CAUSES OF TYRE WEAR
Maximising tyre wear and tyre life expectancy is important to any operation. There are many reasons why tyres may wear rapidly, but below are the main reasons and how to limit accelerated wear to ensure your tyres last the longest.
Frequent Road Transport
A tractor can spend allot of time on the road however, long periods of road transport is where most rapid wear is caused due to the hard road surface, which is very abrasive for the rubber. Driving at high speeds when loaded can lead to overheating and make the rubber fragile, which is why it is important to drive at slower speeds if possible and maintain a tyre inflation that is recommended by the tyre manufacturer for the applied speed and load.
Incorrect Tyre Pressure
Underinflation: When the tyre is underinflated, it promotes instability and movement, leading to abnormal wear of the lugs and shoulders. When driving on the road, an underinflated tyre can also cause the heating of the tyre materials and irreversible damage to the tyre.
Overinflation: Too high a pressure can also lead to premature wear to your tyre. Too much air in a tyre will result in a smaller footprint, causing rapid wear and perhaps even tyre failure. When over-inflated, a tyre cannot flex properly to provide suspension, so the safety and comfort of the operator is compromised.
Heavy Loads
Driving your tractor with a load that is outside of the capability of the tyre will lead to accelerated tyre wear. When driving with a heavy load, it is recommended to reduce your speed to limit the heating of tyre materials and excessive wear. To avoid damaging your tyres it is recommended to check that the load index of your agricultural tyres matches the maximum loads that you transport.
Mechanical Faults
Mechanical and geometrical faults are another cause of wear to your agricultural tyres. This can include but not limited to improper wheel alignment, play in the steering joints or bearings, or too much positive or negative camber angle.
Incorrect Lead
A tractor lead is the relationship between the front axle and rear axle in 4WD. It also depends on the relationship and dimensions of the tyres fitted to each axle. Typically, a correct lead will be between 1 and 4%. If you notice that your front tyres wear more rapidly than your back tyres or the other way around, this may be a result of incorrect lead.
High Positive Lead: the front axle undergoes mechanical stress since the rear axle is holding back the pull of the front axle. In addition to steering problems and the risk of mechanical failure, your front tyres will wear faster than your rear tyres.
Low Negative lead (lag): the front axle is not as productive since the rear axle will ‘push’ the front axle of the tractor. There may be a lot of slippages at the rear when you accelerate.
TRS Tyre & Wheel has an extensive offer of market leading agricultural tyres designed to work best for any application. For any technical or tyre selection advise, contact our sales team on 0508 899 899 or your local sales representative. Below are some of our favorites:
Trelleborg: Upgrade your farming experience with Trelleborg agricultural tractor tyres. Designed for high power, exceptional traction, and superior load-carrying capabilities, these innovative tyres are built to enhance your productivity and reduce downtime.
Mitas: Mitas tyres are developed with a focus on maximum soil protection, ample grip, low fuel consumption, high user comfort and self-cleaning ability.
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