Make the right choice of tyre when buying the tractor

When you buy a new tractor, the first instinct is almost always the same:  choose the right engine power, compare optional features, study the electronic appliances… However, a decisive element for actual tractor efficiency is often given a lower priority: the tyres. This choice, though wrongly considered as secondary, has much more influence than just for driving comfort. It affects productivity, yields, soil quality and the lifespan of your equipment.
A well-suited tyre can transform a standard tractor into a real tool for performance; a badly chosen tyre, on the other hand, can limit its potential from its very first outing.
Width, technology, load capacity, rims, working pressure… each aspect counts. But how do you decide between the different sizes, series or technologies? And above all, how can you be sure to make the best choice in order to get the most from your investment, protect your soil and reduce the daily cost of use?

In this article, we will guide you point by point so that buying your tyre also becomes an opportunity to optimise your performance levels. Because choosing the right tyre is not an option: it’s a strategic decision for the profitability of your farm.

1. How to choose the best size?

1.1 What tyre width is suitable for your farm?

The width of the tyre is one of the aspects which influence tractor performance. It determines the contact patch with the ground, makes it possible to spread the weight better, limit compaction, improve motricity and increase productivity during operations.

There are several major advantages to having wider tyres:

• Better load distribution, which is essential for protecting the structure of the soil and limiting compaction.
• The possibility of working at a low inflation pressure, which increases the soil footprint and improves grip.
• An increase in the volume of air, which leads to a higher load capacity and the possibility of using wider, heavier implements.
• Better traction, especially in wet conditions, thanks to a bigger lug contact area with the ground.

Choosing the right tyre width is not just a minor detail: it’s a direct lever for improving performance and profitability, while protecting your land.

1.2 What load and implements will you be working with, and for what use?

Each tractor has a different job to do depending on the farm: intensive transport, working in the fields, heavy implements, soil preparation, driving at speed…. The choice of tyre size must therefore take into account the load that the tyre is likely to carry.

The load index marked on the sidewall indicates the maximum weight for a given speed.

It is therefore essential to identify:

• the weight of trailed implements,
• the distribution of load on the axle,
• the type of operations to be carried out regularly,
• the most frequent type of use of the tractor,
• and the travel speed suitable for the load and tyre pressure.

Larger tyre series or VF models are particularly well suited to heavy loads and can carry up to 40% more, at a reduced inflation pressure into the bargain, while protecting your soil.

A suitable tyre size, associated with the right inflation pressure, guarantees optimal operating, better tyre durability and maximum productivity.

1.3 What size are your rims?

The choice of tyre size must match the characteristics of your rims: their diameter and above all their width, expressed in inches. Rims that are too narrow cannot accommodate a very wide tyre; inversely, a thin tyre will not be stable on too wide a rim.

Two questions must be asked:

What tyres can you fit if you keep your current rims?

Manufacturers’ correspondence tables indicate the tyre sizes compatible with each rim width. In many cases, it is possible to fit a slightly wider tyre without changing the rim, which offers:

• better ground support,
• better traction,
• a higher load capacity.

What are the advantages of changing rims?

Opting for wider rims opens up the possibility of working with more voluminous tyres, and as such:

• a larger soil footprint,
• less compaction,
• more efficient traction,
• the possibility of using heavier implements,
• a better connection between tyre bead and rim seat. This will lead to better tyre performance during operations.

2. Choose the technology that is best suited to your activity

2.1 What will the tractor’s principal activity be?

Before choosing a type of tyre, it is essential to identify the tractor’s main assignment: working in the fields, intensive transport, multipurpose use, field crop or livestock farming. Each activity has different requirements: traction, wear resistance, ability to work at low pressure or endurance on the road.

A tractor that is mainly used in the fields will need a tyre that can increase its soil footprint and reduce compaction. Inversely, a powerful tractor or one used for intensive transport will need a more robust tyre, capable of withstanding overheating and high loads. This initial analysis naturally steers you towards the most suitable tyre technology.

2.2 The advantages of VF technology

VF (Very High Flexion) technology today represents the most advanced standard for optimising performance in the field. Thanks to improved sidewall flexion, VF tyres can work at very low pressure, while carrying up to 40% more load compared to a standard tyre.

This results in:

• a longer, wider footprint
• considerably less soil compaction,
• better traction and less slip,
• productivity gains thanks to better transmission of power.

2.3 The benefits of a reinforced casing

For tractors that carry heavy loads or are used intensively on the road, the priority is not low pressure, but resistance to wear and overheating. This is where the VX-TRACTOR tyre range really makes sense.

Its reinforced internal structure, made up of 6 layers and highly resistant rubber, guarantees:

• excellent longevity,
• a high load capacity,
• less breakdowns linked to impacts or travel by road,
• much better durability compared to a standard tyre in demanding conditions.

2.4 Which tyre is most suited to lighter tractors?

For lighter tractors – often around 115 to 135 hp, used for mixed crop-livestock farming – Bridgestone proposes the VX-R TRACTOR tyre.

More economic and versatile, it offers:

• good  traction,
• above average wear-resistance,
• an ideal adaptability for varied activities (buildings, farm courtyard, small plots of land, transport).

It’s a high-performance compromise for farms looking for a reliable, robust yet accessible tyre.

3. Comparative tables: Which tyre for which tractor depending on size and power?

The choice of tyre size depends on several factors such as the size and the power of the machine, the type of farm and the kind of operations that you carry out.

Extra-wide 900 mm tyres, for example, are perfectly suited to field crop farms of over a hundred hectares. These tyres offer a high load capacity and better traction.

More standard 580 mm tyres can also be very efficient, but for medium-size farms, as obviously they cannot carry the same load.

Below is a selection of practical examples with the most suitable tyre fitting possibilities for specific levels of tractor power:

4. Think in terms of investment rather than purchase cost for your agricultural tyres

4.1 Tyres are an investment, not just a cost item

Agricultural tyres are too often considered as a consumable although they have a direct influence on productivity, quality of work, fuel consumption and the durability of the equipment. A budget tyre, even if it costs less to buy, wears quicker, slips more and uses up more fuel.

Whereas a high-tech tyre offers:

• better traction,
• reduced slip,
• a much slower wear rate,
• a better protection of the soil and therefore better future yields.

The analysis is simple: a quality tyre does not cost more, it gives you more. It’s an investment which improves the overall profitability of the machine.

4.2 Calculate an hourly cost rather than a gross purchase price

To compare tyres objectively, you have to consider the hourly cost, not the purchase price.

A premium tyre lasts longer, provides better traction and optimises fuel consumption, which reduces its actual cost of use.

High-tech tyres such as the VT-TRACTOR tyre include:

• a reinforced casing,
• an ultra-resistant rubber compound,
• a multi-layered tread for optimal traction and stability.

The result is an extended lifespan, less breakdowns and a higher work rate per hour. On the other hand, a budget tyre is less likely to last over time and you often end up doubling the cost with early replacement and lower performance levels in terms of traction and fuel.

4.3 Include service and warranties in the purchase cost

Buying a premium tyre comes with a premium service:

• up to 10-year warranty at Bridgestone,
• up to 100 % coverage in the event of defects,
• specialist technical support,
• advice on use and settings.

Low-cost tyres, often sold with no customer service or minimum warranty, leave you open to considerable financial risk in the event of breakdown.

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: Technical data for agricultural tyres – Agricultural tyre performance – Air pressure advice, Solutions to avoid soil compaction – Sprayer tyre pressure – Why and how to ballast your tractor tyres – etc.

To take it one step further and increase the profitability of your farm, the blog Bridgestone-agriculture.eu provide a free, highly detailed eBook which explains the essential role of the agricultural tyre in your productivity.

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