Firestone Announces Production of IF Product Line

On March 13 Firestone Agricultural Tire Company (FSAG), a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) previewed production plans for tyres built to a new industry standard that company officials say will “generate performance improvements on a scale with those produced by the switch from bias to radial technology a generation ago.”

The IF standard – “IF” stands for “Increased Flexion” – was approved by the European Tire Rim Technical Organization two years ago and has received experimental approval from the North American Tire and Rim Association. Tom Rodgers, Marketing Manager for FSAG said the increased size and power of modern four-wheel-drive agricultural tractors, which are increasingly used in pull-type scraper applications, are driving adoption of the IF standard.

“These new, higher-horsepower machines require more ballast to put that increased power to the ground,” said Rodgers. “Tyre technology and performance need to grow with the equipment, and Firestone is adopting the new IF standard to meet that need.”

The real beneficiary of tyres built to the IF standard, says FSAG, is the end-user, who will see a host of advantages over existing products. The 20 per cent increase in load capacity afforded by the IF standard will allow the operator to either carry more load at the same inflation pressure, or the same load at a lower pressure. “In the construction industry, for example, that means the operator can add ballast to a scraper tractor without having to raise air pressure in the tyres,” Rodgers explained. “Or the lower inflation pressures can provide improved flotation in softer soils such as those with high sand content.”

Other Firestone IF tyre benefits include increased traction, larger footprint and less soil compaction, decreased cycle times for greater productivity and higher operating efficiencies such as reduced fuel consumption per cubic yard of material moved. IF tyres can be mounted on existing wheels.

Firestone will deliver its first two IF tyres to market later this year: the Radial All Traction DT IF710/70R42 (Load Index) 179B and the Radial All Traction DT IF710/70R38 (Load Index) 178B. “Our Radial All Traction DT is accepted in the construction market for its performance and overall durability,” Rogers said. “Advancing these two sizes to the IF standard will take the productivity of this tyre to a new level.” More information about the Firestone line of IF tyres will be available in the coming months on the internet at www.firestoneconstructs.com.