Often, all terrain tires are recommended for use on light trucks and SUVs. This type of tire features large tread block patterns to pull mud from the contact patch and improve grip on loose materials. They also have added puncture resistance via rigid sidewalls.
While there was a time when the only tires available for agricultural equipment were repurposed or remarketed bus tires or over-sized truck tires, that is no longer the case. Today’s tire manufacturers recognize the need for tires designed specifically for farm equipment.
Each tire has a tread pattern, which is the part that comes into contact with the driving surface as the tire rolls. The area that is actually touching the road at any given moment is known as the contact patch.
Did you know that radial agricultural tires provide a much smoother ride for farm workers? This is due to the flexibility and strength of the tire structure, which enables the tire to better absorb shocks, impacts, and bumps.
If you do need winter tires, put on all four so you have the most control over your vehicle in adverse conditions. Having all four tires lets you control your vehicle the safest way possible.
Did you know that the word "tire" comes from the word "tie?" Originally, tires were metal bands (first made of iron, then steel) that were put around the outside of wooden wheels. The metal bands would “tie” the wood sections together and protect them at the same time.
The origin of the first tire has been lost to time, but tires have been with us a long time. One of the earliest references to tires was made by James Boswell in an article published in 1753 by "The Scots Magazine."
We all know that tires lose some amount of air overtime with constant usage. But how much air do they really lose? Well, it has been found that tires can lose a pound of air every month.
The life of any industrial tire is affected by many variables. These include the average typical load carried by the vehicle, average load carried by the tire, inflation pressure, ambient temperature, floor surface and conditions, and exposure to oils and solvents.
The term “aspect ratio” refers to the height of a tire, measured from the bead to the thread, as compared to the tire’s section width. Generally, tires with a lower aspect ratio have shorter, less flexible sidewalls, features that improve lateral stability while resisting cornering forces.
Polyurethane industrial tires provide a lightweight option for indoor machinery such as electric forklifts. Not only do they provide good traction with low rolling resistance overall, but they can also carry more weight than other tires.
When gassing up the tires, be sure to check the pressure on the spare. Spares loose air slowly like the tires on the road, so they should be inflated regularly.
One of the less obvious enemies of tractor tires is dirt and sandy soil. While it may seem odd, since the equipment is intended to operate in these materials, they will wear away at the tire surface, and increase the likelihood of cracks and splits.
Never overload your tires. Overloading a tire is the second leading cause of tire failure, next to under inflation. Putting too much weight on a tire can cause not only excessive wear and structural damage, but it can also lead to sudden failure such as a blow out.
If you just spent the money to get a skid steer, then you might be looking to cut corners. In that case, pneumatic tires can be a big bonus. While they do have the possibility of going flat, they have a big advantage, because they’re usually cheaper to buy.
The largest tires in the world are reported to be Michelin tires for Caterpillar dump trucks. The tires are 13 feet tall and weigh nearly 12,000 pounds. Probably not best for rush-hour traffic.
Why are so many farmers starting to use flotation tires? As combines continue to get bigger, so does the problem of soil compaction. By some estimates, yield loss resulting from compaction can be ten percent or more per acre. As a result, a growing number of farmers have started using flotation tires.
Tires with low tread also have a longer braking distance, which means that the car may not be able to stop in the event of an emergency.
When your equipment is required to perform a range of operations, select a non-directional tread pattern. To increase use and performance on demanding terrain or environs, opt for tires that have been reinforced with steel.
Plys reinforced the outer casing of pneumatic tubes. These were layers that were made of rubberized fabric cords and put into the casing of the tire. These tires came to be called bias-ply tires.
In the 1770s, when Joseph Priestley discovered “gum-elastic” (natural latex) would erase pencil marks, he coined the word “rubber.” The word was so descriptive, it quickly became the widely accepted name for natural latex and latex products.
So how exactly do high-performance tires work? These tires feature repetitive patterns that essentially put more rubber in contact with the road, allowing the car to perform and handle better at higher speeds.
