Lloyd Ltd selects Bridgestone VX-Tractor

Bridgestone’s agricultural team has made one of its “biggest breakthroughs”, securing fitment of the VX-Tractor tyre to over 50 New Holland tractors across seven Lloyd Ltd agricultural branches in the north of England and Scotland. The Bridgestone tyre, which New Holland has already chosen as an original equipment option for selected NH T6 and T7 Series tractors within the UK and Ireland, is now fitted to New Holland tractors at Lloyd Ltd branches in Cumbria, Bishop Auckland, Newcastle, Dumfries and Kelso following positive feedback and requests for the product from farmers and contractors. An ‘incredible’ wear rate, great field performance and traction were all reasons Lloyd Ltd gave for the switch to Bridgestone.

Feather in the cap

“This is a big feather in our cap. New Holland are a leading Agricultural Solutions Manufacturer in the world, so to develop this relationship in such a way is a big achievement,” says John Morton, agricultural sales manager at Bridgestone. “To see so many tractors on our brand is extremely rewarding. The VX-Tractor has been performing so well and we thank Lloyd Ltd for allowing us to fit the tyre to their fleet of T6 and T7 hire tractors. We have been able to fit the VX to over 50 tractors across the north of England and Scotland with Lloyd Ltd, and the exciting thing is that this figure will continue to grow.”

“Our relationship has developed rapidly with Bridgestone,” adds Jonathan Bell, Lloyd Ltd dealer principal at Carlisle. “We couldn’t believe the tyre wear rates we were seeing. Our customers are carrying out hundreds of hours of work and when we get the hire tractors back into our yard, the tyre wear is virtually zero. Obviously, this is great news for our customers and great news for us as a business.

“The VX-Tractor offers incredible value for money, so it was an easy decision for us to make. Some of our customers are completing 8,000 to 9,000 hours on this Bridgestone tyre before the need to even think about a replacement.

“Tyre choice has never been more important. Customers are engaged, and aware of what is fitted like never before. They want good life, a cost-effective product to run and a good overall performer in the field and on the road. Bridgestone has got that absolutely spot on.”

Cost saving & sustainability

Bridgestone developed the VX-Tractor to work both in the field and on the road, even under heavy payloads. In addition to a robust casing, it gave the tyre with extra-deep and extra-long lugs to ensure outstanding traction and extremely long wear life. An increased six-layer tread belt protects against potholes and road debris. The tyre comes with a full ten-year warranty.

Confirming the tyre’s ruggedness is Lloyd Ltd customer Millers Contracting of Cumbria. Bridgestone comments that Millers is “one happy customer,” with the VX-Tractor meeting the needs of its road work.

“We do a lot of roadwork, and it has lasted ever so well, but more than this, it performs well in the field and provides comfort and control at all times,” says Andrew Rowland from Miller Contracting. “Saving on costs is always a priority for a business like ours and the VX makes a big difference in this regard.”

Sustainability credentials come in the form of a compound mix in which vegetable oils replace some of the petroleum-based oils in the production process. Bridgestone says this ingredient gives greater resistance to wear, and to cutting and chunking to the tread area. An added bonus is fewer replacements are required over the life of the tractor, thus gaining cost saving as well as benefiting the environment. “With this in mind, the VX-Tractor embodies the company’s efforts to support the realisation of a sustainable society by providing social and customer value,” comments the tyre maker.