Think about all the factors that go into choosing a piece of equipment. We talk ad nauseum about engine horsepower, tractor frame sizes and transmissions. But what about the factors that are a bit more down-to-earth, like tractor tires?
They have a bigger impact on how your machine moves and what it can handle than you may think. Tread type, tire structure, liquid ballasting and even tire brand can all be things to consider depending on what you plan to do with your tractor.
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A Brief History Of Ag Tires
The challenge of creating the perfect medium between machine and ground is one that we have faced for millennia – and it still isn’t over. But for brevity’s sake, we’ll focus specifically on tractor tires over the last 100 years or so.
From Steel Wheels To Rubber Rounds
Some of my favorite childhood books feature hundreds of photos of tractors, from the steam-powered behemoths of the 19th and early 20th century, up to today’s high-tech, GPS-equipped machines.
It always stuck out to me that early tractors used steel wheels studded with large steel lugs for traction. According NTS Tire Supply, more than 85% of tractors were rolling this way as recently as 1935. You can imagine how a machine that looks like this would handle:
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By 1940, over 90% of tractors were being manufactured with pneumatic rubber tires due to improved traction, comfort and fuel efficiency.
Advancements came in the form of tread shape, tire structure and size, and even the filling of tires with fluid. There were also changes to the way wheels were manufactured.
Types Of Tractor Tires
R1 Ag Tires
These are probably what most people think of when they think of tractor tires. The deep tread and wide footprint of these tires are designed to provide excellent traction in dirt, mud, and thick plant material, but wear more quickly and provide a rougher ride on pavement.
With growing concerns about soil & water conservation and soil compaction, ag tires have increased drastically in width. The wider footprint reduces the amount of pressure that the machine puts on the ground, reducing compaction. It also provides greater traction.
R2 Deep-Tread Tires
These are similar to R1 tires, but are optimized for crops in floodplains like rice. They have significantly deeper tread than R1 tires and are not ideal for road travel.
R3 Turf Tires
Turf tires have smaller, more finely arranged tread to reduce pressure further and leave as little imprint on grass as possible. The downside to these is that they have reduced traction in challenging conditions.
R4 Industrial Tires
These tires are optimized for loader work on gravel, pavement and other compacted surfaced. The tread is more aggressive than that of turf tires, but less so than R1 Ag tires.
Radial vs. Bias Tires
There are two main categories when it comes to tire construction: Radial and Bias.
Radial Tires are a more modern design with plies arranged perpendicular to the direction of travel, and usually contain steel cords covered by a cap ply. These tires are generally more flexible and stable, offering better handling and a smoother ride.
Radial tires tend to last longer and perform better than bias tires, depending on the type of work being done and their maintenance .
Bias Tires have plies that are diagonally arranged from bead to bead, creating a bias angle. Their cords are general made of polymers rather than steel. They can offer increased durability, but make for rougher rides and harder handling.
Ballasting
If you’re planning on doing a lot of loader work with your machine, be sure to follow the manufacturer recommended ballasting guidelines for adding weight to it.
In the hayfield, haulers will often use a hay bale on a rear bale spear to balance out the load and increase safety. In other applications, a heavy implement or ballast box works well to help distribute weight more evenly on the machine.
Sometimes, you need even more weight. One of the best ways to achieve this is by adding weight to the rear wheels of the machine. One way you can do this is by having fluid, or liquid ballast added to the tires. This can often be done as an additional option at the dealership when purchasing the machine.
You can also often add weights to the wheels of tractors for increased weight.
Questions about tractor tires?
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