A perfect association between tyres and rims is crucial. You may have already invested in quality high-tech tyres to improve traction, soil preservation and your tractor’s load capacity. But have you considered the role that your rims could play in the equation?
A premium rim could be the key to getting the most from the your tractor tyres. Low-cost rims, while functional, are often designed for standard use. They may lack the sturdiness and precision required to take full advantage of your tyres or the power of your machine.
Choosing a premium rim is not just a luxury, it’s a strategic investment. By optimising the tyre/rim association, you will obtain greater reliability and better machine efficiency. This investment leads to fuel savings and better work efficiency.
For those looking to get the most from each part of their agricultural equipment, a premium rim is much more than just an option, it’s a necessity and here’s why:
1. What are the disadvantages of a low-cost rim compared to a premium rim?
Low-cost or discount rims may have manufacturing defects, even when they are new.
Even without initial defects, intensive use, such as working on rugged ground or transporting heavy loads, may lead to damages linked to structural weaknesses in the product.
Here are the principal defects encountered on low-cost rims:
Porous seams
Low-cost rims are generally made with lower quality welding than premium rims. The seams may be slightly porous, leading to a lack of airtightness or to air leaks.
Your tyre will continue to loose air and will end up being damaged because it always has an unsuitable inflation pressure.
This pressure problem causes rapid, irregular wear, which reduces the tyre lifespan and leads to more frequent replacements.
Non-conform dimensions
Cheap rims may have slightly inaccurate dimensions as compared to established rim standards.
This can lead to an incorrect positioning of the tyre on the rim, provoking a slipping of the bead, rapid wear and the risk of the tyre coming off the rim, especially in difficult driving conditions such as on sloping land.
A tyre coming off the rim can cause considerable damage which generally necessitates a replacement.
Poor quality finishing
Discount rims often have poor quality finishing such as unmachined metalwork burrs, with rough edges and minor defects.
These burrs may rub against the tyre, creating inappropriate wear.
Premature wear at the level of the bead can weaken the structure of the tyre, increasing the risk of punctures or tyre bursting when used with a heavy load or at a high inflation pressure.
Insufficient metal thickness
The thickness of the metal conditions the resistance and durability of a rim. Low-cost rims are generally less thick (about 5mm) than safety standards (6.5 mm) which makes them more vulnerable to deformation, fissures and breaks, especially with heavy loads or in difficult driving conditions.
not being sufficiently resistant
Rim deformation
Even without any major impact, low-cost rims may become misshapen over time. This type of deformation can have many consequences:
- Imbalanced wheel leading to vibrations when driving, with a negative effect on comfort and safety.
- Incorrect connection with the ground during driving by road at speed. Tractor adherence and stability are reduced, especially when turning or braking.
- A progressive deformation may lead to air leakage. The airtightness between the wheel and the rim is compromised.
to excessive tightening of the bolts
What are the limitations when using this type of rim?
Due to their structural weaknesses, low-cost rims are often unsuitable for intensive use or powerful machines transporting heavy loads.
The risk of an incident is then omnipresent with all the potential problems linked to this kind of breakdown.
2. What are the benefits of low-cost rims
The main and obvious benefit of low-cost rims is their price, which is often much lower than for premium rims. This difference in cost may be tempting, especially for farmers with a tight budget.
In which cases can low-cost rims be a viable option?
- They must be used only on low-engine-power tractors: for light use on land that is not too demanding.
- Occasional use: if your tractors are only used from time to time, such as to transport light loads on the road, low-cost rims can do the job.
- Specific use: for tractors used only in livestock farming buildings or for light work, where resistance and durability requirements are lower.
Is it really an economical choice?
Opting for low-cost rims is not always the most economical choice.
You may limit your initial investment, but what about the indirect costs linked to this type of equipment:
- Premature tyre wear: the manufacturing defects may cause premature wear to the tyre and lead to more frequent replacement costs.
- A greater risk of punctures: the porous seams, or manufacturing defects can cause air leaks and punctures, leading to unexpected stoppages and repair costs.
- Higher maintenance costs: the vibrations, abnormal noise or loss of pressure lead to more frequent maintenance operations than with premium rims.
3. Why will a premium agricultural tyre not be optimal with a low-cost rim?
Combining a premium agricultural tyre with a low-cost rim is a bit like trying to put a powerful racing car engine in a small city car: the performance capacity on one side will be compromised by the limits on the other side.
Premium agricultural tyres are designed to offer optimal performance in terms of traction, resistance and soil preservation. They are manufactured with high quality materials, using advanced technologies to guarantee longevity and maximum efficiency.
Low-cost rims, on the other hand, have manufacturing weaknesses that may limit the performance capacity of premium tyres and reduce their wear life.
Potential problems with premium tyres and low-cost rims
When you combine premium agricultural tyres with low-cost rims, you run the risk of neutralising the advantages of high-tech tyres.
Potential air leakage can lead to drops in pressure, which may have an impact on traction and slip and end up causing rapid tyre wear.
Premium tyres, designed to withstand harsh working conditions, can place considerable strain on the rims. If they are lower quality, they may give way faced with this extra level of strain, especially with a heavy load or when doing work which requires a lot of torque.
4. Why is a premium rim better suited to high-tech tyres?
High-tech tyres such as the VT-TRACTOR tyre are designed to push the limits of tractor performance. To make the most of their capacities, we recommend that you associate them with top quality rims which will not neutralise the advantages brought by your tyres.
Optimisation of tyre performance
VF VT-TRACTOR tyres are designed to work at low pressure in order to reduce soil compaction. A premium rim, thanks to its manufacturing precision, will guarantee a perfect fit between the bead and the rim seat and excellent airtightness with the tyre, to ensure stability and optimal adherence, even on sloping land.
of 0.6 bar with premium rims
A perfect size match
The dimensions of premium rims comply fully with ETRTO standards.
This means that you are sure to obtain a perfect match between the rim and the tyre. This improves your tyre lifespan, while guaranteeing optimal performance levels for all the tractor tyres.
Improvement of road handling and driving comfort
The combination of a VF VT-TRACTOR tyre and a premium rim ensures excellent road handling, which is extremely important at high speed.
The precision of a premium rim minimises vibrations, leading to better driving comfort for the farmer.
Guaranteed durability for your tractor wheels
A quality premium rim contributes towards extending the lifespan of your tyres thanks to the optimal position of the wheel on the rim which protects it against damage.
The bead does not slip on the rim seat, even in the harshest working conditions, where a misshapen or imbalanced rim could cause wear to the bead, or premature wear to the tyre tread.
Opting for premium rims may represent a higher initial cost, but the advantages they bring in terms of performance, durability and safety are highly profitable in the long run.
By combining high-tech, top quality tyres with premium rims, you make sure that your tractors will be highly efficient and last longer.
You are not only investing in tractor performance, but in the long-term profitability 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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