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Should I use hybrid tractor tires for roads and fields?

Should I use hybrid tractor tires for roads and fields?

Should I use hybrid tractor tires for roads and fields?

 

Is your tractor used in the fields as well as on the road? The performance you need from your tires in these two environments is not the same. Should you equip your tractor with hybrid tires, capable of adapting to both? Or should you opt for standard tractor tires designed for one of the two types of terrain, to the detriment of the other?

Read on to see what our experts have to say.

SUMMARY:

Agriculture: changing needs

Until the early 2000s, tractors were fitted with classic, standard tires, with non-specialized performance for all uses, whether in the field and on the road.

A farmer who needed to take the plow to the field carried it on his tractor, which required high tire pressure. But once the tool was in the field, the tractor tire's pressure was no longer adequate.

High pressure in the field meant poorer performance, limited crop yields and caused soil compaction. Conversely, low air pressure on the road with a heavy load (the plow in our example) wore out the tractor tires too quickly and consumed more fuel.

Tracteur équipés de pneus MICHELIN AXIOBIB

Edito axiobib at work Help and Advice

Tracteur équipés de pneus MICHELIN AXIOBIB

Michelin’s first step towards hybrid use

With the need to have different air pressures based on the terrain, Michelin aimed to develop a technology that would enable tractor tires to have tire pressure adjusted for field use versus road use. This is how Michelin UltraFlex technology was developed.

With Michelin UltraFlex, the tire is expected to operate at 40% lower pressure than a standard tractor tire for a given load and to carry 40% more than a standard tire at a given pressure.*

In concrete terms, a tractor tire with Michelin UltraFlex technology allows you to drive with a lower pressure in the field than a standard tire, which increases the surface area of the tire on the ground to reduce soil compaction, improves traction and therefore increases crop yield. And with no change in tractor tire air pressure, the tractor can also be driven on the road carrying a heavier load than a standard tire.

As we've just explained, it's possible to fit different tires to suit the needs of your field. But not everything is possible, as we'll explain below.

CTIS: a second step towards hybrid use

Handling the varying terrain between road and field created a problem for many farmers, as they were needing to adjust tire air pressure. This problem lead to the birth of a new technological advance:  the CTIS (Central Tire Inflation System)**.

This system has made it possible for farmers to manage their varying air pressure needs conveniently without leaving their tractor cab.

**CTIS is only available in certain countries. Ask your dealer for further information.

Three tractor tyres for hybrid use

Now that you know more about the technological evolution of tractor tires, we're going to help you choose the tire that's best suited to your needs. Our solutions are all multi-purpose, but making the decision on which tire to buy should be based on how you plan to use your tractor.

Below we present three hybrid tires and explain how to choose the most suitable for your intended use.

  1. Hybrid tires optimized for the road AND the field

 

Some farmers need a tractor tire capable of ensuring good performance on the road as well as in the field because they spend about equal amounts of time on both surfaces.

After the invention of the CTIS (Central Tire Inflation System)**, Michelin has made this possible by creating the Michelin EVOBIB tire, a 2-in-1 tire made to the terrain difference of the field and road.

Is Michelin EVOBIB tire the right choice for you?

If you need a hybrid tire that offers a good compromise between performance on the road and in the field, Michelin EVOBIB is, without a doubt, a good tire choice for you.

On the road, Michelin EVOBIB reduces fuel consumption, and its longevity is extended, much like the performance of the Michelin ROADBIB tire, our tractor tire exclusive for road use, which we present below.

In the field, under normal conditions, the Michelin EVOBIB tire offers performance similar to the Michelin AXIOBIB2 tire, which is our tractor tire made for the field.

MICHELIN EVOBIB tire requires CTIS**

To use Michelin EVOBIB tire, your tractor must be fitted with a remote inflation system (CTIS**). If your tractor is not already equipped with this system, you can install the Michelin Kit**.

  1. Hybrid tires designed for a better ride for the road

Some farmers and contractors spend a lot of time on the road between jobs (sowing, harvesting...). But the tread pattern of conventional tractor tires makes those drives noisy and uncomfortable.

Michelin decided to use their expertise in the road tire industry to design a tractor tire better suited to road use, while still allowing tasks to be carried out in the fields. The result is the Michelin ROADBIB tire, a tractor tire for the road that can also be used in the field.

Is MICHELIN ROADBIB tire the right choice for you?

If you spend 80% of your time on the road pulling trailers, keeping a close eye on fuel consumption, and 20% of your time in the fields on grounds that are not too rough, then the Michelin ROADBIB tire is for you.

This tractor tire can be used in the fields, but it does not offer high traction in difficult conditions. It is mainly suited for on roads and offers adequate fuel consumption and good comfort during journeys and is expected to last longer than a standard tire.

ichelinMICHELIN ROADBIB tire is compatible with CTIS**

To make it easier to manage the pressure when you move from the road to the field and vice versa, this tire is compatible with CTIS*, although it does not require the system.

  1. Tractor tires designed for better drive on the field

 

For use mainly in the field, Michelin has developed the Michelin AXIOBIB2 tire. This tractor tire offers high traction capacity for heavy-duty work and for tractors from 160 to 550 CV, but can also be used on roads thanks to Michelin UltraFlex technology.

Is Michelin AXIOBIB2 tire the right choice for you?

If you spend most of your time in the field, sometimes in rough conditions, and are looking for optimized traction and production, Michelin AXIOBIB2 tire is the right choice for you.

With its Michelin UltraFlex technology, it can run at low pressure in the field, offering performance in terms of soil compaction and traction, resulting in improved productivity.

Michelin AXIOBIB2 tire is compatible with CTIS**

To make it easier to manage pressure on the road, this tractor tire is compatible with the CTIS, although this is not a requirement.

The alternative for low horsepower tractors

If you use a low horse powered tractor for ag or industrial handling, or for winter work, we have a versatile alternative for you: Michelin CrossGrip tire, a hybrid tire for use on roads, grass and snow.

Small tractors, backhoes, loaders and telescopic handlers can all be fitted with them for productivity and traction.

Depending on the use, you can choose the most suitable color:

  • BLACK for intensive road use
  • GREEN for good grip on grass in meadows
  • WHITE for good grip on snow

Now that you know all about tractor tires for hybrid use, choose the one that meets your needs:

MICHELIN EVOBIB
MICHELIN
EVOBIB®
Adaptive design technology: transforms for the best per...
See Tire
MICHELIN ROADBIB
MICHELIN
ROADBIB®
The solution for heavy road use.
See Tire
MICHELIN AXIOBIB 2
MICHELIN
AXIOBIB® 2
High traction tire ideal for heavy loads.
See Tire


Need more advice? Discover our tire buying guide.

Legal Mentions

* Normative gap between standard tire vs VF (Very high Flexion) tire. VF tyre is a standard marking certified by ETRTO (European Tire and Rim Technical Organization) and TRA (Tire And Rim Associassion, USA)

** CTIS is only available in certain countries. Ask your dealer for further information.

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