Firestone releases new agri tyre

Very high load capacity, an avoidance of downtime during harvesting and minimal soil compaction – these three qualities are priorities when agricultural operators purchase new tyres, and Firestone says its latest product for this market segment was launched to meet these criteria. Bridgestone Europe reports that this tyre, the new Firestone Maxi Traction Combine, is now available in several sizes for replacement market and original equipment fitment.

With the worldwide trend of increased size of agricultural machinery, load capacity is key for combine tyres. The Firestone Maxi Traction Combine tyres are built to sustain grain tanks with a capacity of up to 12,500 litres. Reinforced casing helps withstand these loads. “It is especially for cyclic field operations that the Maxi Traction Combine is top of the class. At a higher inflation pressure, a cyclic load bonus of up to 70 per cent compared to normal maximum load can be achieved on the field. This greatly improves farming efficiency” comments Harald Van Ooteghem, senior manager of marketing planning at Bridgestone Europe’s Commercial business unit.

Timing is essential in agriculture: the work of months needs to be harvested in just a few days, so downtime must be avoided at all cost. Bridgestone Europe points to its tyres’ optimised casing and use of cut-resistant compounds as evidence of a design that can withstand the rigours of constantly changing loads. Sidewall construction allows for higher flexion, thus creating a bigger footprint and larger contact patch, which not only results in slow and even tyre-wear, but also in reduced soil compaction under these huge weights. 

The Maxi Traction Combine also features Firestone’s ‘Dual Angle Lug’ design technology. Bridgestone Europe says this enables better traction, lower soil disturbance and better self-cleaning, allowing the farmer to cover more ground in less time, thereby raising productivity while leaving the soil in good condition.