Goodyear admits that farmers can’t influence the weather to get the most out of their land, but farmers can improve their bottom line through efficient management of machinery, including tyres.
Tyre management can be effective by choosing the correct tyre, regularly checking tyre pressure and annual wheel alignments:
· Seek advice when selecting tyres in the first instance
· Incorrectly aligned tyres on a tractor can increase tyre wear by an average of 40 per cent.
· Ensure that you aren’t carrying more ballast than required. Excess ballast will decrease your tractors performance as well as waste fuel.
· Check and adjust tyre pressures as required to suit the implement that you are working with.
· Correct pressures have a longer life, are safer and give better fuel economy.
· Correct pressure depends on both the load the tyre is subjected to tractor and implement and the application the vehicle is undertaking.
Ignore this advice and a range of damaging consequences can ensue: uneven or heel and toe wear leading to a shortened life; reduced driver comfort and the possibility of back and productivity problems associated with this; rim slipping inside the tyre and poor vehicle handling leading to significantly increased safety issues; increased wear of axle and cab suspension components and finally an increased possibility of puncture, damage or premature removal of the tyre carcass.