Michelin presenting Ultraflex tyres at SIMA 2011

Serge Lafon, Michelin’s executive director of Agricultural Tyres World says that the company’s SIMA 2011 line-up provides “tangible proof of Michelin’s strategic commitment to enhancing the productivity of farmers and farming companies and boosting their bottom line.” The stand is presenting the CerexBib for harvesters, the SprayBib for row-crop sprayers and the AxioBib in a new size – IF900/60R42 – the market’s only 2.15-metre flotation tyre with “Improved Flexion”. Michelin says its tyres deliver “enhanced soil protection, considerably lower fuel consumption and greater longevity”, helping farms to be more profitable.

In his introductory statement, Lafon notes the three ways in which tyres affect farmer’s expenses and how Michelin proposes to address them. “First, there are purchase and maintenance costs. That’s why we’ve made our tyres much longer lasting, so that farmers can take advantage of their low cost of total ownership.

“Second, tyres have an impact on farm equipment fuel consumption. In this respect, Michelin tyres offer two important advantages: enhanced traction and lower rolling resistance on soft ground. These advantages, which help to optimise equipment operations, are due to in particular to the ability of Michelin tyres to function at lower pressure than tyres made with conventional technology.

“Third, tyres have an impact on farm productivity. Roughly one-third of the soil on a plot of cultivated land is compacted by farm equipment. To reduce the pressure exerted on the soil, Michelin has developed its exclusive Ultraflex Technologies. In addition, farmers are using increasingly heavy equipment, requiring tyres that can handle heavier loads while also reducing soil compaction. This is a major challenge that Michelin tyres are effectively meeting.”

SIMA continues until 24 February at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center.