Trelleborg’s second stop in Europe on its 2016 Road Show for agricultural tyres was at the Nova Agricoltura exhibition in Bologna, Italy. In September Trelleborg will be taking part in Tillage-Live, which this year takes place at Monks Kirby in Warwickshire on September 14th.
Field demonstrations were held to showcase the importance of selecting the optimal tyre inflation pressure for specific farming operations, as recommended using the Trelleborg Load Calculator (TLC).
To do so, a New Holland T8.410 Auto Command tractor, fitted with Trelleborg IF 650/60R34 TM1000 High Power front tyres and IF 900/60R42 TM1000 High Power rear tyres ran over two 200 metre tracks, with different inflation pressures.
The tractor was equipped with transparent cylinders showing the vehicle’s fuel consumption throughout the trial. The two tracks were monitored by a digital chronometre that measured the time gap between the two tracks and a computer application calculated the efficiency savings. In addition, the tyres footprint and soil compaction were measured.
Lorenzo Ciferri, Marketing Director Agricultural and Forestry Tyres at Trelleborg Wheel Systems, points out that tyre pressure is not merely a matter of efficiency but is also about productivity over the long term.
“It’s important to avoid damage in the first place,” he explains. “Soil compaction from tractor tyres can reduce the yield in subsequent years. Each tyre mark can mean less crops. Compaction affects the soil’s porosity and thus the infiltration rate, allowing rainwater to run off the surface, taking nutrients and pesticides with it.”
Previous trials have proved that lowering tyre pressure can bring substantial benefits, but with the stipulation that only higher-specification tyres, such as the TM1000 High Power range can perform well both on and off the fields.
“The Trelleborg tyres on show let you drive over the field at low pressure while still driving at speed on the road,” concludes Ciferri.
Scotland, East Lothian, sunset over wheat field
