Michelin voted by farmers as the best tire in the Ag Industry!
An independent marketing research firm recently surveyed 300 US and Canadian farmers
... Find out what they learned!
Patented and introduced by Michelin® in 1946, the radial
tire construction is recognized worldwide for its ability
to deliver numerous benefits that bias-ply tires cannot. In
the agricultural industry, radial technology delivers large
benefits:
Long tire life
Resistance to cuts, punctures and tears
Excellent traction
Improved handling and fuel economy
Smooth ride and operator comfort
Bias
Ply
The drawbacks of using Bias-Ply Technology:
In bias-ply tires the tread & sidewalls share the same casing plies
All sidewall flexing is transmitted to the tread, resulting in:
deformation in the tread contact patch
friction with the ground
rapid wear
reduced traction
higher fuel consumption
Radial
The benefits of using Radial Technology:
Outstanding traction due to flat stable crown & larger footprint
Better distribution of pressure in footprint resulting in reduced soil compaction & greater flotation
Reduced working time due to less tire slip, greater productivity
Reduced fuel consumption
Longer tread life
Comfort & handling on the road
The lugs stay in contact with the ground.
Compare footprints of a 18.4-38 Bias and the 18.4R38 Michelin Radial Agribib™
The bias tire requires an internal inflation pressure of 19psi to carry this load, while the Michelin Radial requires only 15 psi.
The casing factor of the bias tire adds an additional 4 psi to the contact pressure between the tire and the soil (23 psi).
The casing factor of the Michelin tire only adds an additional 1.5 psi (15.5 psi), thanks to the flexibility of the sidewall.
Cross-Ply Tire
Radial Tire
Click on the picture to the left to view an animation of a bias-ply tire vs. a radial tire under load.
(Windows Media Player required to view the animation). More information about windows media player can be found here.
Sidewalls and tread are independent. Sidewall flexing is not transmitted to the tread. It provides:
A flat, stable and wider footprint on the ground
Less distortion of the contact patch surface
Better ground pressure distribution and reduced friction on the ground
Contact +40%
Radial Ag tires are far superior to bias-ply tires.
