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Close-up of a Michelin agricultural tire featuring UltraFlex technology

Michelin UltraFlex Agricultural Tire Technology

ULTRAFLEX logo on the sidewall of a tire

Michelin Ultraflex Technology

Agricultural tire technology designed for lower pressure, improved traction and reduced soil compaction

 

What Is Michelin UltraFlex Technology?


Michelin UltraFlex technology is an agricultural tire technology designed to allow tires to carry heavy loads at lower pressure while helping improve traction and reduce soil compaction.

Michelin introduced UltraFlex technology to the market with the Very High Flexion (VF) standard in 2004. Through reinforced sidewalls with high deflection and special rubber blends, Michelin UltraFlex technology is designed to help farmers improve productivity through greater traction, support improved crop yield through reduced soil compaction, and increase fuel savings through reduced slippage.

Reducing tire pressure increases the tire contact patch, improving flotation and helping agricultural equipment carry heavier loads at lower pressure.

The results showed quite clearly that Michelin Ultraflex Technology tires significantly reduce compaction and, in the process, boost farmers' yields by 4%(1).

– Paula Misiewicz, PhD Amiagre, senior lecturer in soil and water management, Harper Adams University

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Benefits of Michelin UltraFlex Technology


Michelin UltraFlex technology is designed to help farmers improve performance in the field while protecting their soil. By enabling agricultural tires to operate at lower pressure, the technology can help improve traction, reduce soil compaction and support greater productivity and fuel efficiency.

Icon representing fuel efficiency and fuel savings

Fuel Efficiency Icon

Fuel Savings

Improved traction can help reduce tire slippage, supporting greater fuel efficiency and productivity.

Icon representing soil protection and plant growth

Protect Your Soil

Soil Protection

Lower tire pressure helps reduce soil compaction, with research showing an average 4%(¹) increase in agronomic yield with Michelin UltraFlex technology.

blue icon of a bar graph surrounded by a gear, clock and money in a circle to symbolize optimizing

Optimizing icon

Productivity

Carry up to 40%(²) more load at the same pressure with VF tires compared with standard tires, helping support greater productivity in the field.

How Does Michelin UltraFlex Technology Work?
 



Michelin UltraFlex technology uses a flexible tire casing designed to operate at lower pressure while carrying heavy loads. Lower pressure increases the tire's contact patch with the ground, helping improve flotation and traction while reducing soil compaction.

Michelin offers agricultural tires featuring UltraFlex technology for Improved Flexion (IF) and Very High Flexion (VF), supporting farmers throughout every stage of the crop cycle.

Michelin Ultraflex technologies logo

Michelin Ultraflex

Very High Flexion (VF) Tire Advantages


Very High Flexion (VF) tires can carry up to 40% more load at the same pressure compared with a non-VF radial tire of the same size.(²)

How can you improve your productivity, your yield and save fuel?

Advantages

  • 24% larger contact patch(³)
  • 55% shallower ruts, 21 mm compared with 46 mm(³)
  • Rolling resistance on soft ground under 20%(³)
  • 7% greater traction force at the same slippage rate(³)
  • 40% greater load capacity with VF tires(²)

What Makes a VF Tire Different?

Michelin VF tires feature:

  • Reinforced high-flexion sidewalls
  • Special rubber blends designed to make the casing ultra-durable at low pressure

Michelin Agricultural Tires With UltraFlex Technology


Michelin UltraFlex technology is available across a range of agricultural tires designed for different equipment and stages of the crop cycle. Explore Michelin IF and VF tire options for tractors, harvesters, floaters, sprayers, trailers and implements.

Michelin UltraFlex Tires for Tractors

MICHELIN
AXIOBIB
Excellent traction and soil protection.
See Tire
MICHELIN
AXIOBIB 2
High traction tire ideal for heavy loads.
See Tire
MICHELIN
EVOBIB
Adaptive design technology: transforms for the best performance on the road or in the fields.
See Tire
MICHELIN
XEOBIB
Low pressure R1W radial; first VF tire in the industry.
See Tire
MICHELIN
YIELDBIB
The low-pressure tire for high-powered row crop applications.
See Tire

Michelin UltraFlex Tires for Harvesters & Floaters

MICHELIN
CEREXBIB
High load capacity at low pressure for large harvesting machinery.
See Tire
MICHELIN
CEREXBIB 2
Outstanding productivity and soil protection.
See Tire
MICHELIN
FLOATXBIB
The highest load capacity in the field and highest speed index on roads.
See Tire

Michelin UltraFlex Tires for Sprayers

MICHELIN
AGRIBIB ROW CROP
Specially designed to provide excellent traction for row crop tractors and implements.
See Tire
MICHELIN
SPRAYBIB
High load capacity for sprayers.
See Tire

Michelin UltraFlex Tires for Trailers & Implements

MICHELIN
CARGOXBIB HEAVY DUTY
Excellent solution for transporting harvests.
See Tire
MICHELIN
TRAILXBIB
Enhanced performance for slurry wagons, spreaders and trailers
See Tire
MICHELIN
XP 27
Michelin VF(1) XP27 tire is designed to enhance durability. This Michelin tire is for farm trailers and implements has the ability to support high load capacity at low pressure.
See Tire

Optimize Agricultural Tire Pressure


Operating at the right tire pressure is an important part of getting the benefits of Michelin UltraFlex technology. Michelin offers tools and technologies to help farmers determine and manage tire pressure based on their equipment, load and operating conditions.

Tire Impact on Soil Compaction: Running lower pressure vs. high pressure

Tire Impact on Soil Compaction: Running lower pressure vs. high pressure

Michelin AgroPressure


Find recommended agricultural tire pressures based on your equipment and operating conditions with the Michelin AgroPressure tool.

Find Your Tire Pressure

Michelin CTIS


Adjust agricultural tire pressure from the cab as operating conditions change between the field and road with the Michelin Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS).

Explore Michelin CTIS
Tires with low running pressure equipped with CTIS

Tires with low running pressure equipped with central tire inflation system

Presseveranstaltung


Explore More Agricultural Tire Tools & Technology


Discover more Michelin agricultural tire tools, technologies and support, including tire pressure resources, calculators and expert guidance for your operation.
 


 

Explore Tools & Support

Michelin UltraFlex Technology FAQs

What is considered a low-pressure agricultural tire?

Low-pressure agricultural tires are designed with reinforced high-flexion sidewalls and special rubber blends that allow the casing to remain durable while operating at lower pressure. Michelin agricultural tires with UltraFlex technology are available in Improved Flexion (IF) and Very High Flexion (VF) options.

Michelin introduced its first VF low-pressure tire with Michelin UltraFlex technology in 2004.

How does Michelin UltraFlex technology help improve crop yield?

By allowing agricultural tires to operate at lower pressure, Michelin UltraFlex technology can help reduce soil compaction. A study conducted by Harper Adams University found that Michelin UltraFlex technology increased agronomic yields by an average of 4% due to lower soil compaction.(¹) Similar studies conducted in Illinois and Mato Grosso confirmed the results.

How do low-pressure agricultural tires help protect soil?

Lower tire pressure can help reduce soil compaction by spreading the equipment load across a larger tire footprint. Higher soil compaction can alter soil structure and reduce the air and water flow needed to support crop growth.

For example, with a 13,271 lb (6,020 kg) load, a MICHELIN AXIOBIB 2 tire in size 710/75R42 can operate at 1 bar (15 psi) compared with 1.6 bar (23 psi) for a standard non-VF tire at 40.39 mph (65 km/h).(³)

What are the benefits of Michelin UltraFlex technology?

Michelin UltraFlex technology is designed to help agricultural tires operate at lower pressure while carrying heavy loads. Benefits include a larger tire contact patch, improved traction, reduced soil compaction, increased load capacity with VF tires, and support for improved productivity and fuel efficiency.

Legal Notices

(1) A study carried out by Harper Adams University in the UK in 2012, demonstrates that MICHELIN ULTRAFLEX technology increases agronomic yields by 4% on average. These results are confirmed by similar studies carried out in the United States (Illinois) and Brazil (Mato Grosso).

(2) Normative gap between standard tires vs VF (Very high Flexion) tires.

(3) Compared to non VF (Very High Flexion) tires

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