Modern technology is rapidly evolving to meet new competitive standards. The agriculture industry isn’t an exception, changing widely from year to year. Equipment tires conducting hundreds of hours of intensive work over thousands of farms every day are a crucial area in need of innovation and growth.

Because agricultural tires play such a critical role in getting work done, it’s necessary to stay up to date on the latest tire technology. Below are six promising advances in agriculture tire technology that optimize equipment performance.

1.IF and VF Tires

Michelin’s agricultural line came out with IF and VF tires in the early 2000s, revolutionizing tire capabilities.

Increased flexion tires – or IF tires – were the first to appear on the market. These new tires offered up to 20% more sidewall flexion than standard radial farming tires previously available. Because of their greater flexion and larger footprint, IF tires allowed for better weight distribution, which led to reduced soil compaction.

With greater flexion abilities, IF tires also made it possible for farm equipment to carry more weight, provide more traction, and allow for longer on-road driving times without increasing tire pressure or size.

Very high flexion (VF) tires emerged in the years following the success of the IF tire. These revamped tires provided up to 40% increased sidewall flexion and further helped farmers worldwide.

The key added benefits that VF tires provided compared to their predecessors were increased load-bearing support without increasing tire pressure and savings on fuel since the improved traction prevented unwanted slippage in the fields.

2.Improved R-1 and R-1W Tire Treads

Later innovations would build off the improvements that IF and VF tires made for the industry.  IF and VF tread technology proved to be the next significant technological advancement for radial tires.

Traditional “straight rib” tire treads led to similar issues concerning slippage and poor soil compaction. Advancements in tire treads created less invasive tire grips, resulting in improved performance on softer field surfaces.

The new R-1 and R-1W tread designs also allowed for more even and long-term wear on the tires – something crucial for farming equipment today that must travel on roads much more than in the past. Even tread wear also played a key role in reducing soil damage and compaction.

This new tread technology was a major asset in proper agriculture tire maintenance and has proven to be a farm favorite since its implementation in 2014.

3.New and Differing Tire Casings

In much of early farming history, tractor and plow tires were made out of wood. Then rubber supplanted them as the standard. Nowadays, there are even more options for tires and their casings. With new and innovative casing technologies, agriculture tires provide more utility than ever before.

There are three main advancements in tire casings and their materials: polyester, nylon and steel. Here is a quick breakdown of these tire casings and some of the product benefits they provide.

Polyester Tire Casing:

• Used alongside nylon carcass construction and steel working belts
• Excellent improvement in traction and stability
• Better resistance to damage
• Low shrinking

Nylon Tire Casing:

• Used along with steel carcass construction and steel working belts
• Medium shrinkage resistance
• Offers mid-range stability and multi-surface traction
• Can be operated at higher speeds

Steel Tire Casing:

• Used with a steel carcass construction and steel working belts
• Ensures flatter contact for better traction and even tread wear
• Provides great puncture resistance
• Allows for higher inflation pressures, carrying loads and speeds
• Perfect for hard surfaces

4.Stubble-Resistant Compounds

Stubble resistance is a popular topic of conversation in the modern farming world as GMOs and seed genetics produce higher-quality stalks and better standability. These stronger stalks are great for harvesting, but they sometimes leave problematic holes behind that are not ideal for tires.

Various tire developers have been working towards creating harder, more rigid tires made of compound materials. Under testing, these tires prove to be more resilient to punctures and can minimize damage over the long run for agriculture tires that see a lot of action. More robust tires may be a significant step up from the commonplace stalk stompers seen today.

5.Smart Tires

Just as phones and other home devices are getting smarter, so are tires. The addition of smart technologies has become part of the evolution of agricultural tires. With new-age sensory platforms, agriculture equipment and the tires they rely on may be able to self-rectify issues in the near future.

Utilizing sensors within the wheels themselves, farming tires will be able to advance the standard for safe driving. Leading use cases for these sensors include monitoring tire pressures and automatically correcting on-the-go, as well as monitoring real-time conditions and adjusting flexion and pressure accordingly to provide optimal wheel surface area to minimize soil compression.

New products from Bridgestone and other tire industry leaders could also bring about the first commercially available iteration of non-pneumatic (airless) tires. This groundbreaking development could free all drivers – including those in the agricultural industry – from the worries of punctures or deflated tires. Using a novel spoke design, airless tires could prove to be the most versatile tire in the farming market in the coming years.

6.Education About Tires

Farming has evolved along with the rest of the world over centuries. The techniques that once worked for agriculture may not apply now, but there are still plenty of advancements in agriculture that are still used and expanded upon today. One of the most important reasons agricultural tire technology has improved over the years is the increased knowledge and education about tires.

Without ongoing learning in tire technology, researchers would have never made breakthroughs. As Bruce Besancon, VP of Marketing for Alliance Tire Group, said, “One of the key factors [to farming] is whether or not the farmer really knows how to utilize this technology to the fullest.”

Thanks to farmers’ constant innovation, the world of agriculture has seen major advancements in the structure of tires, tread patterns, compound materials used in tires and increased weight-handling capabilities. By improving their tire technology, farmers worldwide can work smarter and not harder.

Alongside developments in the science surrounding GMOs that produce tougher and heartier crops, farming has advanced far beyond its humble historical roots. Evolutionary iterations in tire technology are playing a significant role in that evolution.

Tire Tech Standing the Test of Time

With rapidly developing technologies taking over industries, it comes as no surprise that agriculture is also experiencing technological transformation. These six advancements in agriculture tire technology highlight how much has changed since humankind invented the wheel – and this technology will only continue to develop.

Staying informed about these developments and the advancements that could follow could help farmers continue to optimize their operations.