Titan International Inc : Mobile-friendly site helps farmers calculate tire inflation pressures
11/15/2013 | 07:29pm US/Eastern
Proper inflation can help reduce soil compaction and fuel costs
DES MOINES, Iowa - Goodyear® Farm Tires, a Titan Tire Corporation brand, wants to remind growers to check the inflation pressure of their tractor, combine and grain cart tires before harvest to ensure optimum performance. Growers can visit TirePressureCalculator.com - a mobile-friendly website created by Goodyear Farm Tires to help determine the optimum inflation pressure - based on load.
"Inflation pressure is the most important aspect of tire maintenance and should be adjusted based on load. The balance between load and inflation directly affects key performance metrics such as traction, flotation, tire wear and fuel efficiency," said Scott Sloan, product engineering manager for Goodyear Farm Tires, "but, because load and inflation tables aren't always accessible in the field, the tendency for farmers is to estimate or simply ignore inflation altogether. Doing so, however, can severely inhibit performance and tire longevity. That's why we introduced the calculator."
The user simply indicates the dimensions of the tire and the load index - both can be found on the side of the tire - as well as the axle and implement weight,* and the calculator will provide the optimum inflation pressure for the user's application, as recommended by the Tire and Rim Association. The easy-to-use calculator works for any brand of metric, agriculture radial tire and is easily accessible from a smartphone, tablet or computer.
Overinflation causes loss in performance
According to a study conducted by Ohio State University, overinflating a 20.8R42 radial tire by as little as 8 psi can decrease the footprint area by 33 percent. Experience has shown that a smaller footprint can decrease traction and increase ground-bearing pressure, thereby causing surface soil compaction, which can lead to lower yields.
In a field experiment conducted by the University of California, a tractor with tires inflated to the proper air pressure used 20 percent less fuel and was 5.7 percent more productive when compared to a tractor with overinflated tires conducting the same stubble-disking operation.
"In real terms, a typical tractor today has a 160 gallon fuel tank and a 10 percent increase in efficiency results in reduced fuel consumption of 16 gallon per fill," says Sloan. "That's the equivalent to saving at least $50 per fill at today's diesel prices. Over a year's time, that savings can add up just by adjusting your air inflation pressure."
Goodyear Farm Tires are manufactured by Titan Tire Corporation, a subsidiary of Titan International. For more information on Goodyear Farm Tire products and services, visit the company's website at www.titan-intl.com or e-mail Titan International at sales@titan-intl.com.
*Calculating axle weight
This is the calculation of the tractor axle weight plus the weight of the implement. Determine the weight of the front and rear axle of the tractor and implement by referencing the operator's manual. Run a separate calculation for the front and rear axle as follows:
MFWD tractors
Rear axle weight = 60 percent of total tractor weight
Front axle weight = 40 percent of total tractor weight
Add weight of implement to front or rear axle depending on where it resides
4WD tractors
Rear axle weight = 50 percent of total tractor weight
Front axle weight = 50 percent of total tractor weight
Add weight of implement to front or rear axle depending on where it resides
Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI), a holding company, owns subsidiaries that supply wheels, tires and assemblies for off-highway equipment used in agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer (including all terrain vehicles) applications. Titan Tire Corporation is one ofNorth America's largest manufacturers of off-highway tires. Production facilities are located inFreeport,Ill.,Bryan,Ohio, andDes Moines,Iowa, which also serves as the headquarters for the tire group. The company manufactures two distinct brands - Titan and Goodyear Farm Tires - known for their quality craftsmanship, unique tread designs and excellent durability.
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All Rights Reserved.
Please send all reader and sales inquiries to: sales@titan-intl.com
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