Greenville, S.C. (Oct. 27, 2014) – The end of the harvest season is a good time for farmers to inspect their equipment tires. Repairing or replacing tires during the offseason can help prevent costly delays in spring planting due to tire maintenance issues.
James Crouch, farm segment marketing manager for Michelin North America, recommends farmers check their tires for the following issues:
- Worn tread – Although there is no industry standard for when a tractor tire should be replaced because of worn tread, farmers can judge by the performance of the machine and the weather situation if the tread is too worn to make it through the next run. “If slippage is higher than normal for your application, that’s a good sign you have lost too much tread, which leads to a progressive decrease in traction and fuel economy,” Crouch explains. “The best way to guarantee the most tread life on a tire is to start with an R1W tread.”
- Tire damage – Visually inspect the tread face and the sidewalls of the tire to make sure there are no large cuts, no subtle air leaks and no foreign objects stuck in the tires. “It’s easy for farmers to miss things they may have run over during the growing season,” says Crouch. “A foreign object may not necessarily puncture the tire upon impact. This is something that can occur later that will cause a flat in the field if the object is not found and handled properly.”
- Wheel damage – Check for damage to the wheel near the rim flange, such as a bend or a cut, which can cause tire damage and reduce field performance.
“Most farmers winterize their equipment during the offseason,” Crouch notes, “so this is a perfect time to also check their tires and address any issues with their tire dealers before the planting season. That will save them a lot of time and money in the spring, when it matters most.”
For more information about Michelin agricultural tires, visit www.MichelinAg.com.