What are some practical things ag tire dealers can do to help optimize the longevity and performance of their customers' tires?
And what are some things that end users can do to help dealers optimize the performance and service life of their tires?
Dave Paulk, manager of field technical services, BKT USA Inc., provides answers in this MTD exclusive.
“Agricultural tires are big dollar investments that should be taken care of and looked after as best as possible,” he says.“There are some things that dealers can do to help optimize the longevity and performance of their customers’ tires.
“Make sure that proper air pressures are used. The tires give optimum performance at the correct air pressures. In the field, this cuts down on slippage and minimizes soil compaction. This contributes to fuel savings and enhances crop yield. By running too much air, the tires are allowed to slip more and don’t provide the necessary traction. This also increases soil compaction, where this is a concern. The tires are more susceptible to impact breaks.
“Running too little air reduces slip too much, but can lead to tire sidewall and bead damage, especially under heavy torque,” says Paulk. “Running too little air on the road, between fields, causes the tires to become overloaded. They will wear out quicker and can cause damage to the tire casing because of heat buildup. For bias tires, they need to be run at near the maximum air pressure all the time.
“Make sure that proper rims are used. The recommended wheels for the tires need to be used to allow the right amount of deflection (for radials) to maximize tire performance and traction. If the rims are too wide or too narrow, it puts more pressure in the bead area and can cause the tires to fail over time.
“When new tires are changed on MFWD tractors, make sure the correct tire sizes are used with rolling circumferences that work,” Paulk explains. “If the lead/lag ratio is changed too much up or down, this can cause the tires to wear out too quickly and can cause transmission problems in severe cases.
“Clean the mud, rocks, and sticks out of the wheels, when possible, to minimize the risk of tire damage from foreign objects. Check the tires for punctures that will allow the tire to leak air and run low in air pressure.
“Stubble damage is a huge problem because of the hardness of GMO stalks (corn, cotton, soybeans, etc.). The stalks are much harder than rubber and can easily puncture tires. There are items on the market (ex. stubble stompers) that knock down the stubble before the tires run over it. The front tires are usually damaged the worst because they are the first to run over the stubble.
“Straddling the rows, rather than running directly over the stalks, also minimizes the damage to tires. This can be costly to the farmer to replace tires where this type of damage is preventable.
“Since winter is coming and farm equipment will be stored, there are some things that can be done to protect tires and ensure they are good for the spring,” he says.
“Air the tires up to maximum air pressure before storing. Ambient air temperature will cause air pressures to go up and down, like in a car or pickup. If the tires go flat or have too much weight on them for a period, the bead area and lower sidewall can be cut by the rim and damaged.
Storing the tractor with tires inside helps prevent weather cracking. The ozone in the air is a killer of rubber. While most tires are made with ozone resistant compounds, the tires must be run for ozone protection to work. If sitting for an extended period, it’s best to cover them or store them inside out of the sunlight.
“Store tires away from fossil fuel-based liquids. These can cause rubber to deteriorate and break down and the tires to fail.
“By doing the above things, users can help optimize the life of tires and save themselves money in the long run,” says Paulk. “Dealers can help by communicating the importance of these things to help their customers.”
