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About Tractor Tyres

Farmers are very important assets for a country like India, where 73% of the population is still living in villages, and agriculture contributes 17% to the national GDP.Keeping in view the demand of Indian farmers and Indian agricultural conditions choosing of proper tractor tyres is very important. 

Rubber tractor tyres came of age in the 1930s. Back then most tractors had steel wheels with metal lugs on them. They did provide excellent traction when working in the field, but when on hard ground the ride was rough and often damaged the paved roads. Rubber tyres were already used on all cars, and Herman Goertzen argued that they would prove more powerful, improve petrol consumption, kick up less dust and provide a far more comfortable ride than the steel versions. 

To search for your tyre you need to know the tyre size you need. Tyre sizes can be written in many differing formats. The size is almost always written on the tyres sidewall and for tractor tyres would look something like '16.9-28' or '420/85R28'. The first type (16.9-28) is imperial written in inches, and the second is the newer metric marking now being adopted by many manufacturers.

With both sizes the last number is the RIM (the diameter of the hole in the middle of the tyre) in inches. The first number is the tyre WIDTH, and in our example it would be 16.9 inches or 420mm. The 'R' if presents means you have a tyre of RADIAL construction, and the '-' if present means the tyre is of CROSSPLY construction.

The metric sizes (420/85R28) tell you the PROFILE percentage after the width, here it is 85% profile (this means the side walls on the tyre are 85% as tall as the width of the tyre). This profile can be ignored if your tyre size if written in imperial as it is not given.

Radial tyres were invented in 1946 and allow the sidewall of the tyre and the tyre tread to work as two independent features. The flexibility of a radial tyre, together with its strength, are two combined factors which mean a radial tractor tyre absorbs impact shock and bumps more effectively than a crossply tyre.

This gives you and your machine a more comfortable ride and allows the driver to work longer. The flexibility of the sidewall enhances vehicle stability and provides maximum contact of the tyre with the road surface. This improved contact with the ground reduces the wear on the tyre tread meaning radial tyres last longer than crossply tyres. It also helps spread the weight over the ground reducing soil compaction. Radial tyres tend to have higher speed ratings so for some faster road going machines Radial tyres are the only usable option.Radial tyres do however tend to be more expensive than crossply alternatives, so could be viewed as an investment that will pay off in the long run.

Crossply tyres have been around a lot longer and whilst don't offer the advantaged of Radial tyres, they are cheaper, and in some applications are the preferred choice. Crossply tyres have stiffer tyre sidewalls than radial tyres, and so tend to be better at avoiding sidewall punctures, something that is advantages in forestry use for example. They also give less suspension than Radial tyres which can be an advantage on forklift trucks and scissor lifts for example that require a firm ride. Find out more about Radial vs Crossply by reading this article.

A Ply Rating is similar to a tyre Load Index and is an indication/measure of a tyre's strength, telling you the maximum weight that the agricultural & industrial tyre can safely carry. Tyres with a higher ply rating carry more weight but cost more due to their superior construction and the extra materials used. Ply Rating's are usually only given on tyres of Crossply construction, the newer Radial tyres should have a load index number given instead. In general, you shouldn't switch to a lower ply rating than you currently have. You can normally increase the ply rating of the tyre used, but bear in mind the higher a tyres ply rating the stiffer a tyres sidewall usually becomes. This can be advantageous in helping to avoid punctures in the tyre sidewall, but may reduce the suspension/cushioning you experience riding your machine.

The Load Index is the maximum weight that tractor & agricultural tyres can safely support. This is represented by a number: the higher this number is the more weight the tyre can carry. It is imperative for the safety of the vehicle and its occupants that tyres with high enough Speed and Load Indexes are chosen. To find out more about Speed and Load Indexes and all other tyre markings, have a look at our Tyre Size Guide.

WHAT ARE TUBED (TT) & TUBELESS (TL) TRACTOR TYRES?
Tubed type (TT) tractor & agricultural tyres have a separate tube fitted inside the tyre which is often purchased separately to the tyre. Tubeless tyres (TL) have their own inner liner which prevents leaks from the rim and minimises the damage done by punctures. They therefore do not require a separate tube to be purchased (if you rims are in good condition). Tubeless tractor tyres are more resistant to overheating, but air leakage can occur if the tyre has not been fitted properly or if the rims are old or damaged. Find out more by reading this article on Tube-Type and Tubeless Tyres.

Top Tractor Tyre Brands in India

Underneath are the top tractor tyre brands which are perfect for the farmers. These brands provide advanced tyres for the comfort of the farmers. Hence, they are suitable for purchase. 

Apollo Tyres
BKT Tyres
Good Year Tyres
CEAT Tyres
MRF Tyres
Birla Tyres
JK Tyres

Ballasting your agricultural & industrial tyres involves partially filling the tyre or inner tube with water. This is done in order to lower the centre of gravity and stabilise the machine to help it deal with uneven ground. Find Out More.
Over-inflated agricultural & farm tyres can increase soil compaction, fuel consumption and wear to the machine and the tyres. Soil and crops can also be badly damaged, requiring heavy investment to break up the compaction layer. Conversely, under-inflation means that manoeuvrability will suffer and irreversible damage will be done the casings of your agricultural & industrial tyres. Find Out More.