Pressure Czech

“For Mitas and its CGS TYRES subsidiaries, 2008 was a highly successful year,” comments Andrew Mabin, sales and marketing director at Mitas/CGS Tyres, summarising the past twelve months. Mabin, who took up his new post on 1 September, 2008, is responsible for global activities in Original Equipment and the replacement market. He succeeds Werner Flebbe, who retired in October of this year. Previously Mabin was head of the British subsidiary of Mitas.

CGS Tyres is the international distribution organisation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitas a.s. Mitas develops, produces and markets agricultural tyres internationally under its own brand name Mitas, as well as under the Continental, Semperit and Euzkadi brand names, which are under long-term licence. The company says that it is Europe’s second largest manufacturer of agricultural tyres.

In 2008 Mitas put extensive investment programmes in place with the aim of increasing capacities in the radial tyre sector in the Czech plants. “Growth in market demand has been very strong and meeting this is a core aspect in this context. That is why, in addition to the investments made, our parent company, the CGS Group, has also implemented measures such as buying the Rumaguma tyre factory from GPX International in Serbia. This acquisition is an important step towards increasing our manufacturing capacities overall and further enhancing our reliability as a commercial and development partner,” Mabin adds.

This means that in addition to the three production sites in the Czech Republic – Prague, Zlín and Otrokovice – the company now also has a fourth plant, located in Serbia. “This year we launched two new radial tyre lines under the brand names Continental and Mitas for tractors with up to 180 / 200 hp. The market launches went off successfully. In this same year we also introduced a new version of the Continental SuperVolumeTyre with increased performance, for use on equipment with over 180 hp,” explains Mabin.

Continental SuperVolumeTyre

The Continental SuperVolumeTyre sizes have an increased Load Index. All SVT versions for tractors carry the speed designation D and are approved for speeds up to 70 km/h (43 mph). The SuperVolumeTyre, says the manufacturer, can carry up to 12 per cent more load than comparable competitive products without changing the tyre pressure, not affecting the tyre’s top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph).

Furthermore, for transportation purposes, the tyre pressure on the SuperVolumeTyre can be reduced, so it is up to 0.4 bar less than some competitive products – without reducing the tyre’s load capacity. As a result, CGS reports that the tyre is able to offer gentler ground handling. Having the maximum ground contact patch allows the tyre to increase traction. The SVT lays claim to being more economical, thanks to its high mileage.

Mitas RD-03

In the field of 65 aspect ratio tyres, Mitas/CGS has introduced the RD-03 radial tyre. The tyre is approved for speeds up to 65 km/h (40 mph).
Compared with 70 Series radial tyres, the RD-03 offers increased traction (up to 40 per cent higher tractive force in comparative tests, says Mitas), resulting in reduced fuel consumption when working the ground. The larger ground contact patch means gentler ground handling and higher yields per hectare. The high load capacity of this long-life tyre also contributes towards its high economy. Furthermore, Mitas claims that the RD-03 offers even better transmission of forces than 70 Series tyres and also greater driving comfort, both on level ground and on slopes.

Continental AC 75

The company’s newest tyre in the popular 70 Series segment is the Continental AC 75. The tyre can, says Mitas, offer the same load capacity as several competitive 70 Series products, but with its tyre pressure reduced by up to 0.3 bar. If, alternatively, the same tyre pressure is applied, then the AC 75 can carry up to 14 per cent more load than standard 70 Series tyres.

Thanks to its round shoulder design and rounded lug edges, plus its low tyre pressure, the AC 75 is also suited for grassland use. “The size ranges of the Continental SVT, AC 75 and Mitas RD-03 are currently being extended. Further sizes will be available by spring 2009”, concludes Mabin.