Yokohama Off-Highway Tires set up a joint press event with TAMA and Topcon to highlight two of the company’s outstanding tyre solutions for farmers and contractors.
Yokohama Off-Highway Tires Introduces New Sizes of Tyres for Heavy Duty Trucks
During the press briefing and a field demo in Maastricht on 25th May 2022, results of a recent scientific study in Denmark as well as customer feedback were presented. Conventional tyres with an inflation pressure of 2.2–2.5 bar (tractor) and 3.0 bar (liquid manure spreader) were used in the ‘conventional tyre plots’ whilst Alliance 372 VF on the tractor and Alliance 389 VF on the liquid manure spreader. Both with an inflation pressure of 1.0 bar were used in the ‘VF tyre plots’.
Dimensions of conventional and VF tyres were identical. The low inflation pressure of the Alliance VF tyres cut the track depth during the application of liquid manure in half from 79 to 45mm. At the same time, wheel slip was reduced by 4.4 per cent. When measuring soil density with a penetrometer, it was able to show lower soil compaction in the ‘VF tyre tracks’ at a depth of 0 to 40 cm. This effect was even significant at a depth of 20 to 25cm.
According to these independent results, and as further proof of the positive effects, the maize yields in the tracks on ‘VF tyre plots’ exceeded those in the tracks on the ‘conventional tyre plots’ significantly by about 12.9 harvest units per hectare, by about 10 per cent. In sum and depending on the working width of the liquid manure spreader, the measured effects translate to measurable benefits for farmers in terms of yield increases between 1.5 and 2.2 per cent per hectare, and calculated profit gains due to higher yields and reduced tyre slippage in the ‘VF tyre plots’ between 21.8 and 32 EUR per hectare.
When farmers use these tyres on a 100-hectare field, they will achieve savings of several thousand euros. Moreover, the experiment showed that VF tyres reduced the wheel slip by 4.4 per cent, and this will lead to additional fuel savings. This Danish study further supports an earlier French study by IRSTEA (Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l’environnement et l’agriculture) in 2020 on key characteristics of the Alliance 372 VF. With great results with regard to fuel efficiency, traction, slip in soft soil and footprint, the Alliance 372 VF was a clear match for a comparable premium competitor’s tyre and outperformed all competitors’ premium IF tyres.
On the occasion of the press event, the Alliance 372 VF was also demonstrated in the field of a nearby farm. The positive effects of tractor tyres with VF technology that were developed and introduced by YOHT’s Alliance brand in recent years are undisputed. Yet, in practice, they will be annihilated when tractors with VF tyres are followed by trailers or implements with standard tyres, featuring an inflation pressure of 2 to 4 bar in the field. If, however, the entire machinery combination is equipped with VF tyres, involving tyres like the Alliance A389 VF-IMP that is capable of inflation pressures down to 0.8 bar in the field, this will bring decisive benefits in terms of lower impacts on the soil.
In addition to Alliance 372 VF, the unique Agri Star II radial tractor tyre is particularly popular with customers. With 12 additional sizes a total of 70 sizes is now available throughout YOHT’s distribution network across Europe. Yokohama Off-Highway Tires is pleased that their customers recognise clear advantages when comparing the Agri Star II to tyres of other brands that they used previously. Traction, durability and stability being at the top of the list of characteristics that are mentioned and particularly appreciated by owners and operators.
