An agricultural tyre specialist at Continental explains that moving towards min till systems that require cereal crops to be cut lower than in traditional plough systems can increase the risk of tyre stubble damage.
Min Till Systems Raise Tyre Stubble Damage Risk, Says Continental Expert
Tom Godwin, Continental’s agricultural tyre specialist, says, “Lower or shorter stubbles protrude at sharper angles, with the potential to damage tyres because the stalk will not be pushed over, and can instead dig in. This can cause damage to the lug and, at low pressures, the sidewall, as it bulges under the weight of the tractor.”
Min till cultivation requires the stubble to be shorter in order to plant the following crop with minimal ground disruption. Combined with the improved genetics of cereal crops, this can leave very strong stubbles that can cause significant damage.
“Using a tyre with a wider lug that leaves less room for stubble damage is one way to mitigate against stubble damage, but, fundamentally, tyre choice and pressure will play a bigger part,” Godwin explains further.
He suggested that Continental developed its d.fine lug design with 5% greater lug coverage to protect the area between the lugs. Continental has also added a nylon layer beneath the tread to help make it more flexible. In short stubble, Godwin advocates running at higher pressures than would normally be expected for fieldwork.
“Harvest is a rare example of when it can be beneficial to run tyres at higher than normal pressure, and we recommend up to 0.4 bar. When the ground is already hard, having a tyre at very low pressure will cause the tyre wall to bulge. If this happens when the tyre is constantly being attacked by stubble, it presents a weakness that can lead to tyre failure,” he says.
Balancing Tyre Pressure and Stubble Damage: Continental Offers 10-Year Warranty
Having more air in the tyre also helps to keep it cooler in the hotter conditions faced during harvest. Increased pressure tightens the tyre wall, making it taller and less prone to stubble damage. However, with higher pressure comes the risk of soil compaction.
“It is a tricky decision to make but if a tractor or harvester is doing long hours, heat build up can become an issue. We therefore suggest that utilising tramlines and headlands for field travel and loading is important to reduce compaction,” he says.
Godwin further suggests that only some manufacturers are offering warranties against stubble damage. However, he says Continental has supported farmers with its tyres since 2017.
“Continental is the only premium manufacturer offering a 10-year warranty that includes three years stubble damage cover. This is for tyres made in our Lousado manufacturing plant, from 2017, that feature both d.fine and N.flex technology that we believe will be able to better handle the threat of stubble damage,” he concludes.
