During the harvest, the soil is often placed under considerable strain by the toing and froing of very heavy harvesters, leading to compaction that is detrimental to soil fertility and, as such, to your future yields. Luckily agricultural tyre technology has made significant progress in finding answers to this problem. High-tech IF VF CFO (Cyclic Field Operations) harvest tyres stand out due to their capacity to reduce soil compaction while offering real benefits in terms of load.
These new tyres are designed to bear heavy loads due to their greater flexion capacity which spreads the pressure to the ground better. In addition, CFO tyres are specifically developed to cope with the harvesting machines’ frequent loading and unloading cycles, guaranteeing better durability and reliability than standard tyres. These tyres are vital allies for farmers looking to maximise yields while preserving the integrity of their agricultural land.
In this article we look at how these innovations can make your agricultural practices evolve and become a great asset during your next harvesting season.
Soil compaction is a major problem for farmers, especially during harvesting campaigns. Combine-harvesters and other harvesting machines can effectively weigh up to 40 tonnes when loaded, creating enormous pressure on the ground. This phenomenon is worsened by the coming and going of fully loaded trailers, often with standard tyres inflated to more than 2.4 bar to cope with the load. The impact of this deteriorates the structure of the soil, reduces fertility and may lead to a loss of yield of up to 50% in extreme cases.
To alleviate this problem, new harvest tyre technologies such as IF (Improved Flexion) and VF (Very Improved Flexion) CFO (Cyclic Field Operations) tyres offer a great solution. These tyres are designed to work at a low pressure of between 1.8 and 2.4 bar, even with heavy loads (at 1.8 bar for cyclic use at 15km/h, the load capacity increases to 11,595kg for a 900/65 R32 VT-Combine tyre). By expanding their contact area with the ground, these tyres spread the weight more efficiently, thus limiting the negative impact on the soil. This optimised spreading of the load leads to better soil fertility and a significant reduction in compaction., guaranteeing sustainable yields and better long-term plot health. Opting for these high-tech tyres therefore means choosing to protect your soil while maximising the efficiency of your harvesting campaigns.
With standard tyres, harvesters rapidly reach their load and pressure limits, leading to frequent stops by the side of the fields to empty the hopper if you wish to protect your soil. This results in significant time wasting and can compromise the harvest in the event of unforeseen bad weather. High-tech IF VF CFO tyres offer an effective solution by making it possible to protect the soil most of the time, but making use of a load bonus only when necessary. They make it possible to increase the load by 70%, i.e. more than 12 additional tonnes on the front axle, thanks to their advanced design.
These tyres, with their sturdy and durable casing, can carry high cyclic loads over short distances without interrupting operations. By increasing the productivity of your combine-harvester, these high-tech tyres represent a strategic investment to maximise your yields and secure your harvest.
To make the most of the load bonus offered by these tyres, it is important to meet certain conditions:
The load bonus is not compatible with steep slopes. Combine-harvesters, due to their cyclic loads when the hopper fills up, must avoid steep slopes in order to use the load bonus. A slope with a gradient of more than 20% (or 11°) increases the crushing effect on the rear tyres, which risk coming off the rim due to the excessive pressure.
When the hopper is full, the weight increases considerably, adding around 12,000 extra kilos depending on the machine. This extra load, borne entirely by the tyres, cannot be maintained over long distances without damaging the internal structure of the tyres. It is recommended that you limit travel with a full load to around 1.5 km.
To increase the load on your harvest tyres periodically, it is crucial to reduce your driving speed. Each tyre has a speed and load index specified by the manufacturer, which guarantees optimal performance without damaging the equipment. By reducing your speed, you allow the tyre to get its initial shape back before facing a new deflexion, thus avoiding excessive deformation which can lead to breaks in the casing.
Harvesting on sloping land is particularly tricky due to the weight and the higher centre of gravity of the combine-harvesters, compared to tractors. The choice of tyres is therefore important in maintaining stability and avoiding breakdowns. Bridgestone’s VT-Combine IF VF CFO tyres are specially designed to cope with these challenges thanks to several advanced features.
When working on a slope, the load transfer to the lower down of the tyres increases considerably, placing a great deal of strain on these tyres. VT-Combine tyres are designed to bear extra loads while maintaining optimal pressure, which reduces the risk of the tyre coming off the rim. The design of these tyres allows greater flexion without compromising the structure, thus ensuring a better load distribution, even on sloping land.
One of the main innovations of VT-Combine IF VF CFO tyres is the S-Line bead technology. This technology ensures a secure connection between the rim and the tyre during work at low pressure, but also when working on sloping land. By improving the dynamic properties of the bead, these tyres reduce the risk of coming off the rim caused by the strain of frequent high flexion in hilly fields.
Modern combine-harvesters equipped with levelling mechanisms can also benefit from VT-Combine tyres. These systems allow the tyres to work at different levels on the same axle, minimising the lateral forces and additional strain placed on the lower down tyres. VT-Combine tyres, with their ability to cope with variable loads and maintain stable performance levels, complete these mechanisms perfectly on steep inclines.
By choosing high-tech IF VF CFO tyres for your harvesters, you are investing in tyres that are capable of withstanding the specific conditions of rapid use on the road. Here are their advantages:
Traditional agricultural tyres, designed for maximum efficiency in the fields, must also perform on the road where they also spend 30% of their time. Asphalt, which is made up of abrasive materials such as gravel and crushed rock, accelerates tyre wear. To counter this rapid wear, IF VF CFO tyres have thicker, longer lasting rubber. Their special rubber compound minimises the abrasive impact of the road, thus extending the tyre’s lifespan and guaranteeing constant performance levels despite intensive road use.
IF VF CFO tyres are designed with lugs whose position, number and form are optimised to ensure constant and stable contact with the ground. This design reduces the level of vibrations, even at high speed, and maintains perfect lateral stability. This compromise between performance in the fields and on the road is the results of lengthy research and rigorous testing, which guarantees an improved driving experience and maximum operational efficiency.
The VF tyre is better at the rear of the harvester for the following reasons:
VF harvest tyres are designed to withstand strain better:
For farmers seeking to maximise their productivity while protecting their soil, Bridgestone’s VT-Combine IF VF CFO tyre is an ideal solution. This latest generation tyre combines all the characteristics necessary to cope with the issues referred to above, offering exceptional performance capacities both in the fields and on the road:
| Size | Standard tyre load capacity at 2.4 bar |
VT-Combine IF VF CFO tyre load capacity at 2.4 bar |
LOAD BONUS | ||||
| 650/75 R32 | 8,295 kg | 10,075 kg | +21% | ||||
| 800/65 R32 | 9,870 kg | 11,625 kg | +18% | ||||
| 900/60 R32 | 10,855 kg | 13,175 kg | +21% |
Bridgestone’s VT-Combine IF VF CFO tyre is the epitome of innovation and reliability, perfectly meeting the demands of modern harvesting campaigns. Opting for these tyres means getting the most from each harvesting season, while protecting and safeguarding your soil for the years to come.
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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