First all-round fitment for Michelin’s AxioBib IF 900/60 R42

A Market Harborough-based agricultural contractor has become the first in the country to fit four Michelin AxioBib IF 900/60 R42 tyres to a single machine – its Claas Xerion 5000. Family-run business J Beaty and Sons operates a fleet of six tractors, two self-propelled sprayers and one telescopic loader. Having already fitted Michelin’s AxioBib 800s to two John Deere tractors, owner Richard Beaty opted for all four wheels of his Claas Xerion to be fitted with Michelin’s newest and largest farm tyre as original equipment.

“We’ve been really pleased with how the AxioBib 800s have been performing.  We’ve been able to pump them up for heavy ground work and lower the pressure when need be,” said Beaty. “As they’ve performed so well, the next obvious move was to get a set of 900s and so far we’ve already seen better grip and flotation.” 

The AxioBib IF 900/60 R42 has a diameter of 2.15 metres and Michelin says it is ideal for demanding arable farming operations such as ploughing, where farmers and contractors are increasingly using larger machines to plough fields faster.

Working across 4,500 acres of contracted land as well as on the 500 acres of the Beaty family farm, the Claas Xerion is one of the business’ most heavily used machines. “With an equal wheeled machine putting out 500hp, we need to be able to use all of the power as well as achieve a large contact area to minimise soil compaction,” added Beaty. “The new AxioBibs deliver this and offer more flexibility than tracked machines; we’re really hoping to continue to reap the benefits of time and fuel savings as we have with our previous AxioBibs.”

AxioBib tyres are manufactured using Michelin’s patented Ultraflex technology, which allow them to carry heavy loads at a lower pressure.  For example, a 6,500 kilogramme load can be carried with 0.8 bar less pressure than on tyres built using conventional technology. This lower pressure helps to reduce soil compaction and rut depth, even during heavy work, which in turn helps to preserve the land’s yield potential.

With a 16 per cent larger footprint than an equivalent conventional tyre, the latest AxioBib tyres are designed to improve performance of powerful machines, as their larger surface area enables the driver to make full use of the massive amount of engine torque available.  The improved grip also means farmers and contractors can complete their work in less time, which in turn reduces fuel consumption.

On the road, AxioBib tyres can be driven at speeds of up to 40mph (65 km/h), where local speed limits permit.  When fitted in place of conventional tyres they also improve driver comfort by reducing vibration and noise.