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Using bias or radial tires for fertilization

Radial vs. Bias Farm Tires: Which Is Better for Fertilization?


Compare radial and bias farm tires to choose the right option for fertilization and help protect your soil

Choosing between radial and bias farm tires can affect soil protection, traction and tire performance throughout the crop cycle. During fertilization, when field conditions may be wet and soil compaction is a concern, choosing the right tire technology is especially important.

Learn how radial and bias tires differ and which characteristics to consider for your fertilization equipment.

Why Soil Compaction Matters During Fertilization

Fertilization often takes place when soil conditions are wet, making fields more vulnerable to compaction from agricultural equipment. As tires travel across wet soil, the weight of the machine can compress the soil structure, reducing the pore space available for air and water.

Managing tire pressure and ground contact is especially important in these conditions. Operating at an appropriate tire pressure for the machine, load and field conditions can help reduce the pressure applied to the soil.

Tire construction also plays an important role. Radial and bias farm tires have different footprint characteristics, which affect how the load is distributed across the ground.

What’s the Difference Between Radial and Bias Farm Tires?

The main difference between radial and bias farm tires is how the tire is constructed and how that construction affects the tire’s footprint on the ground.

In a radial tire, the sidewalls can flex more independently from the tread area. When operated at the appropriate pressure for the load, this flexibility allows the tire to create a longer, more consistent footprint on the ground.

In a bias tire, the crown and sidewalls are more closely linked by the tire’s construction. This results in a different footprint and less independent sidewall flex compared with a radial tire.

For agricultural applications, the larger footprint of a radial tire can help distribute the machine’s load across a greater surface area.

Benefits of a Larger Tire Footprint

A longer, more evenly distributed footprint can provide several advantages in the field:

  • Reduced soil compaction by distributing the load across a larger area
  • Improved traction by increasing effective ground contact
  • Improved ride comfort through greater tire flexibility and shock absorption
     
Infographic comparing bias and radial agricultural tire construction, ground contact and key performance differences.

Bias vs. Radial Agricultural Tires

Do Radial Tires Last Longer Than Bias Tires?

Tire life depends on several factors, including tire construction, operating conditions, load, pressure and the type of work being performed. Radial and bias tires also respond differently to impact, heat and wear.

Bias tires use multiple overlapping carcass plies, which provide resistance to impacts. Under sustained heavy loads, however, their construction can generate more heat.

Radial farm tires are designed differently, allowing the sidewall and tread area to function more independently. This construction helps manage heat and creates a larger, more evenly distributed footprint.

That larger footprint can also promote more uniform tread wear by distributing the load across a greater contact area. Under appropriate operating conditions, this can contribute to longer tire life.

Radial Tires + Michelin UltraFlex Technology

Radial tire construction already provides a larger, more even footprint than bias construction. Michelin UltraFlex Technology can extend those benefits further by allowing agricultural tires to operate at lower pressures while carrying heavy loads.

In the test shown below, the Michelin SPRAYBIB tire provided a 20% larger footprint than a competitor’s standard radial tire of the same dimensions.*
 



1: The footprint of a competitor’s radial tire with standard technology (dimension: 380/90 R46 172D/175A8).

2: The footprint of the Michelin SPRAYBIB tire, a radial tire of the same dimensions, designed with Michelin UltraFlex Technology.

Comparison of ground footprints showing a standard radial tire at 1,909 cm² and a Michelin SPRAYBIB tire with UltraFlex Technology at 2,287 cm².

Michelin SPRAYBIB Tire Footprint Comparison

In this test, the competitor’s tire had a footprint of 296 in² (1,909 cm²), while the Michelin SPRAYBIB tire had a footprint of 355 in² (2,287 cm²), providing 20% more ground contact area.*

A larger footprint helps distribute the load across more ground, which can help reduce pressure on the soil and improve traction.

Michelin UltraFlex Tires for Agricultural Equipment

Michelin offers several radial tires featuring Michelin UltraFlex Technology, with options designed for different types of agricultural equipment:

  • Michelin YIELDBIB for tractors
  • Michelin SPRAYBIB for self-propelled sprayers
  • Michelin FLOATXBIB for self-propelled spreaders
     
MICHELIN
FLOATXBIB
The highest load capacity in the field and highest speed index on roads.
See Tire
MICHELIN
SPRAYBIB
High load capacity for sprayers.
See Tire
MICHELIN
YIELDBIB
The low-pressure tire for high-powered row crop applications.
See Tire

Adjust Tire Pressure for Field and Road Conditions

The Michelin UltraFlex tire ranges above are compatible with Central Tire Inflation Systems (CTIS), which allow operators to adjust tire pressure for changing field and road conditions without leaving the cab.**

Using the appropriate tire pressure for the load and operating conditions helps you get the intended performance from your tires. In the field, lower pressure can help increase the tire footprint, help reduce soil compaction and improve traction, while pressure can be adjusted for road travel as operating conditions change.

Explore More Agriculture Tire Resources

Learn more about agriculture tire care, maintenance and performance with these Michelin resources:

 

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Legal Mentions

* Internal Michelin study carried out in Arbonne - France in January 2022. Competitor tires 380/90 R46 172D/175A8 and Michelin SPRAYBIB VF tires 380/90 R46 CFO 173D/169E. The load per tire is identical: 5200kg and the pressures used are those recommended by each manufacturer: 3.2b for the competitor tyre and 2.3b for the Michelin SPRAYBIB CFO tire.
** CTIS is only available in certain countries. Ask your dealer for further information.

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