Agricultural tyres, while often neglected, are a key part of your business equipment. Whether for working in the fields, transport by road or manoeuvres in the farm courtyard, their role is decisive in ensuring the smooth running of your operations. A puncture while working or a breakdown can rapidly transform your day into a nightmare: immobilisation of the tractor, loss of time and money or even danger or risk for your safety on the road.
But did you know that regular, appropriate maintenance can not only prevent these unpleasant surprises, it can also extend your tyre lifespan, reduce your fuel consumption and improve your productivity? A few simple, basic maintenance measures can make all the difference.
In this article, discover why maintaining your agricultural tyres is much more than just a precaution: it’s a strategy for optimising performance levels, protecting your soil and securing your operations. Take on board some good practices to turn your tyres into a precious day-to-day ally.
A tyre breakdown mid-field can paralyse your operations and result in significant loss of time and money.
That’s why it’s highly recommended that you inspect your tyres regularly to detect any weaknesses, signs of premature wear or minor damage.
To avoid bad surprises, you can carry out a regular visual inspection of your tyres: sidewalls, tread, bead cleanliness, rim base, abnormal wear, tightening of the bolts…
If, during your check-up, you note an irregularity in one of your tyres, act rapidly.
Repairs can be considered in certain cases, but it’s best to call in a professional.
A qualified technician can easily assess the extent of the damage and set rapid repairs or a replacement in motion, to avoid immobilisation mid-field.
Bad maintenance or failure to carry out check-ups or adjustments can cause accidents linked to the tyres, which may be serious both for the operator and for the equipment.
Road accidents: an inadequate tyre inflation pressure, excessive wear or damage that is not detected early enough, can cause punctures or an explosion when driving on the road at speed.
This type of incident can result in loss of control of the tractor and more or less serious accidents, depending on the circumstances and the load.
By conducting regular maintenance of your tyres, you extend their lifespan. On average, appropriate maintenance can double the wear life of your tyres, i.e. slow down tyre wear by between 25% and 50%.
This minimum daily intervention allows you to reduce your operating costs by limiting the frequency of tyre replacements, representing savings of up to 30% of your annual budget.
Several elements can accelerate agricultural tyre wear and reduce their lifespan. Among the most important are the following:
By preparing your agricultural tyres properly, you can improve your hourly work rate and reduce production costs.
A good tyre with the right pressure settings improves traction capacity, provides better grip, allows your tractor to transmit all its power to the ground and reduces slip.
Regular maintenance, including pressure and tyre wear check-ups, make it possible to detect and rapidly correct any problem that could affect adherence and thus indirectly your working time and corresponding level of fatigue.
Correct pressure minimises rolling resistance, thus reducing fuel consumption.
Bear in mind that overinflated tyres tend to sink into the ground, which increases rolling resistance.
The result is less grip and a higher risk of slippage, leading to unnecessary fuel consumption of up to 20% more.
By adjusting the pressure in your tyres regularly based on the load and type of ground, you can make significant annual fuel savings.
Carrying out regular check-ups will allow you to detect problems early on and avoid costly breakdowns.
The choice of agricultural tyre is not limited to its performance in the field. The frequency and type of maintenance are also decisive criteria, in particular for farmers who are looking to optimise their productivity and reduce their operating costs.
Bridgestone’s VX-TRACTOR tyre is often cited for its low maintenance needs. Here’s why:
Appropriate, regular maintenance of agricultural tyres represents much more than a small daily obligation: it’s a strategic investment which is profitable.
By taking care of your tyres, you will reap the benefits: better safety, controlled costs, optimised productivity…
By investing in quality tyres like the VX-TRACTOR tyre and by performing rigorous maintenance, you contribute to the longevity of your agricultural equipment and the sustainability of your farm.
The Bridgestone-agriculture.eu blog is written and administered by tractor tyre experts who are available to provide you with the advice you need on the subject of your agricultural tyres. They allow you to maximise your productivity with information on all subjects linked to tyres: Cheap tractor tyres — Technical data for agricultural tyres — Air pressure advice — Solutions to avoid soil compaction — Sprayer tyre pressure — Why and how to ballast your tractor tyres — When to use dual wheels — The mechanical causes of abnormal wear — Cheap agricultural tyres – etc.
To learn more and boost your farm's profits, Bridgestone-Agriculture is offering you a free, detailed white paper that explains the essential role your agricultural tyres play in your productivity.
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