IMPACT OF YOUR TYRE CHOICE ON PLOUGHING

Whether taking part in this year’s upcoming annual British National Ploughing championships or conducting daily business, farmers know that tyres play an important part in the ploughing process.

Ploughing requires heavy equipment and tyres that have a narrow profile in order to fit the furrows properly. In the event of using a tyre that is too wide, damage to the furrows can occur and cause all kinds of problems in consistent ploughing.

It is also important to have tyres that have the right kind of flexibility in the rubber and structure of the tyre that can help spread the weight of heavy machinery. Balancing the weight, correct tyre pressures (both rear tyres’ pressure should be the same) and preparing for weather conditions can help avoid tyres sink into the soil, allowing for better traction by reducing wheel slip. Tyre manufacturers who offer a large footprint related to tyre size, combined with a good casing structure, are always a good choice. Try to avoid over-panning of the soil, as this can lead to increased wear and tear especially if there is more exposure to stones and flint on the ground. It is, however, a balancing act, as tyre slip should not be eliminated entirely (no more than 12-13% in normal conditions), to ensure that the soil is preserved and not completely compacted. Try to ensure that the rear wheels don’t extend wider than 2 inches outside the track of the front wheels, aiming for the front wheels to run in line with the centre of the rear wheels.

Another consideration is looking at the durability and reinforcement of equipment tyres. Having tyres that are optimised and designed specifically for ploughing purposes can help towards avoiding cuts in the tyre wall and preventing chunking during the pivotal ploughing seasons.

Vredestein has a full range of optimised tyres that utilise cutting edge technology to maximise performance for both powered and trailing equipment when ploughing.  Vredestein’s dedicated experts can help provide advice and assistance in order to ensure that the ploughing season goes smoothly.