Advice to help your tractor work harder and reduce costs
When you need new tyres for your tractor, there are plenty of options. This makes choosing your tyres more difficult. Here at Darra Tyres, it’s our job to make this choice easier. In this article, you’ll learn about the tyre options available for agricultural vehicles, and how they differ for all your agricultural needs. Knowing which type of tyre is needed should help to save you time and money and make your work more efficient.
Types of tractor tyres
There are three types of tyres for tractors. Each has different specifications, and each is manufactured for a different use.
Turf tyres
These are designed to be driven on grass and fields, particularly for mowing and landscaping jobs. They are ideal for work required on sports grounds and golf courses, as the tread patterns are less aggressive than other types.
Construction tyres
These are mostly used on hard surfaces such as concrete, gravel, and tarmac, and so are designed to resist wear and tear. The load is spread across the tyre with wider treads, creating a larger contact area with the ground.
Agricultural Tyres
This is the most common of tractor tyres, for use in fields and especially on soft soils. The large tread creates excellent traction, giving better grip and aiding work in wet conditions.
Bias-ply or radial tractor tyres: which is best?
Having identified the type of tyre you need for the work it will perform, the next choice to make is the tread type. The way the tyre is constructed, either bias-ply or radial, affects the tyre’s performance.
Bias-ply tyres
Bias-ply tyres are constructed by laying successive plies at opposing angles – most commonly, these are laid at angles of 30 to 40 degrees – creating a criss-cross pattern. This means the tyre can flex more easily. This cushions the ride, making for a smoother driving experience. However, bias-ply tyres also suffer from increased rolling resistance and lower traction, increasing fuel consumption and decreasing working efficiency.
Radial tyres
The plies on radial tyres are laid at an angle of about 15 degrees to the tread and run in the direction of the tyre. This helps to stabilise the tyre on a rough and uneven terrain. Though more expensive to buy than bias-ply tractor tyres, radial tyres are the most popular because they:
- Provide better traction
- Offer less wheel slippage and better handling
- Reduce rolling resistance and fuel consumption
- Are more resistant to cuts, tears, and punctures
- Enable more ground to be covered in less time
Radial agricultural tyres tend to last longer than bias-ply. Your operations should benefit from greater efficiency, lower fuel consumption, and less regular tyre changes. Over the longer term, choosing radial tyres for your tractor, and making sure they are the right type for the work they will be doing, could save you a lot of money.
For your next set of tractor tyres, contact us today. We’ll help you make the right choice to reduce your costs and increase your efficiency.
Keeping your family and fleet safe,
Kevin Wood