Where does the economic interest in the VF agricultural tyre lie for equipment sharing cooperatives?

In the case of VF tyres, the economic benefit is hidden behind a high purchase price, but savings are made throughout the life of the tyre. It’s easy to have a low price for a discount tyre, but we all know that the real value of a piece of quality equipment becomes clear when it is put into use.

Imagine finishing work in each field quicker, using up less fuel, imagine saving time by avoiding changes in pressure settings which are no longer necessary, imaging protecting your soil against compaction and ensuring good yields for years, imagine having to change a set of tyres not after 2000 hours but after 50% more time, if you use the right settings. For your equipment sharing cooperative, you can give preference to quality tyres for your most powerful tractor, in order to make savings in the long run.

This article looks at the real advantages of using high-tech tyres, in the best conditions, in order to understand where your interest really lies: in a small short-term saving at the time of purchase, or in a small daily saving for the entire lifespan of your tyres.

1. Less compaction to protect your yields

Today there really are drops in yield, or even white areas (with no germination) which are essentially due to excessive soil compaction.

The principal cause of the problem is the repeated toing and froing of heavy vehicles over agricultural land. The ground becomes compacted, altering its structure and affecting its fertility, and as such yields from future crops.
Faced with this situation, it is crucial to find efficient solutions to protect the health of the soil and maintain optimal yields.

Change crop practices: opt for VF tyres

Changing crop practices can be achieved, inter alia, by opting for low pressure VF agricultural tyres which allow you to protect the land you work on.

These high-tech tyres are capable of bearing heavy loads while maintaining a minimal inflation pressure. VF tyres help limit soil compaction and are designed to protect crop root systems as much as possible.

They allow good water infiltration and encourage adequate circulation of air in the soil. They do not prevent the retention of water in the deeper layers of soil, which are essential during dry periods.

The VF tyre allows you to do without soil aeration work at the end of the season

Choosing VF agricultural tyres for your equipment sharing cooperative means that you can save money by avoiding soil rehabilitation work. Unlike standard tyres, which need high pressure to cope with the load and which often necessitate aeration work to restore the soil structure, low pressure tyres protect soil health.

Their ability to operate at low pressure effectively prevents the formation of a compacted layer of arable land. By doing away with soil rehabilitation work, you save time and fuel resources.

2. Better traction leading to less fuel consumption

Better traction is linked to the tyres’ ability to gain purchase on the ground and transmit engine power efficiently. This depends on several factors, particularly rolling resistance and the tyres’ slip ratio. By optimising these aspects, it is possible to improve traction and therefore to reduce fuel consumption.

Traction capacity is linked to the size of the soil footprint

VF tyres such as Bridgestone’s VT-TRACTOR tyre can work at a very low inflation pressure, which means that they have a bigger, but above all longer soil footprint. The slip ratio will be reduced because the tyre sinks into the ground less.

More lugs are in contact with the soil simultaneously, which increases the traction capacity and improves the stability of the combination vehicle during work.

Fuel savings are linked to efficient traction

All these conditions combined improve the transmission of engine power to the ground. You will therefore benefit from better engine efficiency, which leads to a significant drop in fuel consumption. The less slip there is, the better the traction capacity will be, leading to optimal energy efficiency.

Comparative traction efficiency test with VF VT-TRACTOR tyres

Test carried out in real conditions over a given distance (200 m) with two John Deere 6215R tractors fitted with the same size tyres (650/85 R38) and identical implements. Only the technology and tyre pressure change: VF VT-TRACTOR tyres at a pressure of 0.8 bar in one case and a standard technology competitor’s tyre for the second tractor. For this test, the difference in number of rear wheel rotations determines the slip ratio.

Reference measurement:

The 650/85 R38 VF VT-TRACTOR tyre has a rolling circumference of 6.122 mm

Theoretical manufacturer reference data → Number of reference wheel rotations = 200 m / 6122 = 32.67 rotations to cover 200 m.

Tractor 1 
fitted with VF VT-TRACTOR tyres with a front/rear inflation pressure of 0.8 bar:

Over a distance of 200 m → 8.3 % slip ratio = 35.40 wheel rotations = 216.70 metres

Tractor 2
fitted with STANDARD tyres of a competitor brand, with a front/rear inflation pressure of 1.4 bar:

Over a distance of 200 m → 17.69 % slip ratio = 38.45 wheel rotations = 235 metres

Results of the traction test:

3.05 less wheel rotations for the VF VT-TRACTOR tyre, i.e. 20 metres less tractive effort for every 200 metres covered.

The test was carried out several times to be sure that the performance was not linked to a different cause, but all the tests produced similar results. The difference in performance will vary more or less depending on the implements used, the type of soil and the weather conditions. It’s the technology of the VF VT-TRACTOR tyre that makes this performance in terms of motricity possible, to which soil preservation with a very low level of compaction and the possibility of driving by road at a steady speed (50 km/h) without changing pressure must be added.

3. Reduction in wear linked to the reduction in slip

In the event of slip, the rubbing of the tyre on the ground accelerates wear to the tread and compromises the efficiency of agricultural labours. The more the tyre slips, the less efficiently it transmits engine power to the ground.

Less slip equals less wear

A good solution for slowing down tyre wear is to choose a model designed to reduce the slip ratio, which therefore gives you a better traction capacity. The VT-TRACTOR provides optimal traction qualities. In addition, it is produced using rubber that is reinforced with plant-based oils. This unique rubber blend makes the tread more resistant to wear and ensures a longer lifespan for the tyre, even in difficult working conditions.

In addition, the specific lug design used for the VT-TRACTOR tyre, with their curved shape and multiple angles, facilitates traction and limits the accumulation of earth between the lugs. You will therefore be able to:

• Work more efficiently,
• reduce premature tyre wear,
• save on fuel,
• reduce working time.

4. Saving time on all your operations

Another advantage that contributes to time savings is the VT-TRACTOR tyre’s ability to go from field to road without requiring additional pressure setting changes.

This versatility allows you to change working area rapidly, without having to stop to adjust tyre pressure depending on the type of work to be done. Interruptions linked to pressure changes are therefore reduced to a minimum.

5. The VT-TRACTOR tyre: an agricultural VF tyre for equipment sharing cooperatives

Thanks to its innovative features and its specific design, Bridgestone’s VF VT-TRACTOR tyres are an optimal choice for equipment sharing cooperatives seeking to make long-term savings while reducing soil compaction in their fields.

With its more resistant casing, this tyre is able to carry heavy loads and cope better with the various strains linked to work in the fields and travel by road.

Less soil compaction

Thanks to its supple sidewalls, the VF VT-TRACTOR tyre can work at a very low inflation pressure, which improves the distribution of the weight of the tractor and its implements to the ground. The specific design of this high-tech tyre is good for your land, because it:

• Minimises the harmful effects of soil compaction
• Protects crop growth and biological activity in the soil
• Encourages good water infiltration in the different layers of soil.

The reduction in compaction ensures that a water reserve can be stored in the lower levels of the soil. This is particularly beneficial during dry periods and leads to better yields without requiring additional watering.

The bridgestone-agriculture.eu blog is written and administered by tractor tyre experts who can provide you with advice to help you achieve optimum productivity (Technical data on agricultural tyres - Agricultural tyre performance - Advice on agricultural tyre pressure - Soil compaction prevention - Sprayer tyre pressure - etc.)

To take it a step further and increase your farm’s profitability, the blog Bridgestone-agriculture.eu has prepared a free, highly detailed ebook which explains the essential role of the agricultural tyre on your productivity.

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