Mitas aims to launch PneuTrac in two years

Mitas reports that the development of its PneuTrac concept has reached a new milestone with the start of field tests. According to the company, these show the advantages of the product’s larger footprint and better tractive force over standard but also IF agricultural tyres. Thanks to positive progress in testing, Mitas has outlined its goals for further development of PneuTrac. The aim is to measure and compare characteristics of Mitas PneuTrac and rubber tracks during 2016 to clearly position PneuTrac among tyre and track solutions offered on the market. Mitas’ goal is to have all data needed for a successful market launch available by the end of 2017.

“The footprint and traction force of Mitas PneuTrac and rubber tracks are superior to those of traditional pneumatic tyres. The next step is to compare PneuTrac and rubber tracks and see how close they will come,” said Andrew Mabin, Mitas’ sales and marketing director. “We are getting closer to a clearer release date being available. Our goal is to launch PneuTrac in roughly two years.”

Mitas is conducting field tests in the Czech Republic with a John Deere 6150R tractor mounted with 480/65 R28 PneuTrac on the front axle and 600/65 R38 PneuTrac on the rear. The results show the traction force of Mitas 600/65 R38 PneuTrac is approx. 25 per cent higher than a standard tyre and, compared with an IF-rated tyre, PneuTrac delivers approx. 15 per cent better traction. Taking a closer look at the 480/65 R28 PneuTrac, it reportedly has approximately 10 per cent advantage in traction force over a standard tyre and approx. 7 per cent over the IF tyre.

“The results of the first field tests that are under way in the Czech Republic give us a good feel for continuing the successful development of the Mitas PneuTrac concept,” said Andrew Mabin, Mitas’ sales and marketing director.

Mitas is developing its PneuTrac concept in partnership with Galileo Wheel Ltd. Mitas and Galileo have worked to build the PneuTrac concept from an idea to lab testing and finally to the field demonstration for the last four years. The award-winning tyre concept had its public premiere in 2013 at the Agritechnica fair in Germany, where Mitas presented 280/70 R18 PneuTrac and 600/65 R38 PneuTrac. At the SIMA fair in Paris in February 2015, Mitas presented the 480/65 R28 PneuTrac.