Goodyear Optitrac DT818 Goes High Speed

Goodyear UK is to replace 13 sizes of its DT818 A8/B radial drive farm tyre range with a high speed version in during 2009. The new version, called DT818 HIGH SPEED, means the tyres are D-rated and can operate at speeds up to 70 km/h or at inflation pressures as low as 0.6 bar. Even at lower operating speeds and for tractors that have a top speed of 30, 40 or 50km/h these tyres can carry up to 9.5 per cent more load at same inflation versus conventional DT818 tyres. Furthermore, DT818 HIGH SPEED can carry the same loads as DT818 at lower inflation pressure thereby, elongating the footprint generating more traction and pull so that work gets completed faster and at lower cost.

The upgraded tyres will be introduced to the market in two phases. The first six sizes to change, in the first half of 2009 will be:

• 650/65R42 165D/168A8
• 650/65R38 157D/160A8
• 600/65R38 153D/156A8
• 540/65R30 143D/146A8
• 540/65R28 142D/145A8
• 480/65R28 136D/139A8

Followed by a further 7 sizes in the second half of 2009:

• 540/65R38 147D/150A8
• 600/65R34 151D/154A8
• 540/65R34 145D/148A8
• 540/65R24 140D/143A8
• 480/65R24 136D/139A8
• 440/65R28 131D/134A8
• 440/65R24 128D/131A8

Optitrac DT818 HIGH SPEED has a tuned and modified casing and rubber construction required to overcome the increased strains and forces on the tyres at 70 km/h. However, DT818 HIGH SPEED features the popular Optitrac tread design concept and the new tyres have identical external dimensions and non-skid level as the regular DT818 50 km/h A8/B speed tyres making it easy to convert from regular tyres to the new DT818 HIGH SPEED ones.

Phil Stanton Goodyear Farm and OTR manager said: “The knowledge and the technology we gained with the development of the Optitrac R+ tyre range has been used to ensure that the Optitrac DT818 HIGH SPEED meets the performance requirements of today’s professional farmers and contractors, giving them the levels of traction and comfort they need to enable them to work more efficiently.”