for high horsepower tractors, the Torquemax radial provides better traction and prevents slippage even when used in wet soil or muddy fields. With its optimized design, the Torquemax reduces fuel consumption and provides good roadability.

The Spraymax sprayer tire is another outstanding radial from CEAT Specialty Tires. The Spraymax, which is also available in VF and IF versions, has deep and wide lugs that provide superior traction and prevent slippage during spraying. With a heavy ply rating, it can carry a large amount of weight with ease, making it the perfect tire for the larger self-propelled sprayers. CEAT has incorporated a special rubber compound in the Spraymax that allows the tire to resist abrasions and cuts, thus providing a longer lifespan.

The Yieldmax for combine harvesters also delivers dependable traction and reduces soil compaction.

Farmers and ranchers have a tough job, and one of the essential tools to have in their arsenal are reliable tires. Whether it’s for tractors or other heavy-duty farm equipment, tires can make a significant impact on productivity and safety.

The search for the best farm tires can be daunting, but you cannot go wrong with the CEAT Spraymax VF radial tire for your self-propelled sprayer.

The benefits of Spraymax tires

The first thing to know about Spraymax is its VF (very high flexion) technology. One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years, VF tires have the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. The gentler footprint of the Spraymax VF translates into less soil compaction and crop damage.

Spraymax tires are engineered to function well in even the toughest environments, making them ideal for farmers and ranchers in need of heavy-duty tires. One of the significant benefits of Spraymax tires is their ability to reduce downtime due to punctures.

Additionally, they can reduce fuel consumption since they offer low rolling resistance. Their roadability is also excellent. As farmers travel from one field to another, they are spending more and more time on the road. The center tie bar on the Spraymax gives this tire superior roadability, so farmers can relax and rest when they reach the next field. To run a successful row crop operation, farmers must maximize every hour in the field while minimizing downtime. With Spraymax tires, farmers can maximize their crop spraying with reliable and innovative tires!

The Importance of Proper Tire Maintenance

Spraymax tires are a great investment. It’s essential, however, to practice proper tire maintenance to get the maximum performance out of them and any Ag tire for that matter. That means regularly inspecting the tires for signs of wear and damage, maintaining proper air pressure, and making sure the tire matches the load. If you’re a farmer or rancher looking for the best tire performance, contact your local tire dealer for more information about CEAT Ag tires, which include a wide range of radial and bias tires for farm tractors and other farm equipment including sprayers and combines. Their durability, puncture resistance and overall longevity make them an ideal choice for the stringent demands of farming and ranching.

Flotation tires like the CEAT Flotation TX 440 provide many benefits for agricultural applications, including minimal compaction to the soil while providing outstanding grip in the field.

Flotation tires are perhaps most commonly known in the farm and agricultural industries, where the ability to float over loose dirt is a must. In addition to keeping farm vehicles above ground, flotation tires minimize soil disturbance in agricultural environments, as compared to other types of tires that tend to dig in and damage the soil.

Soil compaction occurs when soil particles are pressed together, reducing pore space between them. Heavily compacted soils contain few large pores, less total pore volume and, consequently, a greater density. A compacted soil has a reduced rate of both water infiltration and drainage. This happens because large pores more effectively move water downward through the soil than smaller pores. In most cases, the more soil compaction, the less crop yield.

In January 2022, University of Minnesota Extension, North Dakota State University, and Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development sponsored a conference to discuss compaction and proven strategies to alleviate it. We’re going to cover one of the takeaways here: A 2020 study that projected the economic costs of compaction across North Dakota and Minnesota. The study found that farmers in North Dakota and Minnesota may lose $587 million over two years for every 10% of land that is affected by compaction.

Soil compaction results in stunted roots, late emergence of sprouts, reduced nutrient absorption and oxygen starvation. It all adds up to lower yield.

Recommended for use on trailers, the CEAT Flotation TX 440 bias tire reduces soil compaction due to a larger volume and footprint which increase the tire’s ground contact. Additionally, rounded shoulders enable just the right curvature to help reduce damage to crops. The Flotation TX 440 trailer tire is backed by a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.

The design of the Flotation TX 440 bias tire integrates well with modern farming practices, such as no-till farming, minimum tillage, and crop rotations. This is because it significantly reduces soil damage and compaction while still improving traction and reducing slippage. Furthermore, the Flotation TX 440 is designed to operate at low air pressures, which reduces soil compaction further and improves the tire’s footprint.

Using flotation tires, such as the FLOTATION TX 440, can help farmers extend their field work hours when working in less than ideal conditions and wanting to minimize soil compaction.

If you operate a self-propelled sprayer on your farm, the CEAT Spraymax VF radial will deliver everything you need in an Ag tire – long tread wear, traction in the field, smooth ride on the road, and less soil compaction.

Produced in one of the world’s most advanced Ag radial tire plants, the Spraymax VF is rapidly gaining in popularity with North American farmers because it delivers outstanding performance at a very competitive acquisition price.

The first thing to know about Spraymax is its VF (very high flexion) technology. One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years, VF tires have the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. The gentler footprint of the Spraymax VF translates into less soil compaction and crop damage.

While going easy on the soil and crops, the Spraymax VF does not sacrifice on traction. With its stepped lug design, you can count on the Spraymax VF to keep your sprayer on track instead of slip sliding away.

Not only are Spraymax VF tires designed to stand up to rugged conditions, they’re also incredibly durable– meaning you can get the most out of each season without needing to replace your tires too often – welcome news for farmers dealing with high input costs.

Farmers are spending more and more of their seat time on the road traveling from one field to another. A center tie bar gives this tire superior roadability, meaning you more rested and relaxed when you get to the next field.

As a row crop farmer, you know that maximizing each and every hour in the field while minimizing downtime is essential to running a successful operation. If you’re looking for reliable and innovative tires that can help maximize your crop spraying, then Spraymax VF tires may be the perfect choice for you!

Talk to your local tire dealer about CEAT Ag tires, including a wide range of farm tractor tires and specialized tires for other farm equipment such as sprayers and combines. If your dealer is not carrying CEAT, he should be! He will find out what Brad Schmucker, owner of Millersburg Tire Service in Ohio, has experienced – after five years of selling CEAT, his farmer customers are now coming back in and asking for more CEAT!

Ag flotation tires have gained immense popularity in recent years with farmers due to their significant advantages in working soggy fields while minimizing soil compaction.

Flotation tires have several benefits, including reduced soil erosion, increased traction and improved fuel efficiency. These tires are highly effective in minimizing soil damage caused by heavy farm machinery, which is getting heavier all the time!

These tires are specifically designed to provide a larger footprint, which helps to distribute weight across a larger surface area. As a result, the tires produce less compaction, which not only improves soil health but also enhances the tire’s overall handling capacity.

CEAT FLOTATION TX 440

Recommended for use on trailers, the CEAT Flotation TX 440 bias tire has a larger volume and footprint which increase the tire’s ground contact; this significantly reduces compaction to the soil. Additionally, rounded shoulders enable just the right curvature to help reduce damage to crops. The Flotation TX 440 trailer tire is backed by a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.

The design of the Flotation TX 440 bias tire integrates well with modern farming practices, such as no-till farming, minimum tillage, and crop rotations. This is because it significantly reduces soil damage and compaction while still improving traction and reducing slippage. Furthermore, the Flotation TX 440 is designed to operate at low air pressures, which reduces soil compaction further and improves the tire’s footprint.

Soil Compaction

Soil compaction occurs when soil particles are pressed together, reducing pore space between them. Heavily compacted soils contain few large pores, less total pore volume and, consequently, a greater density. A compacted soil has a reduced rate of both water infiltration and drainage. This happens because large pores more effectively move water downward through the soil than smaller pores. In most cases, the more soil compaction, the less crop yield.

One of the most important factors for decreasing soil compaction potential is to stay off the soil when it’s wet. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, as it often limits field work opportunities. Using flotation tires, such as the FLOTATION TX 440, can help farmers extend their field work hours when working in less than ideal conditions and wanting to minimize soil compaction.

In conclusion, flotation tires are an excellent option for any farmer looking to reduce soil compaction, enhance handling capacity, and improve overall efficiency with his farm equipment.

Making the most of every spraying session starts with having all the right pieces of equipment. As a row crop farmer, you know that maximizing each and every hour in the field while minimizing downtime is essential to running a successful operation.

Did you know that your choice in tires can make or break your progress? That’s why CEAT Spraymax VF tires, designed for self-propelled sprayers, are a game changer.

• Superb Traction and Handling: With Spraymax tires, you can rely on superior traction no matter the terrain or weather conditions. With its stepped lug design, you can count on the Spraymax VF to keep your sprayer on track instead of slip sliding away.
• Long Lasting Durability: Not only are Spraymax tires designed to stand up to rugged conditions, but they’re also incredibly durable– meaning you can get the most out of each season without needing to replace your tires too often.
• Outstanding Roadability: Farmers are spending more and more of their seat time on the road traveling from one field to another. A center tie bar gives this tire superior roadability, meaning the farmer is more rested and relaxed when he gets to the next field to spray.
• VF Technology: One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years is IF (increased flexion) and VF (very high flexion) tires. IF tires are designed to carry 20% more load than a standard radial and, alternately, carry the same load as a standard radial at 20% less pressure. VF tires, such as the Spraymax, are even more advanced with the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. This VF technology helps minimize soil compaction and crop damage.
• Cost-Effective: Last but not least, Spraymax VF tires are incredibly cost-effective, allowing you to get premium performance without breaking the bank.

If you’re looking for reliable and innovative tires that can help maximize your crop spraying, then Spraymax VF tires may be the perfect choice for you! With superior traction, durability and less soil compaction, these game-changing tires are sure to give you the edge you need. Try them out and see why so many farmers have made the switch to CEAT!

Farming poses unique challenges, such as dealing with different soil types, extreme weather conditions, and uneven terrain. These factors, combined with inadequate machinery or improper tire sets, can result in low productivity and safety concerns.

Waterlogged soils, in particular, stand out as a major hindrance to the successful delivery of agricultural yield. Wet soil creates a significant drag on tractors and equipment, leading to slippage, reduced traction, and fuel wastage, besides reduced crop yield. Therefore, the need to improve efficiency and safety in waterlogged terrains cannot be overemphasized. One solution that promises to deliver optimal performance and safety is the CEAT Floatmax RT tire, recommended for trailers and specially designed to address the challenges of water-logged fields.

Understanding waterlogged terrains

Waterlogging occurs when the soil is saturated with water, making it difficult for crops to survive, and machinery to roll. Besides causing crop failure, it carries various safety concerns as it can lead to equipment getting stuck, tire damage, and other operational inefficiencies. Hence, understanding the nature and extent of waterlogging is crucial in selecting the right tire for the job. The CEAT Floatmax RT tire is equipped to deal with waterlogged terrains as it is made with specialized treads that promote better grip, increased efficiency, and reduced slippage.

Key features of CEAT Floatmax RT tires

CEAT Floatmax RT tires are designed to deliver a balance of superior performance, fuel efficiency, and stability when farming on waterlogged terrains. These tires have distinctive features such as:

• Aqua-channeling grooves that ensure better road contact and grip under wet conditions.
• Asymmetric tread design that provides excellent stability, better handling, and fast travels above waterlogged soils.
• Higher tread depth that provides better surface area and more significant grip, reducing slippage and tread damage.
• Customizable size options to fit a range of farm machinery and applications.

Benefits of using CEAT Floatmax RT tires

The CEAT Floatmax RT tires have numerous benefits that can substantially contribute to farm efficiency. For example:

• Improved traction that helps the agricultural equipment move more effortlessly through waterlogged soils, reducing fuel consumption and maintenance costs.
• The optimized design of the tire reduces slippage, enhances performance, and leads to better yield results.
• The natural rubber compound makes the tire durable and less prone to damage, ensuring high uptime and low downtime.
• The CEAT Floatmax RT tire comes at a reasonable price point, with an excellent return on investment.

Why CEAT Floatmax RT tire is the best solution for waterlogged terrains

CEAT Floatmax RT tires are unique because they are designed to operate optimally in the toughest farming conditions, including waterlogged terrains. Unlike regular tires, CEAT Floatmax RT tires have better traction, stability, and grip, thanks to its specialized treads for wet conditions. This design ensures farm equipment can move with ease through inundated fields, reducing slippage and fuel inefficiencies. The high tread depth also provides a more significant surface area for better grip, enabling farmers to plow with confidence in challenging conditions while keeping equipment and crops safe.

Equipping farm equipment with CEAT Floatmax RT tires guarantees that traction, fuel efficiency, and effective crop management are not compromised, even in the toughest of farming situations. This tire optimizes performance, safety and comes at a reasonable price that makes it accessible to farmers across the board.

Before doing an online search for “tractor tires near me,” it’s important to know some of the key attributes of farm tractor tires and implement tires.

Do the tires, for instance, have the right construction and tread design to minimize soil compaction? This is becoming a bigger and bigger issue for North American farmers as the size of their equipment gets bigger and heavier.

Soil Compaction

With soil compaction, the density of the soil increases when it is compressed. In other words, the soil becomes denser and everypound of soil weighs more when the pores are compressed. It is often easy to understand and gauge the effects of soil compaction from watching a farm tractor tire roll over loose soil in wet conditions.

Soil compaction results in root growth being restricted. It decreases the number and size of large pores, macropores. As a result, there are fewer pores with diameter larger than roots in which the roots can grow freely.

Soil compaction also restricts the movement of water down through the soil. This causes water saturation in the upper layers, which in turn can lead to oxygen deficiency for the roots. In addition, soil aeration status affects the availability of various plant nutrients such as nitrogen and manganese. It all adds up to less yield per acre.

CEAT farm tractor tires, such as the FARMAX R90, feature wider treads, with larger inner volume, to reduce soil compaction. In addition, the rounded shoulders of the CEAT tractor tires cause less disruption to the soil and crop.

Roadability

These days, as more and more farms pass on to the next generation, the acreage is split up among the children. Also, the cost of tractors, combines and other equipment has gotten sky high, so farmers need to work as much acreage as possible to pay for their equipment. These two factors together mean a lot of road time for farm tractor tires.

Take third-generation peanut farmer Justin Studstill for instance. His crew plants and harvests peanuts over a 60 square mile area in southeastern Georgia. That’s a lot of road time for his John Deere tractors, and he is thrilled with the roadability of his CEAT FARMAX R80 tractor tires. He says they provide a good stable ride on the road – not “squirrelly” – and the longer service life is outstanding.

The superior roadability of FARMAX tractor tires comes courtesy of a higher angle lug and lug overlap at the center.

Traction in the Field

The R1-W tread depth of CEAT FARMAX tractor tires provides longer service life and dependable traction in the field. Less slippage translates into efficiency all the way around, including fuel savings. In addition to tread depth, a lower angle at the shoulder of CEAT farm tractor tires brings home superior traction.

Combine tires

Having the right tractor tires is only part of the equation of course. Combines today are getting larger and larger; they require a new generation of radial tires such as the CEAT YIELDMAX, specially designed to support the massive machinery and provide a higher load capacity.

The CEAT YIELDMAX is engineered and designed to ensure minimum impact on the soil.

It features a lower lug angle around the shoulders to ensure higher traction, and sharp shoulders enable excellent grip.

A higher lug angle around center lug also provides better side stability. The CEAT YIELDMAX has a tough casing and rigid belt that provides all the advantages of the radial construction while supporting heavy equipment and loads, making it suitable for all types of harvesting applications, like combine harvester, forage harvester and sugarcane harvester.

Tractor tires and farm implement tires are not a commodity; Some of them, like the Ag radials produced at the ultra-advanced CEAT plant, are marvels of modern engineering. Do your research before making a purchase. Making the right decision on your farm tractor tires can contribute significantly to your bottom line. With input costs going through the roof in 2022, farmers and ranchers can use all the help they can get!

CEAT Ag tires have been in North America only four years (company is 93 years old) now, but are rapidly gaining popularity with farmers and ranchers due to product quality and availability.

According to Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT Specialty Tires Inc., the company has gained market share by focusing on logistics amid recent industrywide supply-chain disruptions.

“We’ve been able to take real positions away from competitors because we are good logisticians and we are getting our stuff in when people are starting to run out of tires, and then they realize how great (CEAT tires) really are,” Loethen said in a recent interview with Tire Business magazine.

Loethen, who has logistics experience through a longtime stint as a US Army officer, has been working closely with the logistics team in India to get CEAT farm tractor tires and implement tires into North America.

Logistics is a key factor in today’s Ag tire market, Loethen told Tire Business, given the much-publicized overseas shipping backlogs at the ports and shortages of shipping containers and trucks to transport them to their final destinations.

Getting tires imported into North America is one thing, but the other part of the equation is product quality. Once farmers give CEAT tires a try, they want more! CEAT has expanded radial and bias ag and OTR tire production to keep up with demand.

Loethen said farmers who may have purchased better known farm tire brands in the past are now giving CEAT a try due to product availability.

“Once farmers experience CEAT quality, they want to stay with our brand and they tell their neighbors about CEAT,” Loethen said.

“Small farmers can’t afford expensive tires, and they are missing out on all the technologies. At CEAT we have all those things. We have a VF tire, high technology, flexible sidewalls, low soil compaction. Why should just the big farmers get those? Why can’t the family farmer have those? He should be able to be profitable, too. He should be able to have that type of equipment,” Loethen said. “With CEAT, the farmer is getting less rolling resistance, better gas mileage, less soil compaction . . . all those good things that a top-tier tire gives you but not paying a top-tier price.”

In a sense, inflation pressure for Ag tires is very simple — inflate to the most demanding application.  Different tactics, however, may be necessary depending on the type of equipment and tires.

Implement Tires

Implement tires were mostly bias not so many years ago. As the implement designs continued to grow larger and larger, the gross weights also grew. These bias tires had difficulty in carrying these heavier loads, so the ply ratings were increased to try and accommodate the increased weights.

Sometimes this fixed the problem, but the “fix” was temporary. When the increased ply ratings and load carrying capacities could not keep up with increasing weights, as well as higher speeds going down the road, the addition of more tires came into play where possible.

Radial truck tires, as well as used aircraft tires, were utilized in some applications because of their higher speed ratings and load carrying capacities. These tires greatly reduced the failure rates and appeared to be a good solution.

A better solution has been the development of “IF” and “VF” technology — very attractive for this fitment due to the advantages of load carrying capacities as well as the compaction problems the previously utilized tires were creating. Implement tires with these new technologies are a very good solution for both weight carrying and compaction problems, while reducing tire failures and down time.

Spraymax VF

CEAT is pleased to offer VF technology to small and midsize farmers at an honest price with the introduction of the Spraymax VF, specially designed for self-propelled sprayers. Why should the “big boys” be the only ones to reap the benefits of VF technology, including reduced soil compaction and higher yields per acre?

Key elements of the Spraymax VF design include:

• Stepped lug design provides better grip and traction.
• The center tie bar delivers superior roadability.
• Its rounded shoulders mean less soil and crop damage.
• The higher NSD ensures longer life.

The recommended air pressures for the “IF and “VF” tires is determined by the maximum load each tire will need to carry. The speed becomes much less important as long as you keep your transport speeds at or below 40 mph. The bottom line with implement tires is to inflate to carry the load for the most demanding application and to keep your transport speeds at or below the recommended maximum for the tires you are running.

It begins with answering these questions:

• What is your application?
• What is your needed load carrying capacity?
• Is compaction a concern?
• What is your timeline?

More Traction, Less Compaction

If the application requires high traction, you should target radials (like the CEAT FARMAX R85 pictured to the right) . . . same for reducing compaction.

What type of radial depends on the application, load carrying capacity needed and speed required. If high speed (above 25 mph) is required, you need a “D” rated or 40 mph rated tire. If the standard radial does not have an adequate load carrying capacity required for the most demanding application, which is quite often when you are roading equipment at the highest speeds, you should look to the “IF” and “VF” options.

The “IF,” or increased flexion radials, carry about 20% more load than standard radials at the same inflation pressures. The “VF,” or very high flexion radials, carry about 40% more load than standard radials at the same inflation pressures.

Conversely, these high-tech tires can carry the same loads as standard radials with reduced inflation pressures. If you want to run the lowest inflation pressures you can to help minimize compaction, the “IF” and “VF” options will provide the best opportunities to achieve your objective.

Placing an Ag tire into service when it does not have the load carrying capacity or the speed rating required will lead to tire damage and ultimately tire failure.

The Bias Option

Bias tires might be an alternative but they do not provide the benefits of radial technology. If you want the best traction possible, improved efficiency, larger footprints, reduced compaction, a better ride, or any of the above, you need to stick with radials. Bias Ag tires do not deliver these improved features due to the carcass design.  

In most cases, the bias tire will be less expensive than the radial but not always. Pricing differentials have narrowed in the last few years. It is always good to check both if you are considering bias tires. Another very important factor is the service life of a comparable radial . . . about 30% longer than the bias.

If you just need a tire that holds air, the bias design might be the right choice.

Keep in mind that the pricing of the bias tires should be around 30% less than the radials to provide a comparable value or cost per hour of service regardless of additional benefits.

A pricing gap of that size, however, is becoming more and more rare these days.

Above all, ask your tire dealer the right questions and request options along with the costs involved as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each option. The “best” option should not depend on what your tire dealer has in the warehouse. 

If you have any questions about this topic, please leave a comment below. And if you want to learn more about CEAT Ag tires, click on the banner below. Thanks for reading!