A grower can maximize his tire deflection by having a clear understanding of the weight and speed applied to the tires.
What is Tire Deflection?
Tire deflection is the amount of “bulge” the tire lowers while under load torque is applied to the tire.
Deflection is the difference in height between an “unloaded” tire section height and the “under-load” tire section height, normally measured from tread face / shoulder to the wheel flange. The deflection amount or percentage is the difference in the two heights.
Sometimes, tires may appear to be under-inflated, when in fact they are “deflecting” at the sidewall to ensure the tread face is providing the maximum ground contact for maximum performance.
Optimal Tire Deflection for Agriculture
As the tire compresses or deflects under the given load, the tire footprint extends to ensure the tread face provides as much ground contact as possible.
The “optimal” tire deflection in an agricultural tire ensures that the tire properly compresses to apply the right amount of pressure and contact to the soil beneath it.
If the tires are under light load, the footprint becomes smaller as the sidewall deflection is minimal. As the weight or load increases on the tire, the deflection increases, and the tire footprint becomes longer along the tread face contacting the soil.
Benefits of Optimizing Tire Deflection
Adjusting the air pressure to ensure tire deflection and resulting footprint is optimized leads to better:
- Traction — Reduced fuel cost
- Flotation – Reduced soil compaction
- Speed – Reduced labor cost
- Longevity – Reduced tire wear
The tire deflection can easily be managed with proper air pressure to deliver the best performance. For more ways to optimize your farm equipment, learn more about the best ways to choose an agriculture tire.
