One of our guiding principles is that we work to solve real problems that affect our customers in the field. In following this principle, we've earned a reputation for making some of the highest-performing, most technologically advanced, and better-wearing tires on the market, while also providing a low total costs of ownership to our customers.
Having such a good reputation is great, but it’s always useful to hear back from workers in the field about how our tires are helping them succeed — which is why we were excited to hear from Alex Hawman from Hawman Farms in Hermiston, Oregon, about the great experience he’s had with the Alliance 363 IF.
For a row crop farmer like Alex Hawman, minimizing soil compaction in the sandy and loam soils of the Columbia Basin was a major concern. “The main problem that we wanted to eliminate was soil damage and reduced yields caused by soil compaction. The footprint size of the IF tire is noticeably larger, and with its flat footprint we have eliminated water running down the tire tracks,” Hawman said.
Because inflation pressure is a major contributor in soil compaction, Hawman also appreciated the Alliance 363 IF's ability to operate at a lower air pressure than a standard tire. In fact, the Alliance 363 IF can be used at 20% lower air pressure while carrying the same load as a standard tire. And with its steel-belted design, the Alliance 363 maintains a flat, even footprint to minimize soil compaction while also increasing the tire's longevity, wear, and durability.
Not only an ace in the field, the Alliance 363 was engineered for roadability, with a durable center lug for better road wear and a 40 mph speed rating, making it perfect for long runs between the yard and the field. This attribute made the 363 perfect for Hawman Farms, which also does custom spraying, and estimates that they run their equipment on the road 25% of the time. According to Alex Hawman, the 363 is “smooth over the road, less jumpy than an R1 bar tread.”
“We are looking to switch to IF/VF technology on our other machines after seeing the benefits with the Alliance 363. I would recommend anyone take a serious look at [Alliance] tires and see if there is a place in your operation that they would be a benefit to you.” – Alex Hawman