New tyre technology from Trelleborg and Michelin has won key innovation awards at major agricultural show SIMA.
The Trelleborg Variable Inflation Pressure tyre, developed in conjunction with Fendt, regulates the tyre pressure on harvesters according to the load assisting in reducing soil compaction.
When the harvester bin is empty the pressure is reduced to a set point and air pressure builds as harvesting begins and the bin fills.
The system involves a range of sensors and a compressor mounted directly on the inside of the tyre rim.
The company said the “kit is fully autonomous and free from the complex and fragile connections of compressed air and rotating joints” and offers an advantage of total right-left independence and could be an alternative to tracks.
Michelin’s Evobib tyre is designed to allow farmers to move from road to paddock with no compromise in performance.
On the road only the central footprint of the tyre tread pattern is in contact with the surface providing low rolling resistance and performance of a radial.
The pattern is is designed to minimise vibration.
In the paddock, Michelin says the tyre pressure is one of the lowest available (as low as 0.6 bar) making the outside part of the tyre footprint expand to increase ground contact and traction.
Compared to a Michelin AxioBib tyre of the same size the Evobib tyre showed a 20 per cent increase in ground contact.
Michelin says the tyre has a innovative belt design and combination of materials and limits slip.
“It’s the first radial tyre whose contact area expands when the pressure drops,” the company said.
“Until now, agricultural tyres have been compromises between the specific constraints of hard surfaces and agricultural soil.”