Ag tire dealers should take a consultative approach when working with customers to select the right tires for their equipment.
According to Dave Paulk, manager, field technical services, BKT USA Inc., "it is important to understand how tractors and implements are being used so the right tires for the job can be recommended."
End users "must have a tire with the correct load carrying capacity and speed for it to work. Are they looking for a tractor, implement or combine tire? Are they using radial or bias tires? (Occasionally, they use bias when radials would work better.)
"Which brand of tractors are they using? What are they specifically using the tractors for? Are they using the tractor for farming or as a chore/secondary tractor?
"Are the tires for a high clearance sprayer? Is the tractor used on the road for any duration of time? Is it traveling between fields and for how far?
"Is the tractor being used to pull manure tanks/trailers or used in sileage? Is it being used mainly on the highway? Is it used to pull mixers and mixing feed at a dairy or feed lot?"
Paulk recommends asking more questions.
"Is the tractor used in row crop farming? What specifically is it used for? Some farms have a tractor for tillage, one for planting, one for cultivating, etc. Are they farming no-till or minimum-till? This is the opportunity to talk about IF or VF tires for soil conservation and compaction.
"Are they using the drawbar to pull equipment or using the three-point hitch? They may need a heavier tire for the three-point hitch for planters."
Once the application is determined, the tire recommended must be able to handle the load and speed of the machines or implements, according to Paulk.
The load index (or ply rating) of the tire and the speed rating should be checked to make sure the tire is heavy enough for the job.
"There are tires that are the same size but have different load indexes," he explains. For example. a standard tire "will fail on a sprayer because of the weight and speed it runs."
Paulk recommends that dealers turn to BKT’s website for more information.
"They can look at tread patterns, load indexes and speed symbols to make the right tire is chosen. There are descriptions of the tire on the website that may be of value when looking for the right tire.
"The website has expanded load and inflation tables for radials, so the dealer can make sure they are using the correct air pressures for the loads used. The website has air pressures for bias tires that should be adhered to" and also lists "specifications for tires, as well as recommended rims and alternate rims that can be used.
