Yokohama OHT expands Alliance Agri Star II range, presents latest yield research

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT) aims to be a top-three player in the global off-highway’ tyre segment and the company hopes that the recent expansion of the Alliance Agri Star II range as well as the performance of its other products will help it reach that goal. Highlighting the 4,000 plus SKUs it already offers, YOHT used the occasion of a virtual briefing to launch the Alliance Agri Star II range in 70, 85, 90 and 95-series fitments. In short, the company launched an additional 12 sizes and shared on-the-ground experiences of farmers as well as the results of recent research.

“Recent customer feedback on the Alliance Agri Star II gives convincing evidence that performance, prolonged traction and appearance of this unique tyre more than fulfil expectations of users in various markets. That is why we are particularly happy to further extend this much sought-after pattern with 12 additional sizes. Furthermore, a recent scientific study conducted in Denmark proved the economic and ecological value of Alliance 372 VF and Alliance 389 VF tyres. Results showed that these tyres significantly reduce soil compaction whilst significantly increasing maize yield”, reported Ole Baek, Regional Head Northern Europe & France at Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT).

“The new sizes are introduced in March, the unique Agri Star II tyre range with its 70, 85 and 90-95 series delivers beyond expectation. Farmers and contractors in many countries keep on telling our dealers and field engineers how this tyre excels in terms of high performance and low wear”, said Andrew Musgrave, Country Manager for UK and Ireland at Yokohama Off-Highway Tires.

During the development and field testing of this pattern, which was first introduced in 2020, customers and dealers worldwide offered a very clear picture of users’ expectations. Based on that dialogue, the Agri Star II is unique in terms of construction, the tyremaker created Stratified Layer Technology (SLT) a key characteristic of the Agri Star II. With SLT, developed by Yokohama Off-Highway Tires’ Alliance brand, every lug consists of two layers: the first (inner) layer comes with a multi-angle profile whilst the second (outer) layer comes with a single-angle profile. The combination of these two layers offers prolonged traction, enhanced roadability and improved braking capabilities. When the inner (first) layer finally takes over after about 40 % wear in YOHT’s words “performing like a brand-new tyre”.

Kirkby Tyres preparing to show Alliance tyres at LAMMA 2022

Michael Rosenthal, marketing director of Kirkby Tyres, exclusive partner of Yokohama Off-Highway Tires’ Alliance brand in the UK and Ireland is equally pleased with Agri Star ll:

“We like spreading quality news to our customers. As a matter of fact, we are currently preparing our stand at LAMMA 2022 in Hall 9 which now will take place in Birmingham on 4-5 May. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the UK’s leading farm machinery show, we will have five Alliance tyres on display. In addition to the Alliance 590, the Alliance 585, the Alliance 389 VF and the Alliance 372 VF, we will surely also showcase the new star on the fields, the Alliance Agri Star II.”

In addition to such in-person marketing activities, Kirkby Tyres has been co-operating with popular online (YouTube) influencers Adrian in Ireland (iFarm WeFarm) and Tom Pemberton in the UK (Tom Pemberton Farm Life) in a bid to “skyrocket the presence of the Agri Star II in farmers’ minds.”

Here’s what Tom Pemberton had to say about the Agri Star ll: “The Agri Star ll tyres have made a huge difference. We reckon we can push the tractor that extra 10 to 20 per cent more with them, and as yet haven’t found anything it can’t pull or get out of with the Agri Star II’s fitted. Above all else, it helps the farm have more confidence in the kit, even in tricky situations. We’ve also found that the tyres keep clean and clean off quite quickly as the lugs aren’t full of mud in the same way they do with other brands. In my view, it’s a hell of a tyre and has given a new lease of life to an old tractor.”

Danish research suggests Alliance VF tyres pay off in yield

Recent scientific research results from Denmark were presented during the virtual press conference. The results indicate that using Alliance VF tyres literally pays off. The study was conducted by SEGES Innovation, a leading agricultural knowledge and innovation centre in Denmark. Field trials in 2021 revealed positive effects of Alliance’s Very High Flexion (VF) Tyres Agriflex 372 VF and Agriflex 389 VF in comparison to conventional tyres. Despite optimum dry soil conditions and the correspondingly high stability and load-carrying capability of the soil, the low inflation pressure of the VF Tyres cut the track depth during the application of liquid manure in half – from 79 to 45mm.

Ole Baek explained: “Scientists reported that in addition to the markedly reduced track depth, also wheel slip was reduced by 4.4 percent, and measurements with a penetrometer showed lower soil compaction in the ‘VF tyre tracks’ in the soil zone from 0 to 40 cm. This effect of lower soil compaction was even significant at a depth of 20 to 25cm.”

As further proof of the positive effects, maize yields in the tracks on ‘VF tyre plots’ significantly exceeded those in the tracks on the ‘conventional tyre plots’ by about 12.9 harvest units per hectare, i.e. by about 10 per cent. “In sum – and depending on the working width of the liquid manure spreader – these effects resulted in yield increases between 1.5 and 2.2 per cent per hectare. Due to higher yields and reduced tyre slippage in the ‘VF tyre plots’, this outcome translates to calculated profit gains between 21.8 and 32 euros per hectare…”

Evidence from a French study was also presented. In this case, the upgraded Alliance Agriflex 372 VF was put to the test at IRSTEA (Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l’environnement et l’agriculture) in France in 2020.

“This test revealed excellent performance in terms of fuel efficiency, traction, footprint and slip, and hence effective soil protection. Results showed that the Agriflex 372 VF outperformed competitors’ premium IF tyres in almost all test parameters and was an about equal match for a competitors’ premium VF tyre”, Ole Baek concluded.