Firestone launches medium tractor radial tyre

Firestone has launched a new agricultural tyre in its Performer range for medium-sized tractors. Firestone has announced the details of the Performer 65 at the 37th International Fair of Agricultural Machinery in Zaragoza, Spain. Firestone is exhibiting its range of agricultural tyres between 14 and 18 February.

Firestone says the Performer 65 offers farmers the combination of a higher speed rating, increased ride comfort, an improved load carrying capability and lower soil compaction over its existing R9000 Evolution, the tyre it is to replace.

The 65 series is one of the fastest growing segments in the agricultural radial tyre market with demand growing steadily in recent years.  Firestone’s new Performer 65 joins the Performer 85 and the Performer 70 launched in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

“Market research and customer feedback tell us that ride comfort and reducing soil compaction are increasingly important for farmers today working with larger and faster tractors, heavy loads and a more intensive use of machinery. The Performer 65 has been developed to meet these needs” says Barry Coleman, Firestone’s UK product manager.  “Our market share in this segment has grown dramatically over the past few years, and Firestone is already one of, if not the single largest brand in the UK.”

The new tyre was designed at Firestone’s European research centre in Italy and is manufactured at the company’s specialist agricultural plant in Puente San Miguel, Spain. The tyre features Firestone’s dual-angle lug technology, which produces a larger lug traction area and creates less soil disturbance than conventional designs. The Performer 65 also has an increased crown radius and sidewall deflection – producing a bigger tyre footprint.

The tyre, which has been designed for the replacement and original equipment markets, will be available in 13 sizes from May 2012.