High-Tech VF Tires Improve Productivity and Efficiency on the Farm 

From high-tech software to high-flying drones, interest in agtech is exploding. According to research company Crunchbase, in both 2018 and 2019, venture capitalists invested more than $4 billion in just agtech startups alone. While flashy apps and autonomous machinery often steal the spotlight, numerous other, more understated technological advancements—like the development of VF (very-high flexion) tires—are happening right under our (tractors’) noses.

Upgrading Farm Tires for Improved Soil Health 

It’s no secret that fields with healthy, uncompacted soil are more productive. It’s also apparent that wheel traffic is the major cause of soil compaction in most fields. According to a recent paper—“Projections of yield losses and economic costs following deep wheel‐traffic compaction during the 2019 harvest”—authored by educators from the Minnesota and North Dakota extension services, deep-soil compaction (below the depth of normal tillage) can cut corn and soybean yields by an average of 21% for the following two harvests.

How Tractor Tires Hookup 

An ag tire’s ability to deliver traction has a large influence on its performance—whether it’s helping pull a field cultivator through tight soils or putting a big tractor’s 500-hp to the ground, a tire’s ability to deliver traction is of the utmost importance to farmers. Because of this, manufacturers spend millions of dollars to engineer tires that can generate forces in the field and on the road without slipping. No single part of a tire is responsible for delivering traction; rather, it’s a combination of parts working together to deliver maximum performance. 

As of Jan 1, 2021, Alliance Tire Group and Alliance Tire Americas, Inc. changed their names to Yokohama Off-Highway Tires and Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc respectively. The Alliance, Galaxy and Primex brands and product names remain unchanged. Product information is available at www.yokohama-oht.com.

Alliance Tire Group, was named North American Direct Materials Supplier of the Year by AGCO, the world's largest agricultural equipment manufacturer focused solely on the agriculture industry. The honor was awarded during AGCO's online 2020 North America Supplier Event.

As of Jan 1, 2021, Alliance Tire Group and Alliance Tire Americas, Inc. changed their names to Yokohama Off-Highway Tires and Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc respectively. The Alliance, Galaxy and Primex brands and product names remain unchanged. Product information is available at www.yokohama-oht.com.

The Alliance Agriflex+ 881—a new, all-steel VF (very high-flexion) radial tire for today's heaviest towed agricultural implements, rated for road speeds up to 40 mph—broadens the line of high-performance VF tires from Alliance Tire America. The Agriflex+ product line uses extremely flexible sidewall technology to improve the load-carrying capacity and reduce soil compaction. The VF tires designated as Alliance Agriflex+ radials can carry as much of a load as a conventional radial tire at 40 percent less inflation pressure, reducing soil compaction force by about 40 percent.