As growers get ready for planting season, it’s important to remember all those equipment upgrades they made over the winter — after all those updates will have a significant bearing on the tires.
“If growers are keeping the same planter, but adding items like row cleaners, updated down pressure systems, in-row fertilizer, or any other attachments, the weight of the planter will increase. The increased weight may cause the standard bias tire to be overloaded,” said Brad Harris, manager of Global Ag Field Engineering at Firestone Ag. “If the grower has been able to update to a larger planter, it is important to look at the additional weight the planter will transfer to the rear axle of the tractor.”
That additional weight on the rear axle of the tractor could require the rear tires to need more inflation pressure to carry the load. As Harris said, it all comes down to knowing what the axle load is of the equipment to determine what tire is needed and what inflation pressure is needed to carry the load.
Harris encourages growers to look at the same size tire in radial construction. Because of the construction, a radial tire will carry more load at the same inflation pressure as a bias tire.
Firestone Ag recently released a new line of radial implement tires, Firestone Destination Turf. Engineered to reduce soil compaction, these advanced radial implement tires allow for higher loads at the same air pressure compared to standard tires of the same size. An evolution of the Destination Farm radial implement tire, Destination Turf tires are built with Advanced Deflection Design (AD2) technology, which delivers a larger, more uniform contact area. The tires also feature a state-of-the-art tread pattern with biting edges for increased traction in wet conditions compared to traditional rib implement tires.
All features Firestone Ag customers asked for.
“Growers who used the Destination Farm on tillage equipment and corn planters liked the increased footprint area over the bias tire and the increase load carrying capacity. Customers wanted to place these tires on their ground driven drills and seeders, but were concerned the straight rib design would not continue to rotate when they drove in wet soils. Customers wanted a button design that they knew would continue to rotate in wet soil conditions,” Harris said. “Firestone was able to combine the benefits of the radial construction and add a button design that engages the ground during wet conditions.”
The Destination Turf radial implement will be a direct replacement for the Firestone Turf and Field Stubble Stomper. The Destination Turf tire will fit on the same wheel as the bias tire, but it has steel tread belts and utilizes a tread compound that is harder than the bias Turf and Field Stubble Stomper. The steel belt and the harder tread compound help reduce stubble punctures in no-till conditions. As Harris points out, this construction will not eliminate punctures, but will reduce the occurrence of punctures.
“Designed for farmers to get the most out of their equipment, Destination Turf allows farmers to carry more, compact less, and farm hard,” Harris said. “Firestone Ag recognizes that the need for better tires extends beyond the tractor. With AD2 technology now available for implements, farmers can expect their equipment and their yields to perform at higher levels.”
