Firestone Performer Agri Range Extended to 70 Series

The 70 series is the second largest segment in the European agricultural radial tyre market and demand has grown steadily over the last decade. Firestone Europe has catered to this increasing demand with a new addition to its Performer line-up, the Performer 70 radial for medium to high-horsepower tractors in general farming applications. Compared to the R6000 and R8000 tyres it replaces, Firestone says the Performer 70 provides vehicles with more traction, longer tread life and a higher road-speed capability. The launch follows Firestone’s introduction of the standard series Performer 85 in 2009.

In terms of casing construction and tread technology, Firestone says the Performer 70 has been designed to meet today’s European farming requirements for greater efficiency on large-scale operations, higher road speeds and a more intensive use of equipment. The tyre is manufactured at the company’s agricultural tyre facility in Puente San Miguel, Spain.

Design features employed on the Performer 70 include Firestone’s ‘Dual-Angle Lug’ design, which the manufacturer says delivers strong traction, good self-cleaning and low soil disturbance. The construction also features a larger crown radius than Firestone’s previous line-up, with more rounded tread shoulders, giving a flatter contact surface, to reduce soil compaction & minimise soil damage. Firestone explains that on the road the flatter tread leads to more even pressure distribution, resulting in more uniform tread wear and longer tyre life, plus greater driver comfort at speeds of up to 70 km/h.

Internal field tests conducted by Firestone show the Performer 70 to outperform its predecessor and main premium competitors in traction and productivity, the manufacturer discloses. Based on such tests in light and medium loam soil conditions, the Performer 70 is on average 3.1 per cent quicker than the closest competitor, generating an advantage of up to 0.7 hectares over a 24 hour period.

Available throughout Europe from the summer of 2010, the Firestone Performer 70 has an expanded line-up of 15 sizes, in addition to two sizes with an increased load index for special applications.