a look at three different tractor tire tread patterns
SUMMARY:
Historically, agricultural tires were fitted with radial lug treads (i.e. perpendicular to the road), which provided good traction in the fields. But this type of tread pattern had the disadvantage of being impractical in terms of handling and steering. When a tractor fitted with these tires was on a slope, it tended to veer off course due to a lack of stability.
In short, radial lug treads were the ultimate in traction as long as the tractor had to operate in a straight line and on a flat field.
Radial lugs also had another drawback: the loud hammering noise they generated when driving on the road. Each lug struck the contact surface brutally, producing a sound that could be very annoying for the driver.
That's why tire manufacturers have opted for a new approach for customers who spend more time on the road: chevron-shaped lugs with a variety of angles and shapes. This tread pattern offers a compromise between excellent traction and a more gradual entry of the lugs on the contact surface, thus reducing hammering noise.
In other words, we’re sacrificing a little traction to have a more comfortable ride on the road and better braking.
It was at this point that hybrid options began to emerge. When the lugs are continuous, we call them chevrons, but when a lug is cut in two, this is the beginning of hybridization. The first hybrid tire treads seen in the agriculture sector were designed for road use.
It was thought that a municipal tractor, for example, which mows roadside shoulders and digs ditches, would mainly drive on the road to get from one site to another. The tire does not need to offer extreme traction, as these vehicles are never used in difficult conditions, such as in fields or on demanding terrain.
These hybrid tire tread patterns, like that of the Michelin ROADBIB tire, are designed specifically for farmers who spend around 80% of their time on the road.
For example, farmers who tow slurry trailers to transport them to spreaders. The worksite can be a considerable distance from where the slurry is located, sometimes as much as 6 miles (10 km) away. In this case, the tractor driver spends much of their time travelling long distances on roadways to supply the spreaders in the fields. They must make these round trips several times a day, often going at higher speeds than if the tractor was working in a field.
Michelin ROADBIB an ag tire designed mainly for road use
For these users, extreme traction is not the priority, as they are not generally confronted with difficult terrain conditions, such as plowing in hard soil. Instead of traction, comfort and maneuverability of the tractor are the most important criteria, given the number of hours spent on the road.
In addition, fuel consumption is an important factor as these users seek to reduce their operating costs. The third criterion is wear. Tractor tires wear more quickly on the road than in the field, where there are no stones or rough terrain. So, if the tractor is used mainly on the road, tire wear becomes another important criterion. The hybrid tread pattern of the Michelin ROADBIB tire is designed for the field and good for the road.
In other words, it allows you to work in the field in normal conditions and provides a greater surface area in contact with the ground, which provides comfort on the road, better braking distance and uniform wear to support longevity.
The Michelin EVOBIB tire offers good performance at both high and low pressure and can work in conjunction with a pressure management system (CTIS). This means that tire pressure can be easily adjusted between road and field to ensure that the tire performs well on both surfaces, which makes the Michelin EVOBIB a 2-in-1 tire.
To achieve this, we have focused on our traction in the field, with a tread pattern similar to that of a conventional ag tire in terms of the ratio between lugs and the spaces between them. This allows the soil to drain efficiently.
MICHELIN EVOBIB- its tyre tread pattern was designed for the road and the field
The tire pressure can also be increased to reduce the tire's rolling resistance on the road and therefore fuel consumption. In addition, the tread pattern has been developed to ensure even wear while offering a certain level of comfort, although less than that of the Michelin ROADBIB tire.
Michelin EVOBIB tire also takes advantage of Michelin ULTRAFLEX reinforced casing with VF and PFO standards.
The Michelin CROSSGRIP tread pattern is specially designed for roadside work, particularly for tractors used by municipalities. The main aim of the tire is to ensure high stability, as these tractors are often equipped with mowers or shredders that are deployed on the side of the road.
As a result, the Michelin CROSSGRIP tire can withstand a heavy load, as the inner tire is subjected to the full load of the tools in action. In addition to its high resistance, it also has a tread pattern designed to ensure good grip. This tire is often used for snow clearance in Canada, where it is celebrated for its maneuverability, precision and braking efficiency. Compared with conventional tires, it enables drivers to operate much more precisely and quickly when clearing snow.
Michelin Crossgrip has a tread pattern designed for great resistance and maneuverability
What's interesting to note is that ag tires are generally designed to be directional, which means that they must be fitted in a specific direction, as indicated by the chevrons.
But when designing the Michelin CrossGrip tire, we took into account the fact that it has to carry more load on one side than the other when the tool is in position, which means more wear on the side that carries more.
As a result, we deliberately designed the Michelin CrossGrip tire to be non-directional, allowing the user to easily swap tires between the left and right side to rebalance wear, without the need to remove the tire from the rim. As there is no direction of rotation, you simply remove the complete wheel and fit it on the other side, which saves a considerable amount of time.
If you mainly use your tractor in the field, then one of our other tire ranges will be suitable for your use.
Discover our high horsepower tractor tires designed for long service life and great traction.
Need more advice? Discover our tire basics guide
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