If you could reduce the fuel consumption of your tractor each day, it would save you a substantial amount each month, and at the end of the year, an increase in your profit margin and operating results.
So why would you consider that adjusting the pressure of your tractor tyres is optional and not take those extra few minutes to save litres of fuel?
Not controlling your pressure will have 3 major consequences which will all impact your profitability:
- You consume more fuel every day.
- You reduce the lifespan of your tyres by around 30%.
- You reduce your yield by around 10%.
1. Your fuel consumption will be reduced if...
You choose very low pressure for work in the fields. If your farming tyre can cope with very low pressure (VF and IF tyres), it will dig much less into the soil, the rolling resistance will be reduced, the tractive force is reduced. Moreover, the footprint is much larger, the lugs grip the soil more easily and use their entire surface to increase the tractive capacity to the maximum.
Less resistance + more effective grip
= reduction in the power required
On the road, the opposite applies: a pressure level that is too low results in an increased rubbing surface and increased rolling resistance.
You can save up to 30% on fuel on the road with a tyre inflated to 2 bar instead of 0.8!
2. You will reduce the wear on your tractor tyres if…
you adapt your tyre pressure to the type of ground surface. To reduce wear to the tread, you need to adjust the pressure so that it is low for field work and high for use on the roads.
If you have chosen discount or inexpensive agricultural tyres, driving on underinflated tyres on the road will mean that the speed leads to the materials overheating which results in the separation of the rubber particles from the nylon, rayon or metal elements. Frequent driving on the road with under inflated tyres can result in the tyre casing breaking.
3. Your yield will be improved if...
you protect the soil on your farm. If your particular agricultural tyre allows you to work in the fields with very low pressure (VF, IF tyres ), you can improve your yield as the root systems of your crops are highly sensitive to compacted soils.
However, an overloaded axle or an overly inflated tyre will result in excessive soil compaction which hinders the development of your crops, and can cause the development of ruts on loose soil, in which your crops will not develop properly.
Soil that is regularly compacted by over inflated tractor tyres, often associated with poor calculation of the load transfer of your tool, or overly heavy machinery which is not offset by the adjustment of your tractor tyres, will have serious consequences on your farm’s productivity.
Do you know how to determine the optimum pressure for your tractor tyres?
The optimal pressure will vary depending on the type of machine (tractor, combine-harvester, sprayer, grape harvester, tank or trailer), the type of soil, the load on the axle, the front and rear load or the speed.
Bridgestone Firestone has developed the Bridgestone Tyre Pressure application (available on Android and Iphone) to help you set the pressure. After choosing your tire from more than 200 references, you will indicate the load to be supported by your tires. You will automatically get the optimal pressure to make your adjustments.
You will automatically get the optimal pressure to make your adjustments.
- Download the FIRESTONE AG app for Androïd or iPhone for free
- Download the BRIDGESTONE app for Androïd or iPhone for free
There are pressure control systems that are easy to install
It is not always easy to control pressure continually.
It may vary depending on the temperature and the driving speed.
Ideally the pressure should be visible from within the cabin, with warning signals to inform of any problems and to enable the driver to change the pressure quickly between driving on the road and in the fields.
The solution for this pressure control: a TPMS system.
The Bridgestone-agriculture.eu blog is written and administered by tractor tyre experts who are available to provide you with the advice that you need about your farming tyres. They will help you to maximise your productivity with information on all things relating to tyres: inexpensive tractor tyres - technical data for farming tyres - advice on farming tyre pressure - solution to avoid soil compaction - sprayer tyre pressure - Why and how to ballast your tractor tyres - when to use twin wheels - the mechanical causes of abnormal wear - cheap agricultural tyres - etc...
To take it a step further and increase the profitability of your farm, the tractor tyre experts has prepared a free, highly detailed, ebook which explains the essential role of farming tyres on your productivity..
Most people who read this article have also read some of the following articles:
- 12 tips to better manage the pressure of your agricultural tyres
- Non-adjusted tyre pressure will lead to damage to my tyres
- How much does it cost you not to adjust the pressure of your agricultural tyres?
- How can I be sure that my agricultural tyres are always at the right pressure?
- Pressure: it’s the volume of air in the tractor tyre that counts
- 7 advantages of low-pressure tyres compared to normal tyres
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