Same Load, Lower Tire Pressure
1/22/2009
New tire technology from Michelin now allows for the same load at lower pressures, or heavier loads at the same pressure, thereby reducing soil compaction says Bob Rees with Michelin Ag Tires. Rees spoke at the Top Producer Seminar Technology Sessions in Chicago this week.
“Our Ultraflex technology allows farmers to run at lower pressures and higher speeds,” Rees says. “We can also allow a bigger footprint and greater flex capability without compromising durability and integrity.”
The technology provides a bigger bulge in the tire sidewall, he says. When the tire is bulging out at the side, it is laying out a large footprint and spreading that load over bigger area. Footprint is the load divided by pressure – so the bigger the load, the wider the footprint needs to be, he says.
“That’s how we get the 500 hp 4 wheel drives down to 6-8 psi,” Rees says. Lowering psi allows producers to apply more horsepower to the ground and reduce compaction.
