GKN: Profi-Grip solution eliminates tyre-to-rim slippage in the heat

GKN Wheels Profi-Grip says its wheel is proving its value in the heatwave experienced across Europe, with the extremely dry ground requiring much higher traction for soil tillage. Featuring a unique profile designed to eliminate tyre-to-rim slippage, Profi-Grip was launched last year specifically to meet the growing demand from ever-larger and more-powerful tractors.

The new design of the wheel rim features a strong flange which both minimises rim-shrinkage and serves to protect the tyre when used at low pressure. According to the company, the Profi-Grip wheel also incorporates GKN Wheel’s unique Profi-Fit TW design, which “allows high-load capacity tyres, with very stiff sidewalls, to be mounted easily and with no risk of tyre damage.”

Commenting on the product’s success, Michael Weissbach, GKN wheel’s product manager, said: “Tyre slippage has become increasingly problematic over recent years. The combination of larger tractors, increased horse power, larger implement machinery, low inflation pressure with Central Tyre Inflation systems (CTIS), and heavy loads is causing tyre slippage.

“We saw the benefits of Profi-Grip in wet and heavy conditions during the winter, but now it is increasingly proving its value in the extremely dry conditions we are now seeing, where the issues of traction and tyre slippage are equally problematic.

“With manufacturers developing tyres to run at low inflation pressures to maximise the footprint, an inevitable consequence of this is that the interaction between the tyre and rim is being compromised, particularly when operating in extremely wet or dry soil conditions, with tyre slippage often being the result. The new Profi-Grip rim profile has been developed specifically to address this problem.

“Other solutions either use stronger materials, which significantly increases the weight of the wheel, or weld a reinforced ring to the flange, which results in uncontrollable shrinkage of the ring in this critical area of the wheel. Although the ring may be strengthened, the contact of tyre and wheel is no longer optimal.”

Designed to ETRTO (European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation) standards, the Profi-Grip wheel has been developed to deliver significantly improved contact pressure between the tyre and rim – which not only eliminates slippage, but also makes the fitting of high-load capacity tyres faster and more straightforward and provides enhanced durability. Extensive tests, both on-track and in-field, have confirmed that the rim design completely eliminates tyre slippage.