Tips for Properly Storing Ag Tires Over the Winter

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To ensure the longevity of your Ag tires and prevent premature wear, it's important to follow proper storage practices. Below are some key considerations for storing tractor tires effectively, whether you're keeping them on the tractor or removing them from the vehicle.

Storage on the Tractor

If you're unable to remove the tires and the tractor is going to sit idle for a long period, consider the following precautions:

Jack Up the Tractor: Prolonged parking can lead to the weight of the tractor compressing the tires, causing deformation over time. To prevent this, jack the tractor up so that the tires aren’t bearing the weight of the machine.

Offload Excess Weight: If jacking up the tractor is impractical, especially for heavy machinery like harvesters, offload as much weight as possible.

Increase Tire Pressure: Increase the tire pressure by around 0.5 bar (depending on the manufacturer's recommendations). This will help support the weight of the equipment more evenly.

Regular Movement: Move the tractor periodically (at least once a month) and rotate the tires by a quarter turn to distribute the load and prevent uneven wear.

Storage on Rims (Removed from Tractor)

If you have the space and time to remove the tires from the tractor, storing them off the vehicle on their rims is another option that helps protect the tires from prolonged deformation.

Store Flat or Upright

Flat Storage: Lay the tires flat on a surface such as a pallet, ensuring the tires are not in direct contact with the ground to avoid degradation of the rubber.

Upright Storage: Alternatively, store the tires upright on their rims to preserve their shape. Again, avoid direct ground contact.

Store Tires in Piles: If you're stacking tires, make sure not to over-stack them. The weight of the tires at the bottom of the pile can cause deformation over time.

Flat Surface: Place the tires on a flat surface to prevent uneven pressure or damage.

Inflation: Keep the tires inflated to their usual working pressure to maintain their shape.

Additional Tips for Tire Storage

Avoid Exposure to Sunlight: UV rays can degrade rubber over time, so store tires in a shaded or covered area.

Keep Dry: Ensure that the storage area is dry and well-ventilated. Moisture can promote mold and corrosion.

Monitor Pressure: If the tires are stored over a long period, regularly check the inflation levels and top them up if necessary.

By following these storage practices, you'll help preserve the integrity of your tractor tires and avoid costly replacements due to damage from improper storage.

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Proper Farm Tire Maintenance Reduces Operating Costs

Farmers are under a lot of pressure these days to reduce operating costs. Proper maintenance, including regular air pressure checks, is crucial for extending the lifespan of their farm tires.

Air Pressure Checks

Check the air pressure often. A tire operating outside of the specified inflation range is a problem waiting to happen. Your tractor’s tire pressure can have a large effect on tread life, not to mention pulling power, traction, ride quality, and soil compaction. It is estimated that a tire under inflated by just 10% below the recommended levels can reduce your tire life by as much as 15%.

The tire pressure supports the structural integrity of the tire. If the tire is not properly inflated, the tire can become degraded, and its life shortened. Another consequence of an under-inflated tire is bead slip, which occurs when the bead of the tire slips against the tire’s rim — creating a tremendous amount of heat that ultimately destroys the tire.

So how do you get it right? Inflate to the air pressure that is appropriate for the most demanding application for each tire. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. The load and inflation tables show the speed range, inflation range and the load range for each tire. Your tire dealer can also give valuable guidance.

Regularly Inspect Tires

To maximize the lifespan of your tractor tires, it is important to inspect your tires on a regular basis. Look for abnormalities in the tread pattern and sidewall, such as bulges cracks and tears. Also, if you see signs of irregular wear in the tread, this could mean the tire is not being used properly for the application (most often is under inflated) or there is an issue with the equipment. Either way, detecting irregular wear early will help you correct the problem and obtain optimum tire life.

Proper Storage

Properly storing your farm tires over the winter or when they are not in use will extend their life. The first step is to clean them before storage. Tractor tires typically accumulate brake dust, road grime, and dirt. This gunk can be harmful to the tire if it is allowed to stay on for extended periods of time. Use soap, water and a good tire brush. Then wipe the tires down completely and allow them to air dry.

Slow Down

Do not speed! Farm tractor tires are spending more and more time on the road these days as farmers work tracts that are more spread out. Most farm tires have a maximum speed rating of 25 miles per hour or less. When drivers go faster than their recommended speeds, they generate an excessive amount of heat in the tires. This heat breaks down the rubber in the tires, separating interior liners and belts and reducing the tire’s lifespan.

Go With a Trusted Brand Like CEAT

For a longer lasting and better performing tractor tire, choose a high-quality farm tractor tire from a brand such as CEAT. You can find tractor tires at less cost than CEAT, but you would be hard pressed to find an Ag tire brand that delivers more value than CEAT, as measured in terms of performance versus price. Buying the lowest priced tractor tire will likely cost you more in the long-term.

There are always so many chores on the farm and finite time, but taking the time to properly maintain your tractor tires will greatly maximize their life span and, thereby, reduce your farm operating costs.

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To Ballast or Not

Ballasting is utilized for equipment functionality and stability, as well as transferring power to the ground.

Commonly used ballasting materials include rocks, soil, cast iron, water, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, beet juice and more. Some of these are relatively cheap while others are expensive. Some are environmentally friendly and others not so much. Some have lots of versatility while others do not.

— The most critical aspect of adding ballasting is how much weight to add and where to place these materials –

Agricultural and construction equipment with buckets or lifting forks have massive cast iron counterweights built into the design of the machine to provide functionality. Agricultural tractors have optional wheel, axle and suitcase weight packages to address total weight and the weight distribution that is critical to optimum performance.

Concerning farm tractors, the first critical factor is knowing the engine horsepower of the tractor and the axle weights. Ideally, the weight per horsepower ratio should be between 100 and 120 pounds/hp. The lighter weights are more desirable and efficient as long as there are no performance issues such as stability or wheel hop. Increased weight ratios may be utilized to reduce slip which increases efficiency especially in demanding applications.

The weight distribution is extremely important:

For 2-wheel drive tractors, the weight distribution should be 30% on the front axle and 70% on the rear.
MFWA tractors should have 35% on the front and 65% on the rear axle.
Four-wheel drive tractors should carry 60% on the front and 40% on the rear axle.

Allowances for additional weight due to attachments should also be calculated into your weight distribution adjustments. Wheel weight, axle weight and suitcase weight packages are utilized to obtain the correct weight total and distribution.

Additional weight adjustments should include weight packages as the first option. Keep in mind that for optimum performance, the weight required often changes with the implement that is carried by the three-point hitch or pulled with the draw bar as well as the application.

Maximizing versatility with weight adjustments should be a major consideration. Adding liquid ballast into the tire’s air chamber is the least desirable. Liquid ballast reduces performance due to inhibiting the deflection of the sidewalls of radial tires. Liquid ballast is less versatile but may be utilized as part of your weight distribution program.

Air pressures should be set just above the maximum load carrying capacity you are expecting from your tires based on the most demanding application. The calculated air pressures for roading are quite different from operational pressures for field work. Changing air pressures between road and field usage is time consuming and usually not practiced.

–– Air pressures should be set for the road application due to the higher speeds which is the most demanding from a load carrying aspect —

Under inflating tires will damage the tires and eventually lead to failure. Tires are too expensive to risk failure from under inflation for any of your applications!

Correct weight distribution and overall weight totals are key to maximizing tractor performance and transfering power to the ground.

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Tips for Properly Storing Ag Tires Over the Winter

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