1

EBOOK

T H E E S S E N T I A L RO L E O F

THE TYRE IN
COST SAVING
 CO N T E N T S

pages . 4-8 TYRE SIZE

Know the characteristics to optimise the choice of tyre

pages . 9-13 TRANSMISSION OF POWER TO THE GROUND

The right reflexes to adopt to limit losses

pages . 14-20 SOIL PRESERVATION

Limit compacting to optimise productivity

pages . 21-25 EQUIPMENT SETTINGS

How to extend the lifespan of your tyres

pages . 26-30 ROAD USE

Precautions to be taken for use on the road

page . 31 THE TYRE AND ITS SOURCES OF COST SAVING

page . 32 Discover the website of the tractor tyre experts
on www.bridgestone-agriculture.eu
 Making your farm profitable is vital.
You’ve got it, this white paper is all
about COST SAVING. The tyre plays a funda-
mental role: in the short-term by saving time,
in the mid-term by controlling maintenance which we will demonstrate in the fol-

costs and in the long-term by guaranteeing lowing pages thanks to input from ex-

productivity thanks to soil preservation. perts and specialists from the world of
agriculture. The topic will be addressed
on a transversal basis through key the-
mes: the choice of tyre, the transmis-
The profitability of the farm, an essential sion of power to the ground, soil pre-
matter: your profitability requirements servation, mechanical settings and the
are the same as for any other business. specificities of road use.
After some difficult years when the eco-
nomic constraints of an agricultural This paper is the starting point for a
activity were brought to the forefront, debate on the importance of the choice
ensuring this profitability now requires of tyre, which can be further developed
a reduction in production costs. Faced thanks to information and useful advice
with fluctuations in raw material prices, available on the “Bridgestone-Agri-
farmers must control their costs. In a culture.eu” website with weekly news
word, the main theme of this paper is updates, fact sheets, test videos… We
the tyre. The choice of tyre must be an hope you will visit our site soon and
element of this operating cost control wish you happy reading in the mean-
mechanism: it is not simply an interface time!

FO R E WO R D
between the machine and the ground. Bridgestone
The tyre is also a source of cost saving, Worldwide leader in tyres and rubber
 Tyre size

K N OW T H E
C H A R ACT E R I S T I C S
TO O P T I M I S E T H E
CHOICE OF TYRE Choosing a tyre size adapted to the type of work
to be done can act as a lever in terms of cost
saving.
For this, careful attention must be paid to three
aspects: respecting preponderance, the choice of
the tyre series and the original tyre mount.

4
R E S P E CT PR EPONDE RAN CE
TO I M P ROVE TR ACTI ON
The notion of preponderance is inherent to tractors equipped
with 4 unequal drive wheels. Due to the difference in wheel
diameter, the front wheels turn faster than the back wheels to
cover the same distance.

This is the notion of drive axle ratio which corresponds to the

difference between the number of revolutions made by the front
wheel and by the back wheel. The traction effect of the front
axle assembly makes it possible to increase the tractive force
in order to improve traction performance and decrease fuel
consumption. Knowing what the tyre

This distance must be optimal and correspond to a rate known as

will be used for allows
preponderance, which is between 2 and 4% of the drive axle ratio. us to determine the best
Preponderance must be checked regularly by your distributor. tyre size, which will be a
source of savings for our
The circumference of the tyre is effectively reduced by wear,
which modifies preponderance. If this is too high, exceeding 6%, client.”
there is abnormal deterioration, which cancels the benefits of Denis PACREAU
any decrease in fuel consumption and may generate mechanical Cailleau Pneus
problems.

5
C HO O SE A TYR E WI TH CH ARACTE RI STI CS
C O RR E SPONDING TO TH E WO RK
TO B E CA R R IED OUT
The technical characteristics, indicated on the sidewall of the
tyre, are defined by the series, the load index and speed limit
and code for the type of tyre.

Let’s start by the series. This notion is used by manufacturers to

communicate the aspect ratio of the tyre, which is the relationship
of the flange height to flange width.

The series must be adapted to the types of work carried out.

For soil preparation, series 65 will be chosen. For ploughing or
transport by road, series 70 would be preferable.

It is also important to respect the load index to avoid abnormal

wear of the tyre and prevent any risk of bursting. This index, which
is between 0 and 189, is indicated on the tyre sidewall. A value in
kg corresponds to each index, with tyre load capacity indicated
in a correspondence table provided by the manufacturers.

This load index is closely linked to the tractor speed, identified

thanks to a letter code. The codes most commonly used in
agriculture are A8 (40 km/h), B (50 km/h), D (65 km/h) and E (70 km/h).

6
 The special feature of IF and VF technology tyres is that they
keep the same pressure and the same load capacity whatever
the speed.

T Y RE
Series, load index and speed are decisive in achieving M AR K I N G S
cost savings: the tyre is replaced less often, the
Type of
mechanical elements and tractor engine are not exposed casing
to unnecessary effort, they wear at a normal rate and
Width
fuel consumption drops. in mm Rim
diameter
Serie
Tyre Load index
technology and speed
rating

T HE O RI G INA L TYR E MOU N T:

C HE C K THAT IT IS ADAPTE D of the tyre
e
TO YO U R NEEDS Nam

When selling a tractor, the manufacturer offers specialised

tractors with the farmer choosing the tyre mount best adapted
to his activities, and non-specialised tractors equipped with tyres
chosen by the manufacturer depending on what’s in stock and
any existing partnership with tyre manufacturers.

7
 When buying a tractor many farmers think about power and
comfort and sometimes forget about the tyres. Yet it is essential
to discuss the choice of tyre, which is always less costly than
buying better-adapted tyres further along the line when you
realise that the original tyres are not suitable.

Tests carried out by Efficient 20 show a decrease in fuel

consumption, for field ploughing work, of up to 30%
between the original tyre mount and one that is better
suited to the farmer’s use of the tractor.
When you buy a new
tractor, a harvesting
machine or crop sprayer,
the choice of tyre is
extremely important. It’s

DID YOU KNOW

a way of enriching your
offer and encouraging
ETRTO, the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation,
farmer loyalty.”
is a European entity which guarantees the alignment of tyre standards
on a European level. This role is carried out by TRA (Tire and Rim Daniel LOLLIER
Association) in the United States and JATMA (Japanese Automobile Tyre expert at TERREA,
Tyre Manufacturers Association) in Japan. John DEERE dealer

8
 Transmission
of power to
the ground

THE RIGHT
R E F L E X E S TO A D O P T
TO L I M I T LO S S E S

9
F RO M E N GINE POWE R
TO TR ACTIVE FOR C E
The tractive force, the force applied to the coupler, makes
it possible to accelerate the mass of the combination vehicle
(tractor and attachments). Between the engine power and this
tractive force, there is a consumption of power inherent to the
tractor. Thereafter it is the tyre which ensures the transmission The new generation of
of this power from the tractor to the ground to generate tractive farmers pay more and
force. More precisely, it is the tyre lugs which, thanks to their
more attention to the
penetration in the soil, make it possible to transmit torque to the
rim. Their angle in relation to the axis of the wheel is therefore choice of tyre: the size,
studied thoroughly when developing a tyre: the smaller the the technology, the use
angle, the higher the tractive force. But at the same time, a wide of the tyre… and so they
angle improves the tyre’s self-cleaning capacity. Which is why
should!: a tyre that is
the latest generation tyre lugs have various angles so as to find
the right compromise for the best performance. suited to the use of the
machine will bring real
The tractive force we are looking for depends on the work to
added value to the work
be carried out. During ploughing, for example, the pressure
on the axle is high, so you have to increase the load and the carried out.”
contact with the ground: the rolling resistance and as such the Laurent DROUIN
tractive force will be greater. In this case, the use of a very low- Aub’Pneus
pressure tyre with a very wide tyre footprint is the best choice.

10
 For example, Bridgestone’s VT-Tractor tyre generates a higher
tractive force and reduces fuel consumption by up to 36 litres
for 50 hectares! (according to Bridgestone tests).

R E D U C E ENGINE S PE E D:
T HE SA ME POW ER, A RE DU CTI ON
I N F U EL CONS UMPT I ON
It is common practice among tractor drivers to drive by listening
to the sound of the engine. In general, this doesn’t increase
the tractive force but leads to high fuel consumption. Studies
carried out as part of the Efficient 20 programme have shown
that reducing engine speed by 400 revolutions per minute could
lead to a reduction in fuel consumption of between 6% (heavy
work such as ploughing or stubble ploughing) and 26% (light
work such as fertiliser spreading, sowing, transport).

With a reduced engine speed, today’s tractors can effectively

reach the same power level with less energy consumption.
Reduced engine speed is therefore recommended in all situations
where the driver is in control of engine speed himself. The
choice of tractor is very important if you want to reduce your

11
 fuel consumption. You must choose the most efficient tractor,
with a good engine curve and one which uses innovative eco-
technologies.

For tractors with more than 130 hp, 4 standard tyres are no
longer enough to transmit the engine torque. In this case, to
avoid excessive slipping, a high level of compaction and high fuel
consumption, it is necessary to widen the tyre footprint of the
drive wheels.

Paired running is a solution, but

it leads to problems of width for B R E A K D OW N O F E N G I N E P O W E R
transport by road. Instead of paired
running, a high-volume tyre which
transmits the torque is an optimal
solution and is now possible with
Engine
IF and IV technologies (respectively accessories
-5 to -10%
up to 20% and up to 40% of
additional load capacity compared Traction
to a standard tyre). 30 to 60%

Slippage Transmission Rolling resistance

-15 to -25% -5 to -10% -15 to -20%

12
ADJU S T TYR E PR ESSU RE
FO R C O ST S AVINGS
The transmission of tractor power to the ground to generate DID YOU KNOW
tractive force is made possible by the slip, a characteristic which
is linked to the pressure of the air in the tyre. When it is between •A
 horse can generate a tractive
12 and 15%, it can generate sufficient tractive force without force of almost the equivalent of
losing power and without damaging the tyre and the soil too its weight. Currently, a four-wheel
drive tractor generates a tractive
much.
force of 50% of its weight!
An overinflated tyre will lead to a high slippage level, leading to
•A
 ccording to Efficient 20, fuel
soil compaction, poor germination and consequently high fuel represents 1/3rd of agricultural
costs. energy consumption and its price
represents 40% of the total cost of
According to the tests carried out by Efficient 20, adapting using a tractor (for 450 hours per
tyre pressure decreases fuel consumption by up to 10% and year).
increases the hourly work output. Adjusting tyre pressure
based on the load and the work to be carried out must be done
regularly and with great care. Firestone has demonstrated this
using a farm tractor: adapting tyre pressure by 0.25 bar (from
1.25 to 1 bar) led to a reduction in slippage rate from 30% to
15%!

13
 Soil
preservation

L I M I T CO M PACT I O N
TO O P T I M I S E Y I E L D S
Soil compaction is one of the major factors contributing to the
deterioration of agricultural land (after hydraulic erosion). It is also
responsible for the decrease in yields and a high level of nitrate
leaching. Dutch and English researchers already considered back in
1995 that a global surface area of 33 million ha. had been affected
by soil compaction.

14
S O I L: A D EFOR MABLE CO MP OU N D WH I CH
R E ACTS TO THE TR ACTO R MASS
Soil structure is defined by how its constituent elements are held Surface soil compaction
together. Unlike texture, it evolves over time. It can be modified (up to 30 cm) can be
by three factors: abiotic processes such as freeze-thaw cycles,
reduced rapidly thanks
biotic processes such as soil microfauna activity and agricultural
to regular soil preparation
activities involving heavy machinery, which is the main cause
of agricultural land compaction. The soil, just like the tyre, is work. However, for deep
effectively deformable. This tendency to compact is a reaction soil or no-till compaction,
to the force applied by the tractor mass. The tyre is squashed the regeneration of the
into the soil which compacts until the two forces balance out. structure will depend
on the effect of the
The higher the tyre pressure, the more the soil compacts to
achieve balance. The overinflation of tyres leads to strong soil climate and the soil’s
compaction. biological activity. Deep
or no-till compaction
According to INRA, agricultural tyre traffic impacts between 70
therefore has a longer
and 100% of the surface of a plot of land, depending on the crop
lasting effect than surface
layout. The soil’s sensitivity to compaction also varies based on
its structural stability. For example, the impact of the passage compaction.”
of heavy vehicles is greater when the soil is damp. During the Hubert BOIZARD
beetroot and corn harvests in the autumn the risk of land INRA Laon-Mons
compaction is therefore especially high.

15
S O I L C O MPACTION: WH AT ARE
T HE AG RONOMIC C ON SE QU E N CE S?
Soil structure is fundamental. Compaction leads to agronomic I M PAC T O F T HE PAS S AG E
issues. Soil that is too compacted does not allow regular deep- O F A T R AC TO R O N
water run-off, which increases plot erosion. S O I L C O M PAC T I O N
In addition, the soil is saturated quicker and takes longer to dry
out, which, in extreme cases, can lead to asphyxiation of the
plant’s root system. In compacted soils, nitrate leaching is a major
factor because the nitrates are not retained by the constituent
elements of the soil.
Compaction of
They do not stay long in the soil and are washed away with the upper levels due
to tyre pressure
surface water. The same goes for phytosanitary products. Lastly,
a compacted soil has an impact on the development and the Compaction of intermediary
levels due to tyre pressure
functioning of the plant’s root system. + tractor weight
The growth of the roots is difficult and a root system that is not
sufficiently developed does not allow for a good assimilation of Compaction of
deep levels due
elements with limited mobility such as phosphate and potassium. to tractor weight

Crops are more or less sensitive to soil compaction. Each crop

has its own specificities at the level of the root system (size of
the root cap, rooting period…) which make up more or less for
the compaction issues. Sunflower, barley and alfalfa are better at
penetrating compacted soil than corn, wheat, rape, beetroot or
potato. For the potato, a compacted soil leads to a reduction in

16
 the depth and density of the root system. This in term limits the
ability to absorb water through the roots. Crops are therefore
more sensitive to dry summers.

These root development difficulties slow down the growth of

the plant. The yield declines, which leads to a loss of earnings for
the farmer.

Studies carried out by INRA on representative crops from

farms in the Paris area show that the gross margin per ha.
may decrease in compacted soil by 14% for wheat and 12%
for corn and rape.
For me, 3 factors can be
controlled to achieve cost
savings: the extent of tyre
wear, soil compaction
(load, pressure) and fuel
DID YOU KNOW
consumption.”
How do you identify soil that is too compacted? Éric CANTENEUR
Slower rainwater infiltration and persistent puddles of water are good FRCUMA Ouest machinery
indicators. Less worms, increased erosion in sloping fields and difficulty adviser and AILE technical
penetrating the soil with working tools are additional indicators. consultant

17
I N C R E A SE THE TYRE FOOTP RI N T
TO DEC REA S E COMPACTI ON
The pressure exerted by the tyre on the ground depends on the
load on each axle and the contact surface between tyre and
ground. The choice of tyre therefore plays an important role in soil
compaction. Indeed, the larger the tyre footprint, the lower the
pressure on the ground. In addition, the lower the tyre pressure, The tyre is the only link
the less the soil reacts upon compression. IF and VF technologies between the tractor and
are the most advanced solutions on the market. They allow
the ground, whether it be
you to have a low-pressure tyre with the widest possible tyre
footprint. The benefit of using this type of tyre is even higher in to transmit power, bear
a crop rotation system involving autumn crops such as corn or the load or respect the
beetroot. The risk of compaction is very high at harvesting time,
soil. There is therefore
due to the size of the machinery, the soil humidity in autumn and
the land being crossed by a combination of combine harvester, a real need to take
tractor and trailer. into consideration the

It is also during this time that trips back and forth are the most symbiosis between
frequent. The change in tyre pressure required between field and tractor, tool and tyre.”
road is often neglected by drivers. The IF and VF technologies
Éric CANTENEUR
are indispensable in this case because for the same load, the
FRCUMA Ouest machinery
forward speed no longer needs to be taken into account in the adviser and AILE technical
calculation of the pressure, which allows for a combined field/ consultant
road use with no constraints.

18
 A good choice of tyre is therefore one of the factors involved in
solving soil compaction problems. But it is not the only factor.
It must be combined with other levers of action. Solutions
must be envisaged on a farm-scale basis. The technical crop
management model must take into account a reduction in the Soil compaction problems
number of passages back and forth in order to avoid chaotic traffic vary depending on the
in the fields. If simplified cultivation techniques are adopted, weight of the vehicles
in-depth decompaction is necessary: a soil horizon which has used and on the type of
been compacted, but which is no longer tilled, will pose a problem activity. During planting,
for root development. Lastly, it is necessary to think about when
compaction can be avoided
to start working the land to avoid soil that is too damp.
thanks to the very low-
The distribution of the load on each axle must be analysed; it pressure tyres developed
varies depending on the attachment. During soil preparation by tyre manufacturers.
and sowing operations, with tractors whose power is increasing, During harvesting, on the
the weight on the back axle or even front axle can reach other hand, the load can be
7.5 tonnes. In this case, choosing a tyre with a wide footprint is up to 20 tonnes per axle.
wise to avoid compaction. During harvesting work, the size of Apart from limiting vehicle
the machinery keeps getting bigger to improve productivity. The traffic in wet conditions or
weight on the axle, which can be up to 10 tonnes, will lead to decreasing the weight of
severe deep soil compaction. The choice of a very low-pressure
the machines, there are few
tyre becomes essential. The latest innovations in harvest tyres
solutions to limit severe soil
allow cyclic loads of up to 70% at a speed of less than 10 km/h
compaction…”
over a short distance. This type of tyre also plays an essential
role in cushioning the soil against impact as well as absorbing Hubert BOIZARD
shocks to the mechanical components of the machine, which is INRA Laon-Mons
essential for your own health!

19
 Avoiding soil compaction is a more economical solution than
decompaction with the use of a subsoiler which is costly
in time and in fuel. Many farmers are turning to simplified
farming techniques. In addition, with this type of technical crop
management model, the possibilities of regenerating the soil
structures are less frequent. It is therefore important to choose
the right tyre to optimise the distribution of the load to the axle
and include soil compaction aspects in the crop itinerary.

RE DU C T I O N I N S O I L
CASE STUDY: with a 180 hp tractor equipped with 650/65 C O M PAC T I O N
R45 back tyres and a combined power harrow-seed drill,
on a 4-metre wide path, the tyre footprint impacts 32.5% 1.2 bar 1.0 bar 0.8 bar
of the soil surface.

DID YOU KNOW

Standard tyre IF tyre VF tyre
Controlled Traffic Farming is a concept which confines all machinery Performer 85 Maxi Traction VT-Tractor
Firestone Firestone Bridgestone
loads to the same traffic lanes thanks to a high-performance GPS
system. Widely developed in Australia, where it was conceived,
CTF limits the soil compaction to a small portion of the land.
This reasoning is currently being studied for application in Europe.

20
 Equipment
settings

H OW TO E X T E N D
T H E L I F E S PA N O F
YOUR TYRES

21
C HE C K THE F R ONT AX LE TO AVOI D
ABN O R MA L TYR E WE AR
The front axle must be checked regularly to avoid camber and
misalignment problems which lead to an irregular wear of the
tyre and mean that the tyre mount has to be changed sooner
than expected.
The camber angle corresponds to the angle between the tyre
tread and the vertical axis. Negative camber (the bottom of the
wheel is farther out than the top) when minimal, brings stability
to the tractor.
However, acute camber angles will lead to wear on one side of
the tyre only (see page 24). To counteract this irregular wear of
the tyre and delay the changing of the tyre mount, the farmer
may decide to swap over the left and right tyres on the axle. In
this case, the tyre supplier must be contacted in order to prevent
any deterioration of the tractor’s mechanical parts.

Misalignment corresponds either to positive toe (“toe-in” - the

front wheels point inwards) or negative toe (“toe-out” - the front
wheels point outwards – see page 24). This leads to wear of the
tread by scraping of the tyre on the ground. This problem also
leads to greater rolling resistance which results directly in loss of
power.

22
 To carry out the same work a higher fuel consumption is therefore
necessary. These alignment problems are frequent in tractors.

It is therefore important to have the tractor settings checked

regularly by your supplier: the vibrations caused by daily use, tyre
wear and bumping into obstacles, even with a minimal impact,
can easily affect this alignment.

CASE STUDY: for a mixed 50% road/50% field use, an abnor-

Our clients want regular
mal wear of 10mm caused by this problem results in an
estimated efficiency deficit of around 21%, i.e. an approxi- tyre wear to hold off on
mate loss of € 500 on a pair of tyres purchased for € 2,000. changing the tyre mount
for as long as possible.
We therefore have to
check with them that
the tractor and tractor
CA L I B RATE YOUR TO OL CO RRE CTLY
tool settings are properly
TO O P TI M IS E PER FO RMAN CE
calibrated.”
To preserve tyres and improve their lifespan, it is imperative to
René SALEZ
calibrate tools correctly. For trailers, frequent adjustments to the Garage de l’Étoile, FirstStop,
axles are necessary because the drum brakes they are equipped New Holland dealer
with are sensitive.

23
 A maladjusted trailer axle pushes the rear axle either towards
V E R I FI C AT I O N O F
the middle of the road or towards the roadside, which leads to T HE FRO N T AX L E
abnormal and premature wear of the tyre and of the coupler. For
ploughing tools, traction must be in line. If this is not the case, CAMBER PROBLEM
the driver has to constantly correct the misalignment with the (FRONT VIEW OF THE TRACTOR)

steering wheel which leads to irregular tyre wear, additional fuel

consumption and excess slippage.

Positive Negative

DI STR I B UTE THE LOAD CORRE CTLY

camber camber

O N THE TR ACTOR AX LE S
MISALIGNMENT
(VIEW FROM ABOVE)

When the trailer is attached, part of its load is transferred to

the rear axle of the tractor. For a tractor with 4 inequal drive
wheels, 40% of the total mass is transferred to the front axle and Toe out Toe in
Negative Positive
80% to the rear axle (100% of the tractor weight and 20% of the The red lines on the tyres indicate
load transfer). For a tractor with 4 equal drive wheels, during the areas of irregular wear

ploughing, the load must be equally distributed between the

front and back axles.

Knowing the load which will be applied to each axle of the tractor
is primordial. On the one hand, to adjust the tyre pressure:
pressure and load are linked, and manufacturers obligatorily

24
 supply load and inflation tables. The higher the load, the more
inflated the tyre must be in order not to damage the structure
of the tyre.

IF and VF technologies offer additional load capacity at low DID YOU KNOW
pressure. Manufacturers are adding special features to their
products such as on the Bridgestone VT-Tractor whose tread What do the regulations
and lug form have been designed to bear heavy loads at low say about the weight of
pressure without damaging the casing. The work rate is therefore combination vehicles?
improved.
• F or user safety, the weight
In order to obtain the right pressure, the combination vehicles on any given axle must not be
have to be weighed in three steps: more than 13 tonnes.
total weighing
• F or a tractor-trailer combination,
weighing of the front axle a 4-tonne load transfer to
weighing of the rear axle. the rear axle was authorised,
as of July 1st, 2015.
Poor load distribution leads to a loss of money. If the front axle is
overloaded, this causes premature tyre wear. On the other hand,
if the weight on the front axle is too low compared to the rear
axle, the front wheels will not have enough grip to achieve optimal
tractive force, which leads to unnecessary fuel consumption as
well as premature wear of the back tyres.

25
 Road use

P R E CA U T I O N S TO B E TA K E N
FO R U S E O N T H E ROA D
As explained previously, if you want to save on costs, your
choice of tyres must be based on what you are going to
use them for. It is also essential to take account of the road
use of the vehicle that needs to be fitted with tyres.

On average a tractor spends between 25% and 40% of its

time on the road, depending on operational logistics and
distances between fields.

26
 Road use is more aggressive for the tyre than work in the fields
and significantly increases the amount of wear. There are multiple
reasons for this:
Greater travel speed
High total weight load
Aggressive contact surface
Poor road surface condition
More frequent breaking and acceleration.

T YR E W EA R DUR ING For transport by road, a

R OA D TR A NS POR T suitable tyre is of great
To limit abnormal tyre wear, start by checking the tractor’s importance. Using the
mechanical settings. If preponderance and front axle camber right tyre means that you
angles are not correctly adjusted, the impact on the integrity of
can increase speed and
the tyre will be higher during transport by road.
Adopt an adequate load distribution and refer to the load index comfort while reducing
indicated by the manufacturer to avoid damaging the tyre noise levels.”
components rapidly. In order to make savings, these mechanical
Rémi NEMESIN
adjustments must be checked regularly because vibrations, Éts Collet Louis Davignon,
successive trailer changes and variations in the weight of the CLAAS dealer
tractor may affect the settings.

27
 Adapting tyre pressure to the load and road speed also helps to
avoid premature damage to the tyre.
With the same weight, between field and road, tyre pressure
should ideally be modified.

In the fields, it is better to work with low pressure tyres to protect

T Y R E P R E S S U RE
the soil and maintain a high tractive force. AN D T E C HN O L O G Y
On the roads, pressure should be higher to carry the load at
higher speed and decrease rolling resistance. STANDARD VF TECHNOLOGY
TYRE TYRE
This tedious task, which decreases the work rate, is often Performer 70 Firestone VT-Tractor Bridgestone
580/70R42 650/65R42
neglected by drivers. Yet on the roads, an overinflated tyre leads
to premature wear to the tread and loss of grip.
An underinflated tyre puts pressure on the sidewalls and casing
and leads to extra fuel consumption.

To be able to work constantly at the right pressure, without any

adaptation between road and field, manufacturers and their In the fields
10 km/h
In the fields
10 km/h and
0.6 bar on the road
distributors now offer new IF/VF technology tyres. 40 km/h
On the road 0.6 bar
Remote inflation, which allows you to vary tyre pressure in a 40 km/h
1 bar
matter of minutes from the tractor cab is an alternative system,
although costly.

28
R OA D C O MFOR T:
P ROT E CTING YOUR H E ALTH
When buying tyres, it is becoming increasingly common for
farmers to ask for lower noise levels and vibrations and good
road handling.
The tyre is the interface between the tractor and the ground
and the quality of the tyre is indispensable in reducing the risk
of vibrations. The repeated exposure of drivers to vibrations
causes musculo-skeletal disorders, which represent 93% of
the occupational illnesses recorded by la Mutuelle Santé des
Agriculteurs.

This vibratory risk as well as the risk of loss of grip are higher
during travel by road because of the higher speeds.

The choice of tyre as well as adapted tyre pressure

guarantee the safety of the farmer and the protection of
his health.

29
S AT I S F Y COMFOR T RE QU I RE ME N TS
AN D L I MIT WEAR BY USI N G
A SU I TA BL E TYR E
The tyre is an effective barrier against vibrations, just like cab DID YOU KNOW
suspension and driver’s seat suspension.
• F or frequent road use, speed
Certain tyres are more suitable for road use, such as series 70. codes D and E (65 and 70 km/h)
Manufacturers have also taken into consideration developments are now available in agricultural
in drive speed by designing a tyre which uses the latest technology tyres.
and is more resistant, with a higher load capacity, for speeds of
•T
 PMS is a regular tyre pressure
up to 70 km/h. The recently developed IF and VF technologies
and air temperature measurement
combine the benefits of a low-pressure tyre to preserve the soil
system that works using a sensor
and a road tyre which provides comfort and a high load capacity mounted in the tyre rim.
at speed. Furthermore, the characteristics of the casing allow It allows you to work at the
work at low pressure without damaging the sidewalls. manufacturer’s recommended tyre
pressure levels.
A farmer who opts for technology therefore avoids having
to change tyre pressure without affecting the lifespan of
the tyre and his fuel consumption.

30
 THE TYRE &
ITS SOURCES OF COST SAVING

T HE RIGHT ENGINE SPEED

2 LEVELS OF CONTROL
T RACTOR TOOL ALIGNMENT
WELL-ADJUSTED TRACTOR
FUEL SAVINGS
SETTINGS  LIGNMENT AND CAMBER
A
ANGLES CHECKED

CORRECT LOAD DISTRIBUTION

MAINTENANCE
COST CONTROL

I NCREASED LOAD
Reduced soil compaction CAPACITY PER AXLE
SUITABLE CHOICE
INCREASED
OF TYRE
PRODUCTIVITY O PTIMAL SLIP RATE

• T he right pressure W IDE TYRE FOOTPRINT

•S
 uitable tyre
PREPONDERANCE RESPECTED
(size, series)
TIME SAVING
 O PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT
N
BETWEEN FIELD AND ROAD

31
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32
THANKS TO WRITING
Hubert Boizard (INRA Estrées-Mons), Éric Canteneur (CUMA Pays de Loire and association AILE), Creative design agency
FARGO RDN
Denis Pacreau & Christophe Fromageot (Cailleau Pneus, Profil+), Laurent Drouin, Yves Bulot &
Fadéla Benabadji & Léa Charron
Jean-Charles Lenoir (Aub’pneus, Profil+), René Salez (Garage de l’Étoile, FirstStop and New Holland
dealer), Rémi Nemesin (Éts Collet Louis Davignon, Claas dealer), Daniel Lollier (TERREA, John Deere
CONCEPTION
dealer), Jérôme Labreuche, ARVALIS-Institut du Végétal, Jean-Étienne Bertholle & Myriam Campello
Creative design agency
(Bridgestone). BRETT'COM

PHOTOS
PRESS CONTACT Eve Hilaire
ALLURE COMMUNICATION BRIDGESTONE FRANCE & BENELUX Studio des 2 prairies
Laure Tortet (Press Service) Press / Web Manager iStock Thinkstock
Tel.: +33 (0)6 82 66 06 04 Myriam Campello
l.tortet@allurecom.fr Tel.: +33 (0)1 69 19 28 23 - +33 (0)6 16 92 69 27
myriam.campello@bridgestone.eu
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