CEAT Specialty Blog

The agricultural sector is poised for increased productivity as farm tire manufacturers such as CEAT Specialty continue to push the technology envelope.

Farm tractor tires play a vital role in ensuring efficient and reliable performance in agricultural machinery — tires that can withstand heavy loads, provide traction in various terrains, offer a smooth ride on the road and deliver durability for long hours of operation. As farmers embrace advanced technologies and seek to optimize their operations, the demand for reliable farm tractor tires is expected to surge.

Several factors contribute to the anticipated expansion of the farm tractor tires market. The rising global population and the consequent need for increased food production drive the demand for modern farming equipment, including tractors. Additionally, the growing trend of precision farming, where farmers rely on technology for precise planting and harvesting, requires tires that can handle the demands of specialized machinery.

Manufacturers like CEAT Specialty are investing in research and development to develop tires with improved tread patterns, enhanced puncture resistance, and increased load-carrying capacity. These innovations contribute to higher efficiency, reduced downtime, and enhanced productivity in agricultural operations.

Featuring innovative rubber compounds, tread design and construction, the CEAT FARMAX radial tractor tire line delivers long tread life, dependable traction in the field, a smooth and steady ride on the road, and low soil compaction.

Torquemax, available in VF and IF versions, is also a key product from CEAT Specialty Tires. Designed for high horsepower tractors, the Torquemax radial provides better traction and prevents slippage even when used in wet soil or muddy fields. With its optimized design, the Torquemax reduces fuel consumption and provides good roadability.

The Spraymax sprayer tire is another outstanding radial from CEAT Specialty. The Spraymax, which is also available in VF and IF versions, has deep and wide lugs that provide superior traction and prevent slippage during spraying. With a heavy ply rating, it can carry a large amount of weight with ease, making it the perfect tire for the larger self-propelled sprayers. CEAT has incorporated a special rubber compound in the Spraymax that allows the tire to resist abrasions and cuts, thus providing a longer lifespan.

CEAT is also investing heavily in its continual commitment to quality manufacturing. In fact, CEAT has been awarded the Deming Grand Prize, considered one of the highest achievements in TQM (Total Quality Management) worldwide. In doing so, CEAT became the first tire brand and one of only 33 companies globally to receive the prestigious award. This award recognizes companies that set and achieve challenging business objectives and strategies that are customer focused and quality oriented through the practice of TQM principles, concepts and techniques. The entire organization was assessed, including its supplier and distribution network.

In conclusion, farmers are encouraged to recognize the opportunities presented by leading Ag tire manufacturers such as CEAT Specialty to drive their farming operations forward.

CEAT Specialty’s Ambernath Plant, which produces Ag radial tires for North America and other worldwide markets, has won a prestigious Sword of Honour from the British Safety Council.

The company, a division of CEAT Tires dedicated to producing Off-Highway (OHT) tires, with its dedicated Ambernath plant at the forefront of this manufacturing process, was one of 115 organizations worldwide that achieved a Sword of Honour, awarded to companies which have demonstrated excellence in the management of health and safety risks at work.

CEAT has been on quite a roll this month in terms of prestigious honors. Earlier this month, the company was awarded the Deming Grand Prize, considered one of the highest achievements in TQM (Total Quality Management) worldwide. In doing so, CEAT became the first tire brand and one of only 33 companies globally to receive the prestigious award.

In order to compete for the Sword of Honour, an organization first had to achieve the maximum five stars in British Safety Council’s health and safety management audit scheme. The qualification period for this is between 1 August 2022 and 31 July 2023. The organisation has also demonstrated to an independent panel of experts that it has achieved excellence in its health and safety management throughout the business – from the shop floor to the boardroom.

For the first time this year, a new Shield of Honour Award was also introduced for organizations which can demonstrate excellence in well being management.

Peter McGettrick, Chairman of British Safety Council, said: “On behalf of the board of trustees and staff of the British Safety Council I would like to congratulate CEAT Specialty on achieving the highest standards of its health and safety management. These awards recognize the commitment, dedication and absolute professionalism undertaken. We are proud to support your organization in its achievement and delighted we can contribute to your ongoing success.”

Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of British Safety Council, added: “I would like to congratulate CEAT Specialty and its staff on this award, in tribute to their commitment to keeping their workplace safe and healthy.

“All of the Sword and Globe – and now Shield – award-winning organizations share a commitment and resolve to achieve the uppermost standards of health and safety – or now wellbeing. We thank CEAT Specialty for contributing to achieving our vision that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work.”

Amit Tolani, Chief Executive, CEAT Specialty added “We take pride in winning the prestigious Sword of Honour from British Safety Council, a testament to our steadfast dedication to safeguarding the health and well-being of our employees and stakeholders. We remain committed to enhancing our health and safety management systems, aiming to uphold our status as an exemplary organization.”

Global tire company CEAT has been awarded the Deming Grand Prize, considered one of the highest achievements in TQM (Total Quality Management) worldwide. In doing so, CEAT has become the first tire brand and one of only 33 companies globally to receive the prestigious award.

The Deming Prize, instituted out of Japan, is a recognition of business excellence. It is awarded to organizations that have achieved the Deming Prize and have continued to sustain and elevate their Total Quality Management (TQM) practices for more than three years. CEAT has been on the TQM journey for over fifteen years and was the first tire company outside Japan to win the prestigious Deming Prize in 2017.

This award recognizes companies that set and achieve challenging business objectives and strategies that are customer focused and quality oriented through the practice of TQM principles, concepts and techniques. The entire organization was assessed, including its supplier and distribution network.

Receiving the Deming Grand Prize is the highest quality honor. Among the 32 companies to receive the Deming Grand Prize since 1970 are: Toyota Motor, Philps Taiwan, M&M -Farm, Tata Steel and Komatsu Ltd.

Mr. Arnab Banerjee, MD & CEO, CEAT Ltd., said “We are extremely delighted with this achievement. Winning this prize reflects our robust business systems and processes, leading to the creation of highly reliable and dependable products and services every time.  This is delivered through involvement of every employee and all stakeholders making it truly partnership based. We believe that CEAT’s customer-centric approach and superior quality standards have played a critical role in winning us this honor.”

Mr. Amit Tolani, Chief Executive, CEAT Specialty, said ” Securing the Deming Grand Prize is a phenomenal achievement for CEAT and a resounding testament to the relentless dedication and unwavering commitment of every member within our organization. I wish to extend profound thanks and heartfelt gratitude to our invaluable partners for their unwavering support. This award reflects our  pursuit of excellence, our unyielding commitment to innovation, and our steadfast devotion towards exceeding customer expectations. It serves as a powerful source of motivation, propelling us to reach newer heights in our industry.”

Deming Grand was institutionalized in 1969 and is one of the longstanding quality awards presented by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) for excellence in Total Quality Management (TQM).

Instituted in 1958, CEAT is one of India’s leading tire brands and the flagship company of the RPG Group. CEAT tires are sold in more than 115 countries worldwide. The company produces more than 41 million high-performance tires, catering to various segments like 2-3 Wheelers, Passenger and Utility Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles and Off-Highway Vehicles.

CEAT Specialty Tires, headquartered in Jefferson City, MO, began selling CEAT Ag and OTR tires in North America five years ago. In the specialty segment, CEAT manufactures farm, mining and earthmover, industrial, and construction equipment tires, as well as special application off road tires.

Lights, camera, action! CEAT Ag tires have been provided to two farmers participating in the upcoming “Top Crop” TV program which will air on RFD-TV and other TV networks in late fall.

“Top Crop” is a new reality documentary series that follows a group of farmers as they work hard to produce the best crops possible on their ground. Crops include corn, soybeans, wheat, or other specialty crops. Each week, the farmers will face challenges designed to test their skills and knowledge in planting, growing and harvesting these crops. They will showcase the quality and yield of their final crops. Along the way, viewers will learn about the latest farming techniques and technologies, as well as the challenges and rewards of running a successful farm.

As the documentary progresses, viewers will get to know the farmers on a personal level, learning about their families, their communities, and the challenges they face in running a farm. The show will also provide an opportunity for the farmers to share their stories and experiences, and to inspire others who are interested in pursuing a career in farming.

Illinois corn farmer Dan Luepkes proved his mettle in a previous reality documentary called Corn Warriors, which was also produced by Seth Wood, the man behind Top Crop.

When Dan, who farmed beside his father as a child, first looked into purchasing the property he now farms, he was told that the probability of going bankrupt within a short time was without question. The farm, now operating under the name Luepkes Enterprises, had extremely poor, sandy soil that was unable to consistently produce yields or profit. True to his bold character, Luepkes assessed the properties potential, ultimately deciding to gamble the outcome while stealing himself with determination to find a solution that turned the property from risk to reward.

This fall Luepkes will get his first experience on CEAT FARMAX tractor tires.

CEAT Spraymax VF tires have been installed on a self-propelled sprayer at Mann’s Farms in west central Ohio. Shelby Fite is a second-generation farmer. In high school, Fite found her love for agronomy and followed that interest to receive a masters degree in Crop Sciences. She and her husband are doing great things on the farm founded by her parents; we look forward to their feedback on our Spraymax tires.

Luepkes and the Fites are shining examples of today’s smart, savvy American farmers. We can’t wait until they experience the dependable traction, good roadability and long tread wear of their CEAT tires.

Step into the customer area of the new facility for Tirecraft Picture Butte and you might mistake it for a high-end retail store with beautiful wood floors, modern light fixtures and overall exquisite taste. A few wheels on display and the name “Tirecraft” are the only clues that this is a tire store.

Some may call this “over kill” but for owner John Wiebe it is simply a statement on his overall approach to business. “I’m all about customer service. That has always been our top priority. When people come in my door I want them to feel at home. I’m a firm believer that if you take care of the customer they will come back time and time again,” Wiebe says.

Wiebe’s focus on customer service is why he decided to give CEAT Ag and OTR tires a try. “I heard good things about CEAT and began carrying CEAT tires this last spring. I love these tires. They are going on big four-wheel drive tractors and other size tractors, as well as Bobcats and implements.”

“I was a big BKT supporter for many years, but I like the price and quality of the CEAT tires. For guys who don’t want to spend the money for a Michelin or Firestone on the high end, the CEAT tires fit their budget, and they perform really well. All of the CEAT tires I’ve put out there, the guys come back saying how much they like how they perform. I’m really excited to get more of my customers on CEAT tires,” Wiebe says.

Wiebe has been in the tire business for 15 years and has owned his own business for the past nine. Business has been so good that he opened up a much bigger shop this year at 231 Highway Avenue in Picture Butte to serve the southern Alberta area which is cattle country. The new facility has two bays to service very large Ag equipment and is supported by three service trucks and 10 employees.

Tirecraft Picture Butte is exactly the type of tire dealer that CEAT Specialty wants in our dealer network, and we wish Wiebe and his team all the success in the world in the years ahead.

WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) will enter the 2023 Division Youth Series with a new title partner for the organization’s Division Youth Showcases events through a partnership with CEAT Specialty.

The 2023-24 WCRA Division Youth (DY) Series will feature CEAT Specialty WCRA Division Youth Showcase events in Guthrie, Oklahoma, Fort Worth, Texas, and Mill Spring, North Carolina. Each event will pay $55,000 and feature the top eight from the Junior DY Athletes (19 and under) in each discipline.

“This sponsorship of the new WCRA Division Youth Series builds on our support of young rodeo competitors,” said CEAT Specialty Chief Executive Amit Tolani, noting that the company has been sponsoring several individual junior rodeo competitors for several years.  “Our growing support of rodeo is part of CEAT Specialty’s overall commitment to improve the life and livelihood of American farmers and ranchers.”

CEAT Specialty entered the North American market five years ago. The quality of its tractor and implement tires, combined with a more than competitive acquisition price, is being appreciated more and more by farmers and ranchers.

At each event, athletes will battle it out in one round of competition for the $26,400 added money ($2,600 added per discipline), with each event champion taking home a minimum of $2,000.  The Showcase will crown champions in each of the 11 Junior disciplines: Bareback Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping (Heading/Heeling), Saddle Bronc Riding, Tie-Down Roping, Ladies Pole Bending, Ladies Goat Tying, Ladies Breakaway Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing, and Bull Riding.

Payout is as follows per discipline:

WCRA Division Youth rodeo athletes recently rewrote the youth rodeo record books when the organization capped off their first WCRA Division Youth complete series as they wrapped up the dominant 2023 (World Championship Junior Rodeo) in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The youth world championship event shelled out more than $407,000- creating the richest youth rodeo in over two decades.

In early October, the first CEAT Specialty showcase event will occur at WCRA’s Rodeo Carolina in Mill Spring, North Carolina. Athletes can qualify by nominating any age-restricted youth rodeo and earning points for the WCRA Junior Leaderboard (DY24 Leaderboard) positions using the VRQ (Virtual Rodeo Qualifier). Each discipline’s top eight on the leaderboard will qualify for the event. Those who are eligible must pay a $300 entry fee (100% payback). Athletes can learn how to nominate and earn points HERE.

The showcase schedule and deadline are as follows:

*Subject to change

“While the main focus of the DY athletes is qualifying for the $200,000 added money World Championship Junior Rodeo, these are additional earning opportunities at WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo events for the top eight on the Junior Division leaderboard,” said WCRA President Bobby Mote. “The points earned and money won at these showcase events will help propel these athletes to a world championship title at the WCJR.”

WCRA DY is a year-long leaderboard race of rodeo events worldwide, culminating at the World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR). The 2023 event will have over $200,000 in added money and will take place in Guthrie, OK at the Lazy E Arena the July 25-29, 2023. Athletes can qualify by nominating their rodeo efforts and earning points for the WCRA DY leaderboard positions using the VRQ (Virtual Rodeo Qualifier). Athletes can nominate their rodeo efforts until Sunday, June 25, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. to nominate and earn points. The top 16 on the leaderboard will qualify for the event with no entry fees.

About WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance):

WCRA is a professional sport and entertainment entity, created to develop and advance the sport of rodeo by aligning all levels of competition. In association with the PBR, WCRA produces major rodeo events, developing additional opportunities for rodeo-industry competitors, stakeholders, and fans. To learn more, visit wcrarodeo.com.

The farming and ranching industry aren’t for the faint of heart. It takes determination, hard work and smarts to cultivate the land and raise livestock. That’s why it’s crucial for farmers and ranchers to have tires that can withstand the tough conditions that come with their line of work and deliver such attributes as dependable traction, good roadability and low soil compaction.

This is where CEAT Specialty Tires comes in.  The company’s mission is to offer high quality tires at a better value to North America’s farmers and ranchers. By all accounts, the company is accomplishing its mission after five years in North America.

Brent Sisson, Agricultural Tire Specialist for Tirecraft Sarnia in Ontario, Canada, says it takes him about four years to truly evaluate an Ag tire brand. He’s been selling CEAT farm tires for four years now and is all in! “It’s about a 4-year process before I can feel confident in telling my customers I have confidence in a farm tire product,” Sisson says. “I must see it first-hand with known comparisons. CEAT is one brand that has surpassed my requirements. They provide a high quality, precision product. We have had lots of excellent customer feedback.”

Featuring innovative rubber compounds, tread design and construction, the CEAT FARMAX radial tractor tire line delivers long tread life, dependable traction in the field, a smooth and steady ride on the road, and low soil compaction.

Torquemax, available in VF and IF versions, is also a key product from CEAT Specialty Tires. Designed for high horsepower tractors, the Torquemax radial provides better traction and prevents slippage even when used in wet soil or muddy fields. With its optimized design, the Torquemax reduces fuel consumption and provides good roadability.

The Spraymax sprayer tire is another outstanding radial from CEAT Specialty Tires. The Spraymax, which is also available in VF and IF versions, has deep and wide lugs that provide superior traction and prevent slippage during spraying. With a heavy ply rating, it can carry a large amount of weight with ease, making it the perfect tire for the larger self-propelled sprayers. CEAT has incorporated a special rubber compound in the Spraymax that allows the tire to resist abrasions and cuts, thus providing a longer lifespan.

The Yieldmax for combine harvesters also delivers dependable traction and reduces soil compaction.

Farming is a difficult job that requires a lot of effort and time, so it’s essential to choose the right techniques to achieve successful and sustainable yields. One of the most popular techniques nowadays is strip till farming.

This method combines the benefits of full tillage and no till by tilling narrow strips and leaving the area between the rows untouched. There are many advantages of strip till farming that lead to increased productivity.

Improved Soil Health — Strip till farming has an unquestionable positive impact on soil health. Tilling only a narrow band helps retain the moisture in the soil, which ensures that beneficial microbes and microorganisms can thrive. Additionally, it keeps the nutrients in the soil, leaving the area between the rows undisturbed. This allows the undisturbed soil to act as a cover crop, reducing soil erosion and enhancing the nutrient retention capacity of the land.

Increased Yield — Strip till farming has been shown to increase crop yield. The strips tilled in the soil help in warming it up, aiding seed germination. This increase in yield is due to the shallow soil tillage that helps reduce water evaporation and conserve moisture. Strip till farming also helps reduce soil compaction and improve nutrient availability for the crops. In addition, incorporating fertilizers into the tillage strips ensures that the roots of the plants can quickly access the nutrients they need to grow. All these factors contribute to an increased yield, making strip till farming a popular choice among farmers.

Cost-Effective — Strip till farming reduces the overall cost of production by cutting the number of passes. In addition, it helps conserve soil moisture and nutrients while minimizing weed growth, thus reducing the use of pesticides.

Soil Erosion Reduction — Soil degradation has become a significant concern in agriculture. Strip till farming provides an effective solution. The narrow strips tilled in the soil aid in slowing down and retaining the water flow, reducing soil erosion and nutrient loss.

Time –Saving time is essential for time-starved farmers. Reducing the number of passes required to prepare the land saves time for other essential farm activities. Moreover, the strips tilled help in warming up the soil; therefore, plant growth is faster.

To conclude, strip till farming provides significant benefits to farmers, their produce, and the environment as a whole. The method ensures improved soil health, increased yield, cost-effectiveness, soil erosion reduction, and time-saving. By adopting strip till farming, farmers can enjoy higher yields while minimizing the risks of deteriorating the quality of the land.

Using the right farm tires is also important for all of these factors and more. For instance, CEAT is delivering IF and VF technologies to farmers at more affordable pricing. One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years, VF tires such as the CEAT Spraymax have the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure (20% of IF tires). The gentler footprint of the Spraymax VF translates into less soil compaction and crop damage.

Farmers and ranchers have a tough job, and one of the essential tools to have in their arsenal are reliable tires. Whether it’s for tractors or other heavy-duty farm equipment, tires can make a significant impact on productivity and safety.

The search for the best farm tires can be daunting, but you cannot go wrong with the CEAT Spraymax VF radial tire for your self-propelled sprayer.

The benefits of Spraymax tires

The first thing to know about Spraymax is its VF (very high flexion) technology. One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years, VF tires have the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. The gentler footprint of the Spraymax VF translates into less soil compaction and crop damage.

Spraymax tires are engineered to function well in even the toughest environments, making them ideal for farmers and ranchers in need of heavy-duty tires. One of the significant benefits of Spraymax tires is their ability to reduce downtime due to punctures.

Additionally, they can reduce fuel consumption since they offer low rolling resistance. Their roadability is also excellent. As farmers travel from one field to another, they are spending more and more time on the road. The center tie bar on the Spraymax gives this tire superior roadability, so farmers can relax and rest when they reach the next field. To run a successful row crop operation, farmers must maximize every hour in the field while minimizing downtime. With Spraymax tires, farmers can maximize their crop spraying with reliable and innovative tires!

The Importance of Proper Tire Maintenance

Spraymax tires are a great investment. It’s essential, however, to practice proper tire maintenance to get the maximum performance out of them and any Ag tire for that matter. That means regularly inspecting the tires for signs of wear and damage, maintaining proper air pressure, and making sure the tire matches the load. If you’re a farmer or rancher looking for the best tire performance, contact your local tire dealer for more information about CEAT Ag tires, which include a wide range of radial and bias tires for farm tractors and other farm equipment including sprayers and combines. Their durability, puncture resistance and overall longevity make them an ideal choice for the stringent demands of farming and ranching.

By CEAT intern Hannah Loethen

CEAT Specialty Tires is increasing its support of rodeo, marking the company’s fourth year of sponsoring rodeo organizations and events across America. The sponsorships include brand exposure on TV and social media, as well as at high-profile rodeo competitions.

The company, which markets a comprehensive line of radial and bias Ag tires, is again the Official Ag Tire of the WRWC (Women’s Rodeo World Championship), WRCA (Working Ranch Cowboys Association), National High School Rodeo Association and the National Junior High Rodeo Association.

In addition, CEAT Specialty Tires is the title sponsor of a new division youth circuit in the WRWC, an extension of the company’s

sponsorship of individual rodeo youth competitors. CEAT Specialty Tires also sponsors individual rodeo competitors Chaney Sellers and Tyler Acree, in the National Junior High Rodeo Association, as well as Charly Sellers in the high school division. Chaney found success in the National Junior High Finals Rodeo this year earning a 6th place finish in Ribbon Roping. CEAT is also a proud sponsor of bull rider Ridge Disselkamp, a member of the University of Kentucky Rodeo Team. Ridge recently took 2nd place at the Double T in Glendale, Ky.

CEAT is also expanding its rodeo support into Canada by sponsoring multiple chuckwagons in the Rangeland Derby during the Calgary Stampede, which is known as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” The popular Rangeland Derby is one of the most prestigious of all chuckwagon races in North America with the highest prize money.

There are more than six million loyal rodeo fans in the US and Canada. “Connecting our brand with rodeo continues to make perfect sense for us,” said CEAT Specialty Chief Executive Amit Tolani. “Rodeo fans are very passionate about the sport and the brands that support it. A significant portion of them own ranches and farms, so it is a great opportunity to discuss CEAT’s mission to offer high quality tires at a better value to America’s farmers and ranchers.”

One of the most essential aspects of farmers’ and ranchers’ businesses is protecting the soil that provides the foundation for their livelihoods.

Soil erosion and depletion can happen rapidly with traditional farming methods. However, no till farming can preserve and even improve the soil for future generations. No till farming is a way to plant crops without disturbing the soil by leaving the previous year’s plant residue on the ground. As a company which produces high-technology Ag tires that provide numerous long-term benefits such as minimizing soil compaction, CEAT Specialty Tires is keenly interested in trends and techniques that contribute to long-term soil health.

What is No Till Farming?

No till farming is a process of planting crops without disturbing the soil. Before planting, the previous year’s plant residue is left on the ground to act as a natural mulch. Then, seeds are planted directly into the soil without disturbing the residue. This method preserves the soil structure and allows beneficial microorganisms to thrive, providing a more productive and healthier environment for plant growth.

The Advantages of No Till Farming

No till farming has many benefits, starting with soil protection. By keeping the soil covered, soil erosion is reduced and moisture is retained, resulting in more productive land. Additionally, no till farming increases soil quality by allowing beneficial microorganisms to flourish, which increases organic matter levels. This boost in organic matter leads to higher fertility, water retention, and soil structure, all attributes that improve plant growth and ultimately long-term crop yields.

No till farming also helps farmers save time and money. Since there is less soil disturbance, there is less need for tilling and transportation, making the planting process more efficient and cost-effective. Furthermore, with the increase in organic matter levels, fertilizer and irrigation needs are reduced, also resulting in cost savings.

Statistics on No Till Farming Adoption in the US

According to the USDA, no till farming was practiced on 37% of US cropland as of 2017, up from 12% in 1990. In the Midwest region, over 50% of cropland uses no till farming, while in the Southeast, less than 20% does. These statistics show that no till farming is a growing trend that farmers should consider adopting to help protect their soil and improve crop yields.

Important Considerations in Adopting No Till Farming

It is essential to consider the timing and methods of planting. Planting should occur when soil temperatures and moisture levels are optimal to provide the best environment for seed germination. Additionally, it is recommended to use cover crops during fallow periods to maintain soil health and nutrient levels, further increasing crop yields.

In conclusion, no till farming is a sustainable and cost-effective farming method that provides numerous benefits over traditional farming. It’s an excellent solution for protecting the soil, increasing long-term crop yields and boosting organic matter levels, making it an obvious choice for farmers and ranchers who prioritize the health and preservation of their land. By adopting no till farming, farmers can enjoy many positives, including greater efficiency, cost savings, and a healthier soil ecosystem, all while providing a better future for the next generation of farmers.

By CEAT intern Hannah Loethen

The rodeo world is full of tough and talented athletes who spend countless hours perfecting their craft. The best of the best competed recently in the National Junior High Finals Rodeo in Perry, GA, and CEAT-sponsored Chaney Sellers performed exceptionally well – an impressive 6th place finish in Ribbon Roping.

Chaney and her horse, Burrito, practiced every single day in preparation for the national competition. Right when she got home from school, the young athlete headed straight to the barn and practiced for hours. This practice came into play when Chaney competed in 20 rodeos in Oklahoma to earn enough points to qualify for the National Junior High Rodeo Finals. It was with her 3rd place finish in Oklahoma’s state rodeo competition that secured her spot at the nationals.

Success in rodeo is not new to the Sellers family. Chaney’s father, Jay, was a former professional steer roper in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and older sister Charly competes successfully at the high school level. Jay has enjoyed helping both his girls hone their rodeo skills. Jay, along with the rest of the Sellers family, drove 15 hours from their home in Waurika, Oklahoma, to Perry to support Chaney in the National Junior High Finals Rodeo.

“We are super proud of her,” exclaimed Chaney’s mother, Christy. “Very proud of her consistency and toughness throughout the year to get there.”

Ribbon Roping in NJHFR is a mixed event (one boy and one girl team). Chaney’s partner, Cactus Cain (what a great name for a cowboy!), was the roper mounted on horseback and Chaney (the runner) was on foot. After the calf was roped by Cactus, Chaney ran to the calf and deftly took the ribbon from the calf’s tail. Chaney then dashed back to the designated finish line with ribbon in hand. Sounds pretty difficult eh? It is!

Chaney’s 6th place finish in Ribbon Roping at the national level  is a true testament to her skill, dedication, and hard work as a rodeo athlete. Her example serves as an inspiration to all those looking to excel in the rodeo arena.

CEAT Specialty Tires is proud to support Chaney and the NJHFR organization as a whole. With their hard work and dedication, these young folks make us feel good about the future of America! Congratulations Chaney on your impressive accomplishment!

A good mission statement is straightforward, easy to understand. CEAT’s mission is to offer high quality tires at a better value to America’s farmers and ranchers.

By all accounts, the company is accomplishing its mission after five years in North America. Brent Sisson, Agricultural Tire Specialist for Tirecraft Sarnia in Ontario, Canada, says it takes him about four years to truly evaluate an Ag tire brand. He’s been selling CEAT farm tires for four years now and is all in!

“It’s about a 4-year process before I can feel confident in telling my customers I have confidence in a farm tire product,” Sisson says. “I must see it first-hand with known comparisons. CEAT is one brand that has surpassed my requirements. They provide a high quality, precision product. We have had lots of excellent customer feedback.”

It’s noteworthy when your farmer customers come back and ask for the same brand by name. That’s what’s been happening at Millersburg Tire Service in Ohio, one of the first American tire dealers to sell CEAT Ag tires.

“What makes me feel really good is when they call in on the phone and they want that ‘CEAT Tire,’” say Millersburg Tire Service owner Brad Schmucker. “That’s the key to making inroads in a market . . . when you have a tire that people ask for by name.”

While the brand is relatively new to North America, CEAT was established back in 1924 in Turin, Italy. Today, it is one of India’s leading tire manufacturers, and CEAT tires are sold in more than 115 countries worldwide. CEAT manufactures farm, mining, and earthmover, industrial, and construction equipment tires, as well as special application OTR tires. The North American headquarters is located in Jefferson City, MO.

Featuring the latest in Ag tire technologies, CEAT tractor and implement tires perform well in the field and equally well on the road. This CEAT performance, combined with an acquisition price that is friendly on the wallet, delivers true value to America’s farmers and ranchers.

“We have been very pleased with the CEAT tires,” says peanut farmer Justin Studstill, whose John Deere tractors and implements travel over a 60-mile square area in southeast Georgia.  “Our tractors spend a lot of time on the road, and the CEAT tires provide a smooth steady ride. They don’t get squirrelly like some tires do; very stable even when pulling heavy implements.”

Studstill also appreciates how his CEAT FARMAX tractor tires provide dependable traction in the field while minimizing soil compaction.

CEAT offers a comprehensive range of Ag radial and bias tires. Radial tire offerings include:

• FARMAX for different size tractors
• Torquemax VF for high power tractors
• Spraymax VF for self-propelled sprayers
• Yieldmax for combines

CEAT radial Ag tires are backed with a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty and 3-year field hazard warranty.

Micro-grids in agriculture offer several benefits that contribute to sustainability and environmental impact reduction.

Taking a thorough look at farming and ranching, it’s difficult not to think about the environmental impact these sectors have and can have. With the rising concerns about climate change and the need for sustainable practices, people are thinking about new and innovative ways to ensure that their agricultural practices are both profitable and eco-friendly.

One such innovation gaining attention is the use of micro-grids. Let’s take a closer look at the various environmental benefits of micro-grids in agricultural practices:

• Renewable Energy Integration: Agriculture micro-grids often incorporate renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or small-scale hydroelectric power. By utilizing clean and renewable energy, micro-grids reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional fossil fuel-based energy generation.
• Reduced Emissions: Micro-grids can replace or reduce reliance on diesel generators or grid-connected electricity, which often rely on fossil fuels. By reducing the use of these polluting energy sources, micro-grids help to mitigate air pollution and decrease emissions of greenhouse gasses and harmful pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.
• Energy Efficiency: Micro-grids enable localized and decentralized energy generation, reducing transmission and distribution losses that typically occur in large-scale centralized power systems. This increased energy efficiency conserves resources and minimizes energy waste.
• Optimal Resource Allocation: Micro-grids in agriculture can integrate energy storage systems such as batteries, which enable better management of intermittent renewable energy sources. This ensures a more stable and reliable power supply, reducing the need for backup diesel generators and optimizing renewable energy resources.
• Grid Resilience and Reliability: Micro-grids enhance agricultural operations’ resilience by creating localized energy networks that can operate independently from the main grid during power outages or disruptions. This capability improves energy supply reliability and reduces vulnerability to climate-related events or other natural disasters.
• Water Conservation: Micro-grids can significantly support efficient water management in agriculture by powering irrigation systems using surplus power from the micro-grid. This allows for precision irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation or sensor-based systems, which minimize water wastage and promote water conservation.
• Sustainable Farming Practices: The use of micro-grids in agriculture encourages the adoption of sustainable farming practices, including organic farming, agroforestry, and regenerative agriculture. These practices can contribute to soil health, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and overall ecosystem sustainability.

Overall, micro-grids in agriculture promote the transition towards cleaner energy sources, reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency, improve resilience, and facilitate sustainable farming practices. By integrating renewable energy and enhancing resource management, micro-grids play a vital role in mitigating climate change and minimizing the environmental footprint of agricultural activities. Also, by minimizing the carbon footprint, improving local air quality, conserving natural resources, promoting biodiversity, and reducing energy waste, micro-grids help farmers and ranchers operate in an eco-friendly and sustainable way. On top of being environmentally beneficial, micro-grids are also economically viable and can be a profitable investment for farmers and ranchers in the long run.

Agriculture is a constantly evolving industry, with new practices and technologies emerging each year. It can be difficult to keep up with all of the changes and to determine which trends are worth investing in.

That’s why CEAT Specialty, a manufacturer of high technology Ag tires, is sharing details on the latest in agricultural trends. In this post, we’ll explore five trends that are shaping the future of farming and provide insights into how they can benefit your operation.

Precision Agriculture — involves using advanced technologies like GPS, sensors, robotics and analytics to optimize productivity. By collecting data on soil quality, plant health, and weather patterns, farmers can make informed decisions about when and where to plant, fertilize, and irrigate their crops. If you’re looking to invest in precision agriculture, start with tools like soil moisture sensors and weather stations.

Vertical Farming — a growing trend in certain types of agriculture that involves growing crops in an indoor, vertical environment. Using LED lights and hydroponic systems, vertical farms can produce higher yields and more consistent crops than traditional farming methods. Vertical farms are also more environmentally friendly than traditional farming methods, as they use less water and pesticides. If you’re looking to start a vertical farm, consider investing in LED grow lights and automated hydroponic systems.

Farm-to-Table — a trend that inolves selling locally produced food directly to consumers. By cutting out the middleman, farmers can increase profits and build relationships with consumers. Farm-to-table also benefits the environment, as it reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting food long distances. If you’re interested in a farm-to-table operation, consider selling at farmers’ markets or setting up a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program.

Drones — These flying machines are becoming increasingly popular in agriculture, as they can be used to collect data on crops and map farmland more efficiently than traditional methods. By using drones to monitor crop health and growth, farmers can make better decisions about irrigation and fertilizer application. Drones can also be used to map farmland and identify areas that need more attention. If you’re interested in exploring drone technology, start with a basic drone equipped with a camera.

Sustainable Agriculture — involves using environmentally friendly practices like crop rotation,intercropping, and cover crops to maintain soil quality and reduce waste. Sustainable agriculture can help reduce environmental impact and increase productivity by maintaining healthy soils and reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides. If you’re interested in sustainable agriculture, consider implementing practices like cover cropping and intercropping on your farm.

Agriculture is an ever-changing industry, but by staying on top of trends and investing in new technologies, farmers and ranchers can increase productivity and profitability while reducing environmental impact. There are many opportunities to innovate and improve your operation. By keeping an open mind and being willing to try new things, you can help shape the future of agriculture and build a successful and sustainable farming business.

The importance of soil health to successful farming cannot be overstated. Soil compaction, an issue that impacts numerous growers in North America and across the globe, is a huge factor that significantly impacts soil health and therefore crop yield.

So, what exactly is soil compaction? It occurs when soil particles are pressed and squeezed tightly, leading to a reduction of pore spaces that facilitate air and water absorption. When soils are compacted, it becomes difficult for the roots of crops to penetrate into the soil. Factors such as soil texture, rainfall, and soil types greatly contribute to the extent of soil compaction. For instance, clay soils are more prone to compaction than sandy soils because they have smaller spaces between soil particles, which can lead to a higher incidence of soil compaction.

The extent to which soil compaction affects crop yield is significant. Crop production can be reduced by up to 50% in compacted fields. This is because soil compaction leads to reduced water infiltration, reduced nutrient uptake, reduced oxygen supply, lower pH, and less microbial activity. These factors all negatively impact crop growth and yield.

Compacted soils are also less resilient to environmental stresses such as drought, erosion and heat. They are also more prone to runoff and soil erosion. Soil compaction is, therefore, a serious issue for farmers and ranchers.

The optimized designs of CEAT Ag tires help minimize the ground pressure exerted by farm machinery, ensuring that fields remain loose and porous, enabling the roots of crops to easily access nutrients, water, and oxygen.

Take the Torquemax VF radial for high power tractors for example. VF (very high flexion) technology enables the Torquemax to carry 40% more load, as compared to standard radial tires at the same pressure. On the other hand, VF tires can be operated at 40% lower air pressure as compared to standard radials for the same load. This produces a larger tire footprint which leads to lower soil compaction.

The CEAT Spraymax also provides VF technology for self-propelled sprayers. Not only does the Spraymax come with VF technology, it is incredibly durable – meaning farmers can get the most out of each season without needing to replace their tires too often – welcome news for farmers dealing with high input costs.

CEAT Specialty Tires is currently developing additional farm tire lines with VF technology. Tire technology must advance to keep up with farming machinery that is increasingly becoming more massive and heavier, which enhances productivity but can compact soils. While farm tractor and implement tires may look similar, they are not! it pays to know the company behind the tire. With CEAT, you can count on a farm tire that was borne from advanced R&D and produced through the most stringent total quality management (TQM) manufacturing processes.

The company continually invests in R&D and its manufacturing plants to deliver the highest quality products to its customers. Of particular note, CEAT is totally committed to following Total Quality Management (TQM) principles. CEAT is the only tire company outside of Japan to receive the prestigious Deming Prize (in 2017) for TQM excellence. This commitment gives CEAT the confidence to offer a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty and 3-year field hazard warranty on all of its Ag radial tires.

In summary, soil health is essential for farmers and ranchers to produce high yields and quality crops. Soil compaction is one factor that greatly impacts soil health; thus, farmers and ranchers must understand the impacts of soil compaction and ways to reduce it. CEAT Ag tires are an innovative solution that farmers and ranchers can use to reduce the harmful effects of soil compaction.

Flotation tires like the CEAT Flotation TX 440 provide many benefits for agricultural applications, including minimal compaction to the soil while providing outstanding grip in the field.

Flotation tires are perhaps most commonly known in the farm and agricultural industries, where the ability to float over loose dirt is a must. In addition to keeping farm vehicles above ground, flotation tires minimize soil disturbance in agricultural environments, as compared to other types of tires that tend to dig in and damage the soil.

Soil compaction occurs when soil particles are pressed together, reducing pore space between them. Heavily compacted soils contain few large pores, less total pore volume and, consequently, a greater density. A compacted soil has a reduced rate of both water infiltration and drainage. This happens because large pores more effectively move water downward through the soil than smaller pores. In most cases, the more soil compaction, the less crop yield.

In January 2022, University of Minnesota Extension, North Dakota State University, and Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development sponsored a conference to discuss compaction and proven strategies to alleviate it. We’re going to cover one of the takeaways here: A 2020 study that projected the economic costs of compaction across North Dakota and Minnesota. The study found that farmers in North Dakota and Minnesota may lose $587 million over two years for every 10% of land that is affected by compaction.

Soil compaction results in stunted roots, late emergence of sprouts, reduced nutrient absorption and oxygen starvation. It all adds up to lower yield.

Recommended for use on trailers, the CEAT Flotation TX 440 bias tire reduces soil compaction due to a larger volume and footprint which increase the tire’s ground contact. Additionally, rounded shoulders enable just the right curvature to help reduce damage to crops. The Flotation TX 440 trailer tire is backed by a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.

The design of the Flotation TX 440 bias tire integrates well with modern farming practices, such as no-till farming, minimum tillage, and crop rotations. This is because it significantly reduces soil damage and compaction while still improving traction and reducing slippage. Furthermore, the Flotation TX 440 is designed to operate at low air pressures, which reduces soil compaction further and improves the tire’s footprint.

Using flotation tires, such as the FLOTATION TX 440, can help farmers extend their field work hours when working in less than ideal conditions and wanting to minimize soil compaction.

Farmers must make many critical choices to achieve success, and there are so many factors out of their control such as the weather. One important decision totally in their control and critically important to farm profitability is choosing the right farm tractor tires.

In this blog post, we will give you tips and insights from CEAT Specialty Tires to help you choose the right Ag tire for your farm.

Tread Pattern
One very important consideration is the tire tread pattern. The tread pattern needs to match the terrain and soil conditions on

your farm. For instance, if you use your tractor on uneven and rough terrain, an R-1W tire, such as the CEAT TORQUEMAX, with a deep and aggressive tread pattern is perfect. The tread depth of an R-1W tire is at least 20 percent deeper than the same sized R-1 tire; this extra deep tread also comes in handy when dealing with muddy conditions and clay-type soils. For flat and even terrain, a R-1 tire with a less aggressive tread pattern may be more appropriate; your tire dealer can provide guidance on this decision.

Load Capacity
Load capacity is another significant factor to pay attention to when choosing agricultural tires. The tire’s load capacity must be able to support the weight of your equipment and the load you carry. To find the load capacity of a tire, you can refer to the Load Index Chart. The higher the load index number, the greater the load capacity of the tire.

Weather Conditions
Weather conditions also play a significant role when choosing agricultural tires. For instance, if you live in an area with heavy rainfall, mud, or snow, you need tires that can handle the wet and slippery conditions, like the CEAT TORQUEMAX. The CEAT TORQUEMAX features a tilted lug tip that reduces vibration and noise. A higher angle and lug overlap at the center provides better roadability, and the lower angle at shoulder gives superior traction. The rounded shoulders ensure lesser damage to soil and crops. A wider tread and larger inner volume reduce soil compaction, and the R1-W tread depth ensures longevity of the tires. On the other hand, if you live in a dry and hot climate, you need tires that can handle the heat and dry soil.

Durability and Longevity
You need to choose tires that have good durability and longevity. A tire that wears out quickly would mean frequent replacements, which ultimately results in more expenses.

CEAT Specialty Tires has been supplying Ag tires, such as the FARMAX tractor tire line, to North American farmers for five years now – long enough to truly assess their durability and tread wear.

Brent Sisson, Agricultural Tire Specialist for Tirecraft Sarnia in Ontario, Canada, says it takes him about four years to truly evaluate an Ag tire brand. He’s been selling CEAT farm tires for four years now is all in!

“For myself, it’s about a 4-year process before I can feel confident in telling my customers I have confidence in a product,” Sisson notes. “I must see it first-hand with known comparisons. CEAT is one brand that has surpassed my requirements. They provide a high quality, precision product. We have had lots of excellent customer feedback.”

Total cost of ownership — Farm tractor tires are a significant investment, but don’t be penny wise and pound foolish! Buying the cheapest Ag tire could quite likely cost you more in the long term. Likewise, opting for the farm tire with the highest acquisition price is not a guarantee that you are getting good value. CEAT delivers long tread life, good performance in the field and on the road, and durability at an “honest” price . . . or in other words, a low cost of ownership.

According to CEAT Specialty CEO Amit Tolani, “CEAT’s mission is to offer high quality tires at a better value to America’s farmers and ranchers.” By all accounts, the company is accomplishing that mission.

Guest blog post by CEAT intern Hannah Loethen

Tyler Acree has done it again! He’s claimed his spot to compete calf roping at the National Junior High School Rodeo on June 18-24 in Perry, GA. However, it has not been an easy journey for Tyler.

Tyler faced and overcame some serious challenges this rodeo season. One being having to compete with an injured foot. As a result of breaking a bone in his foot, Tyler had to compete wearing a walking boot.   “I was told that I might not be able to compete at state while wearing a walking boot. Although I was stressed out, i stayed consistent at the Missouri State Junior High Rodeo both days and earned second place,” the young cowboy said.

Adjusting to competing on a different horse was another challenge. Tyler’s  horse this year has been a big change from his pony, Rocket, from last year. “Unlike competing with Rocket, this horse teaches me all the ins and outs of the sport,” Tyler says.

Although it has been a challenge to adjust to a bigger and stronger horse, Tyler and his new horse are now preparing to compete at the National Junior High School Rodeo.

As Tyler trains and prepares to compete for the nationals, he’s focusing a lot on the mental side of things. “A lot of it is really mental . . . A lot of it!  A lot of people get really worked up because the announcer is talking crazy and he’s always saying that you need to beat this time and you have to be so fast. But it’s really not that. You just got to take your shot that you have right there,” stated Tyler. His plan of action for the Georgia event is stay “composed and consistent.” Click here for brief video of Tyler.

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“I would like to thank my sponsor CEAT because without them I wouldn’t have had all of these great opportunities that they have made possible. I would not be here without CEAT.”

– Tyler Acree

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Tyler’s resilience and determination are inspiring. CEAT Specialty Tires cannot wait to cheer him on at the National Junior High School Rodeo.

If you operate a self-propelled sprayer on your farm, the CEAT Spraymax VF radial will deliver everything you need in an Ag tire – long tread wear, traction in the field, smooth ride on the road, and less soil compaction.

Produced in one of the world’s most advanced Ag radial tire plants, the Spraymax VF is rapidly gaining in popularity with North American farmers because it delivers outstanding performance at a very competitive acquisition price.

The first thing to know about Spraymax is its VF (very high flexion) technology. One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years, VF tires have the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. The gentler footprint of the Spraymax VF translates into less soil compaction and crop damage.

While going easy on the soil and crops, the Spraymax VF does not sacrifice on traction. With its stepped lug design, you can count on the Spraymax VF to keep your sprayer on track instead of slip sliding away.

Not only are Spraymax VF tires designed to stand up to rugged conditions, they’re also incredibly durable– meaning you can get the most out of each season without needing to replace your tires too often – welcome news for farmers dealing with high input costs.

Farmers are spending more and more of their seat time on the road traveling from one field to another. A center tie bar gives this tire superior roadability, meaning you more rested and relaxed when you get to the next field.

As a row crop farmer, you know that maximizing each and every hour in the field while minimizing downtime is essential to running a successful operation. If you’re looking for reliable and innovative tires that can help maximize your crop spraying, then Spraymax VF tires may be the perfect choice for you!

Talk to your local tire dealer about CEAT Ag tires, including a wide range of farm tractor tires and specialized tires for other farm equipment such as sprayers and combines. If your dealer is not carrying CEAT, he should be! He will find out what Brad Schmucker, owner of Millersburg Tire Service in Ohio, has experienced – after five years of selling CEAT, his farmer customers are now coming back in and asking for more CEAT!

CEAT Specialty (division of CEAT Tires) is proud to announce that its Ambernath facility, which produces Ag radial tires for the North American market, has received a Five Star rating in the Occupational Health and Safety Audit conducted by the British Safety Council.

The company’s Ambernath plant underwent a comprehensive, quantified, and robust evaluation of its occupational health and safety policies, processes and practices. The audit process included documentation review, interviews with senior management, employees and other key stakeholders, together with samplings of operational activities.

Mike Robinson, CEO British Safety Council, said: “The award of a five-star grading following our occupational best practice Health and Safety Audit is an outstanding achievement and is reflective of a proactive organization which is committed to continual improvement in its health and safety arrangements and managing risks to workers’ health, safety and wellbeing.”

CEAT Specialty Chief Executive Amit Tolani added, “We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded a Five Star rating by the British Safety Council Occupational Health and Safety Audit. This accomplishment highlights our firm dedication to ensuring the safety and welfare of our employees and stakeholders. We aim at constant enhancement of our health and safety management systems to uphold our standing as a best practice organization.”

CEAT was established in 1924 in Turin, Italy. Today, it is one of India’s leading tire manufacturers, and CEAT tires are sold in more than 115 countries worldwide. The brand came to India in 1958, and later became part of the RPG Group. RPG is among the top business houses in India, with a group turnover of $3.6 billion.

In the specialty segment, CEAT manufactures farm, mining, and earthmover, industrial, and construction equipment tires, as well as special application off road tires. CEAT Specialty entered the North American market five years ago. The North American headquarters is located in Jefferson City, MO.

Feedback from North American tire dealers and farmers on CEAT Ag radial and bias-ply tires has been outstanding:

• “If you have a good tire that performs well in the field and equally well on the road, you have a winner,” says longtime Ag tire industry veteran Barry Hawn who serves as Director of Off-Road Products for Tirecraft Ontario. “CEAT is that tire!”
• “We have been very pleased with the CEAT tires”says Georgia peanut farmer Justin Studstill. “Our tractors spend a lot of time on the road, and the CEAT tires provide a smooth steady ride. They don’t get squirrelly like some tires do; very stable even when pulling heavy implements.”
• Brent Sisson, Agricultural Tire Specialist for Tirecraft Sarnia in Ontario, Canada, says it takes him about four years to truly evaluate an Ag tire brand. He’s been selling CEAT farm tires for four years now and he is all in! “For myself, it’s about a 4-year process before I can feel confident in telling my customers I have confidence in a product,” Sisson notes. “I have to see it first-hand with known comparisons. CEAT is one brand that has surpassed my requirements. They provide a high quality, precision product. We have had lots of excellent customer feedback.”
  

Ag flotation tires have gained immense popularity in recent years with farmers due to their significant advantages in working soggy fields while minimizing soil compaction.

Flotation tires have several benefits, including reduced soil erosion, increased traction and improved fuel efficiency. These tires are highly effective in minimizing soil damage caused by heavy farm machinery, which is getting heavier all the time!

These tires are specifically designed to provide a larger footprint, which helps to distribute weight across a larger surface area. As a result, the tires produce less compaction, which not only improves soil health but also enhances the tire’s overall handling capacity.

CEAT FLOTATION TX 440

Recommended for use on trailers, the CEAT Flotation TX 440 bias tire has a larger volume and footprint which increase the tire’s ground contact; this significantly reduces compaction to the soil. Additionally, rounded shoulders enable just the right curvature to help reduce damage to crops. The Flotation TX 440 trailer tire is backed by a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.

The design of the Flotation TX 440 bias tire integrates well with modern farming practices, such as no-till farming, minimum tillage, and crop rotations. This is because it significantly reduces soil damage and compaction while still improving traction and reducing slippage. Furthermore, the Flotation TX 440 is designed to operate at low air pressures, which reduces soil compaction further and improves the tire’s footprint.

Soil Compaction

Soil compaction occurs when soil particles are pressed together, reducing pore space between them. Heavily compacted soils contain few large pores, less total pore volume and, consequently, a greater density. A compacted soil has a reduced rate of both water infiltration and drainage. This happens because large pores more effectively move water downward through the soil than smaller pores. In most cases, the more soil compaction, the less crop yield.

One of the most important factors for decreasing soil compaction potential is to stay off the soil when it’s wet. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, as it often limits field work opportunities. Using flotation tires, such as the FLOTATION TX 440, can help farmers extend their field work hours when working in less than ideal conditions and wanting to minimize soil compaction.

In conclusion, flotation tires are an excellent option for any farmer looking to reduce soil compaction, enhance handling capacity, and improve overall efficiency with his farm equipment.

Taking care of your farm tractor tires will make them last longer, and longer lasting tires will certainly reduce your farm operating costs.

This means checking the air pressure often. A tire operating outside of the specified inflation range is a problem waiting to happen. Your tractor’s tire pressure can have a large effect on tread life, not to mention pulling power, traction, ride quality, and soil compaction. It is estimated that a tire under inflated by just 10% below the recommended levels can reduce your tire life by as much as 15%.

The tire pressure supports the structural integrity of the tire.  If the tire is not properly inflated, the tire can become degraded and its life shortened.  Another consequence of an under-inflated tire is bead slip, which occurs when the bead of the tire slips against the tire’s rim — creating a tremendous amount of heat that ultimately destroys the tire.

So how do you get it right? Inflate to the air pressure that is appropriate for the most demanding application for each tire. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. The load and inflation tables show the speed range, inflation range and the load range for each tire. Your tire dealer can also give valuable guidance.

To maximize the lifespan of your tractor tires, it is important to inspect your tires on a regular basis. Look for abnormalities in the tread pattern and sidewall, such as bulges cracks and tears. Also, if you see signs of irregular wear in the tread, this could mean the tire is not being used properly for the application (most often is under inflated) or there is an issue with the equipment. Either way, detecting irregular wear early will help you correct the problem and obtain optimum tire life.

Properly storing your farm tires over the winter or when they are not in use will extend their life. The first step is to clean them before storage.

Tractor tires typically accumulate brake dust, road grime, and dirt. This gunk can be harmful to the tire if it is allowed to stay on for extended periods of time. Use soap, water and a good tire brush. Then wipe the tires down completely and allow them to air dry.

Do not speed! Farm tractor tires are spending more and more time on the road these days as farmers work tracts that are more spread out. Most farm tires have a maximum speed rating of 25 miles per hour or less. When drivers go faster than their recommended speeds, they generate an excessive amount of heat in the tires. This heat breaks down the rubber in the tires, separating interior liners and belts and reducing the tire’s lifespan.

For a longer lasting and better performing tractor tire, choose a high-quality farm tractor tire from a brand such as CEAT. You can find tractor tires at less cost than CEAT, but you would be hard pressed to find an Ag tire brand that delivers more value than CEAT, as measured in terms of performance versus price. Buying the lowest priced tractor tire will likely cost you more in the long-term.

There are always so many chores on the farm and finite time, but taking the time to properly maintain your tractor tires will greatly maximize their life span and, thereby, reduce your farm operating costs.

As the agricultural industry continues to evolve, so too do its tire needs. The modern farmer is looking for Ag tire technology that delivers on a number of important fronts – minimizing soil compaction, maximizing performance in the field and on the road, reducing tread wear, combatting stubble damage and more.

To meet this need, tire manufacturers such as CEAT Specialty are continuously introducing new innovations designed to improve functionality as well as profitability for farmers. In this blog post, we’ll take an in-depth look at some of the current trends in Ag tires along with what can be expected from future developments in this ever-changing landscape. Keep reading to see how today’s farmers can benefit from advancements made by those pushing technological boundaries in Ag tires.

Flotation Tires

The increased usage of high-flotation tires is one of the most notable trends in agriculture tires. High-flotation tires have a larger surface area, which reduces soil compaction and minimizes crop damage while enhancing the tractor’s stability. This leads to superior traction, better fuel economy, and improved overall performance. High-flotation tires such as the FARMAX HPT tire from CEAT Specialty are specially designed for wet and soft soil conditions, allowing farmers to enhance crop yields and optimize crop operations.

IF/VF Technology

The importance of minimizing soil compaction cannot be understated. Soil compaction is a major problem for farmers as it reduces pore space, making it difficult for air, water, and roots to penetrate into the soil. This can cause limited crop growth, reduced crop yields, and even soil erosion. One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years for reducing soil compaction is IF (increased flexion) and VF (very high flexion) tires. IF tires are designed to carry 20% more load than a standard radial and, alternately, carry the same load as a standard radial at 20% less pressure. VF tires such as the Torquemax VF, are even more advanced with the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. The IF/VF tire footprint treats the soil kindly. CEAT is delivering IF/VF technology to farms and ranches at a competitive cost.

Dual Tires

Another trend in farm tractor tires is the usage of dual tires to handle heavy loads. Dual tires provide increased load carrying capacity while significantly reducing soil compaction. This leads to longer tire life, better fuel economy, and improved traction. Dual tires also distribute the load evenly on the surface, minimizing depressions on the ground, reducing soil erosion, and improving soil quality.

Roadability

Today’s Ag tires must perform equally well in the field and on the road as farmers increasingly work many fields separated by paved and gravel roads. Effective farm tires deliver dependable traction with less slip in the field and also a smooth steady ride on the road.

As Barry Hawn, Director of Off-Road Products for Tirecraft Ontario, notes in this blog post, “Farmers are in their tractors all day long. When they get on the road they’ve got to get to the next field as quickly as possible. They are going pretty fast, so ride comfort is a huge issue. If they get beat up on the road, at the end of the day they are not happy!”

“The CEAT tires have done a great job with their capability to roll down the road with a nice comfortable ride,” says Hawn who has been in the tire business for 50 years. He has experience with the vast majority of Ag tire brands.

The CEAT radial Ag tire plant is one of the most advanced in the world.

R&D Investment

Ag tires today deliver performance levels that would have been unimaginable 10-20 years ago. Ag tire manufacturers like CEAT Specialty invest tens of millions of dollars in R&D and high-tech plants.

Of particular note, CEAT is totally committed to following Total Quality Management (TQM) principles. CEAT is the only tire company outside of Japan to receive the prestigious Deming Prize (in 2017) for TQM excellence.

The field of agriculture has undergone a revolution over the last few decades, and the industry is predicted to progress at breakneck speed in the years to come. With tires being the only component on tractors and implements that touches the ground, you can count on Ag tires to continue progressing in technology. With sustainable farming practices becoming increasingly important, we can expect to see tires that are more environmentally friendly, reducing soil compaction and enabling farmers to work more efficiently. It’s an exciting time for agriculture, and with advances in tire technology, farmers can look forward to a future of increased productivity and sustainability.

Making the most of every spraying session starts with having all the right pieces of equipment. As a row crop farmer, you know that maximizing each and every hour in the field while minimizing downtime is essential to running a successful operation.

Did you know that your choice in tires can make or break your progress? That’s why CEAT Spraymax VF tires, designed for self-propelled sprayers, are a game changer.

• Superb Traction and Handling: With Spraymax tires, you can rely on superior traction no matter the terrain or weather conditions. With its stepped lug design, you can count on the Spraymax VF to keep your sprayer on track instead of slip sliding away.
• Long Lasting Durability: Not only are Spraymax tires designed to stand up to rugged conditions, but they’re also incredibly durable– meaning you can get the most out of each season without needing to replace your tires too often.
• Outstanding Roadability: Farmers are spending more and more of their seat time on the road traveling from one field to another. A center tie bar gives this tire superior roadability, meaning the farmer is more rested and relaxed when he gets to the next field to spray.
• VF Technology: One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years is IF (increased flexion) and VF (very high flexion) tires. IF tires are designed to carry 20% more load than a standard radial and, alternately, carry the same load as a standard radial at 20% less pressure. VF tires, such as the Spraymax, are even more advanced with the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. This VF technology helps minimize soil compaction and crop damage.
• Cost-Effective: Last but not least, Spraymax VF tires are incredibly cost-effective, allowing you to get premium performance without breaking the bank.

If you’re looking for reliable and innovative tires that can help maximize your crop spraying, then Spraymax VF tires may be the perfect choice for you! With superior traction, durability and less soil compaction, these game-changing tires are sure to give you the edge you need. Try them out and see why so many farmers have made the switch to CEAT!

Farming poses unique challenges, such as dealing with different soil types, extreme weather conditions, and uneven terrain. These factors, combined with inadequate machinery or improper tire sets, can result in low productivity and safety concerns.

Waterlogged soils, in particular, stand out as a major hindrance to the successful delivery of agricultural yield. Wet soil creates a significant drag on tractors and equipment, leading to slippage, reduced traction, and fuel wastage, besides reduced crop yield. Therefore, the need to improve efficiency and safety in waterlogged terrains cannot be overemphasized. One solution that promises to deliver optimal performance and safety is the CEAT Floatmax RT tire, recommended for trailers and specially designed to address the challenges of water-logged fields.

Understanding waterlogged terrains

Waterlogging occurs when the soil is saturated with water, making it difficult for crops to survive, and machinery to roll. Besides causing crop failure, it carries various safety concerns as it can lead to equipment getting stuck, tire damage, and other operational inefficiencies. Hence, understanding the nature and extent of waterlogging is crucial in selecting the right tire for the job. The CEAT Floatmax RT tire is equipped to deal with waterlogged terrains as it is made with specialized treads that promote better grip, increased efficiency, and reduced slippage.

Key features of CEAT Floatmax RT tires

CEAT Floatmax RT tires are designed to deliver a balance of superior performance, fuel efficiency, and stability when farming on waterlogged terrains. These tires have distinctive features such as:

• Aqua-channeling grooves that ensure better road contact and grip under wet conditions.
• Asymmetric tread design that provides excellent stability, better handling, and fast travels above waterlogged soils.
• Higher tread depth that provides better surface area and more significant grip, reducing slippage and tread damage.
• Customizable size options to fit a range of farm machinery and applications.

Benefits of using CEAT Floatmax RT tires

The CEAT Floatmax RT tires have numerous benefits that can substantially contribute to farm efficiency. For example:

• Improved traction that helps the agricultural equipment move more effortlessly through waterlogged soils, reducing fuel consumption and maintenance costs.
• The optimized design of the tire reduces slippage, enhances performance, and leads to better yield results.
• The natural rubber compound makes the tire durable and less prone to damage, ensuring high uptime and low downtime.
• The CEAT Floatmax RT tire comes at a reasonable price point, with an excellent return on investment.

Why CEAT Floatmax RT tire is the best solution for waterlogged terrains

CEAT Floatmax RT tires are unique because they are designed to operate optimally in the toughest farming conditions, including waterlogged terrains. Unlike regular tires, CEAT Floatmax RT tires have better traction, stability, and grip, thanks to its specialized treads for wet conditions. This design ensures farm equipment can move with ease through inundated fields, reducing slippage and fuel inefficiencies. The high tread depth also provides a more significant surface area for better grip, enabling farmers to plow with confidence in challenging conditions while keeping equipment and crops safe.

Equipping farm equipment with CEAT Floatmax RT tires guarantees that traction, fuel efficiency, and effective crop management are not compromised, even in the toughest of farming situations. This tire optimizes performance, safety and comes at a reasonable price that makes it accessible to farmers across the board.

As a farmer, have you ever faced challenges with low yields and decreased efficiency due to soil compaction? Are you struggling to reduce the impact of heavy machinery on your farm’s soil?

Are you looking for a solution that can help you increase the productivity of your farm while reducing soil compaction? If so, then this blog post is for you! We will discuss how flotation tires can help you maximize your farm yield and efficiency while reducing soil compaction.

Soil compaction is a major challenge faced by farmers worldwide. It occurs when the weight of heavy machinery compresses the soil, reducing its pore spaces, which leads to decreased water infiltration, root development, and nutrient uptake. This results in stunted crop growth and low yield potential. One of the ways to reduce soil compaction is by fitting farm equipment with flotation tires.

Flotation tires, also known as wide tires, distribute the weight of heavy machinery over a more extensive surface area, reducing its impact on the soil. These tires are designed to float on top of the soil rather than sinking into it, reducing the damage caused by heavy machinery. As a result, soil compaction is reduced, and the yield potential of crops is increased.

CEAT Flotation TX 440 tires are one such solution that can help you achieve maximum yield potential while reducing soil compaction. These tires feature an advanced lug design that provides optimal traction and reduced slippage. The tires’ tread design also ensures that soil damage is minimized even in wet conditions. Additionally, the reinforced shoulder of the Flotation TX440 tires provides increased cut resistance and longer tire life, making them a cost-effective solution for farmers.

Moreover, flotation tires also help in increasing the overall efficiency of farm operations. They ensure that farm machinery can move easily through soft soil conditions while maintaining traction, reducing fuel consumption and wear and tear on the machinery. In turn, this reduces the operational costs for farmers while increasing their productivity.

In addition to their durability and efficiency capabilities, flotation tires are also versatile and can be used with a wide range of farm equipment, including tractors, combines, and other heavy machinery. They are available in various sizes and designs, making it easy to choose the right tire based on your specific needs.

In this blog post, we have discussed the challenges faced by farmers due to soil compaction and how flotation tires can help solve them. We also introduced CEAT Flotation TX 440 tires and how they can help farmers maximize their yield and efficiency while reducing soil compaction.

By choosing flotation tires like the CEAT Floation TX 440, farmers can greatly minimize soil damage, reduce fuel consumption, and increase the productivity of their farms.

As a farmer, you know how crucial it is to choose the right agricultural tire for your farm. The efficiency of your farm operations depends largely on the quality of your tires. With so many options available in the market, choosing the right agricultural tire can be a daunting task. However, with the right knowledge and factors to consider, you can make an informed decision.

In this blog post, we will give you tips and insights from CEAT Specialty Tires to help you choose the right Ag tire for your farm.

Size Matters
The first factor you need to consider when choosing an Ag tire is the size of your equipment. Tires that are too small can cause instability and reduce your farming efficiency, while tires that are too big can affect the performance of your equipment. Check the size indicated by the tire manufacturer on the sidewall of the tire and consult with your tire dealer.

Tread Pattern
The next factor to consider is the tire tread pattern. The tread pattern needs to match the terrain and soil conditions on your farm. For instance, if you use your tractor on uneven and rough terrain, an R-1W tire, such as the CEAT TORQUEMAX, with a deep and aggressive tread pattern is perfect. The tread depth of an R-1W tire is at least 20 percent deeper than the same sized R-1 tire; this extra deep tread also comes in handy when dealing with muddy conditions and clay-type soils. For flat and even terrain, a R-! tire with a less aggressive tread pattern may be more appropriate; again, talk to your tire dealer.

Load Capacity
Load capacity is another significant factor to pay attention to when choosing agricultural tires. The tire’s load capacity must be able to support the weight of your equipment and the load you carry. To find the load capacity of a tire, you can refer to the Load Index Chart. The higher the load index number, the greater the load capacity of the tire.

Weather Conditions
Weather conditions also play a significant role when choosing agricultural tires. For instance, if you live in an area with heavy rainfall, mud, or snow, you need tires that can handle the wet and slippery conditions, like the CEAT TORQUEMAX. The CEAT TORQUEMAX features a tilted lug tip that reduces vibration and noise. A higher angle and lug overlap at the center provides better roadability, and the lower angle at shoulder gives superior traction. The rounded shoulders ensure lesser damage to soil and crops. A wider tread and larger inner volume reduce soil compaction, and the R1-W tread depth ensures longevity of the tires. On the other hand, if you live in a dry and hot climate, you need tires that can handle the heat and dry soil.

Durability and Longevity
Lastly, you need to choose tires that have good durability and longevity. A tire that wears out quickly would mean frequent replacements, which ultimately results in more expenses. Therefore, it’s best to choose high-quality tires, like the CEAT TORQUEMAX, that are built for heavy-duty work and can withstand tough farming conditions.

Conclusion
Choosing the right Ag tire for your farm is an essential decision that can impact your efficiency and profitability. By considering the factors mentioned above, you can make an informed decision and choose the right tire for your equipment. Moreover, choosing high-quality tires like the CEAT TORQUEMAX can help you get the best value for your investment. So, take your time, do your research, and choose the right Ag tire that suits your farm’s needs.

Agriculture is the backbone of any economy, and the use of appropriate tires is vital for maintaining productivity and efficient operations in the agricultural sector.

In recent years, the Ag industry has witnessed remarkable progress and innovation in agriculture tire technology, and the trend is set to continue. As a farmer or rancher, it is essential to stay informed on the latest trends and innovations in agriculture tires to optimize production. This post will discuss the future of agriculture tires, including innovations and trends in the industry, with a spotlight on the CEAT FARMAX HPT tire.

1. Increased Usage of High-Flotation Tires
The increased usage of high-flotation tires is one of the most notable trends in agriculture tires. High-flotation tires have a larger surface area, which reduces soil compaction and minimizes crop damage while enhancing the tractor’s stability. This leads to superior traction, better fuel economy, and improved overall performance. High-flotation tires such as the FARMAX HPT tire from CEAT Specialty Tires are specially designed for wet and soft soil conditions, allowing farmers to enhance crop yields and optimize crop operations.

2. Dual Tires for Increased Load Carrying Capacity
Another trend in farm tractor tires is the usage of dual tires to handle heavy loads. Dual tires provide increased load carrying capacity while significantly reducing soil compaction. This leads to longer tire life, better fuel economy, and improved traction. Dual tires also distribute the load evenly on the surface, minimizing depressions on the ground, reducing soil erosion, and improving soil quality.

3. Greater Emphasis on Durability
The durability of Ag tires is essential for maintaining operations and reducing downtime in the field, as well as reducing tire operating costs. Durability ensures that the tires can withstand challenging conditions, rough terrain, and heavy loads. The FARMAX HPT tire is specially designed to have high durability and longevity, ensuring that farmers receive optimal value for their investment.

4. Integration of Advanced Technologies
Advanced technologies have been integrated into agriculture tire design to improve efficiency, durability, and /ar/blog/technology/the-future-of-agriculture-tires-trends-and-innovations. The FARMAX HPT radial, for instance, features a variable lug angle, which enhances self-cleaning by shedding mud. Also, an interlocking lug design improves traction in wet and soft soil conditions. Additionally, the FARMAX HPT tire incorporates advanced radial construction, which provides a larger contact surface and reduces soil compaction and slippage.

Agriculture tire technology is continuously evolving, with numerous innovations and trends that are transforming the industry. It is essential to prioritize the use of high-quality, durable, and innovative agriculture tires in farming and ranching operations. CEAT Specialty Tires’ FARMAX HPT tire is a top-of-the-line tire that incorporates cutting-edge technologies.

CEAT Specialty (a division of CEAT Tires) has entered into an agreement with CNH Industrial to supply FARMAX agricultural radial tires for their Case IH and New Holland tractors being produced in Brazil and Argentina.

The agreement was locked after several rounds of assessment and audits by the OEM of the Mumbai-based radial plant of CEAT and after multiple tests done on tires on various parameters.

“We have always been confident about the quality of our agriculture radials ever since we introduced them to the world in 2017. We have invested in world class technologies and the best people to design our products. This partnership with CNH Industrial further lends credibility to that. We hope to be a long-term partner to them and want to help farmers grow their productivity,” says Amit Tolani, Chief Executive, CEAT Specialty.

CEAT Specialty Tires, with its North American headquarters in Jefferson City, MO, has been selling Ag tires in North America for six years now with steadily gaining market share.

FARMAX Radials

Durable and efficient, FARMAX radial farm tractor tires are designed to deliver enhanced roadability, superior traction, and longer service life, raising the levels of efficiency on farms and ranches across North America. The reviews from tire dealers and farmers have been outstanding!

About CEAT

CEAT was established in 1924 in Turin, Italy. Today, it is one of India’s leading tire manufacturers, and CEAT tires are sold in more than 115 countries worldwide.

The brand came to India in 1958 and later became part of the RPG Group. RPG is among the top business houses in India, with a group turnover of $3.6 billion.

In the specialty segment, CEAT manufactures farm, mining and earthmover, industrial, and construction equipment tires, as well as special application off road tires.

When is a good time to replace your farm tires? Hopefully before you have a tire failure in the field or on the road! The first part of a preventative replacement tire program is:

Complete and thorough assessment of all of the tires in your fleet. Ideally, this should be done when fall harvest is complete, but it is never too late to take this important action.

Next, inspect any damaged areas and make proper repairs if appropriate. If any damaged areas have exposed cords, that tire will fail . . . and probably at a very inconvenient time!

Are the tires wearing evenly? If you experience uneven wear, there may be a mechanical reason that likely can be corrected. Also, air pressures should be recorded because under inflation, as well as over inflation, can cause wear patterns that should be corrected.

Measure tread depth on periodic basis. Measure and record the remaining tread depths on your tires. As you compile tread depth information from year to year you can predict the remaining service life of your tires. If the remaining tread depths are different for tires on the same piece of equipment, a rotation may enable you to extend the service life of the tires.

Are your tires incurring any stubble damage? If you find any exposed cords on a tire, that tire needs to be replaced. Front tractor and combine tires are the most likely to incur damage.  Is it time to replace or possibly rotate tires to extend the service life? Also, do your tires have a field hazard warranty? CEAT farm radials come with a 3-year field hazard warranty in addition to a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty.

There will be failures, and downtime that are disruptive and quite expensive. The goal of any preventative maintenance program is to reduce failures and problems to a minimum.

Farm tractor tires and implement tires are obviously essential components in any farm and ranch operation. A good preventative maintenance program will help you get the most value from your tire investment.

More and more North American farmers and ranchers are learning that CEAT is the right choice for their Ag tire needs. Here’s five reasons why:

Word-of-Mouth – What are farmers and tire dealers saying about specific Ag tire brands? After all this time, there is still no better barometer for evaluating a product or company.

Feedback on CEAT Ag radial and bias-ply tires has been outstanding since CEAT Specialty Tires entered the North American market five years ago.

“If you have a good tire that performs well in the field and equally well on the road, you have a winner,” says longtime Ag tire industry veteran Barry Hawn who serves as Director of Off-Road Products for Tirecraft Ontario. “CEAT is that tire!”

“We have been very pleased with the CEAT tires,” says Georgia peanut farmer Justin Studstill. “Our tractors spend a lot of time on the road, and the CEAT tires provide a smooth steady ride. They don’t get squirrelly like some tires do; very stable even when pulling heavy implements.”

Outstanding
Quality — CEAT continually invests in R&D and its manufacturing plants to deliver the highest quality products to its customers. Of particular note, CEAT is totally committed to following Total Quality Management (TQM) principles. CEAT is the only tire company outside of Japan to receive the prestigious Deming Prize (in 2017) for TQM excellence.

IF/VF Tires — One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years is IF (increased flexion) and VF (very high flexion) tires. IF tires are designed to carry 20% more load than a standard radial and, alternately, carry the same load as a standard radial at 20% less pressure. VF tires such as the Torquemax VF, are even more advanced with the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. CEAT is delivering IF/VF technology to farms and ranches at a more competitive cost.

Warranty — Farm tractor tires are a significant investment; a good warranty provides peace of mind. CEAT Ag radials are backed with a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 3-year field hazard warranty. The warranty is very rarely needed. Also, does the company have a no hassle warranty? Tire dealers know which Ag tire companies are, and are not, easy to deal with on the warranty process. CEAT is easy to work with.

Total cost of ownership — Farm tractor and implement tires are a significant investment, but don’t be penny wise and pound foolish! Buying the cheapest Ag tire could quite likely cost you more in the long term. Likewise, opting for the farm tire with the highest acquisition price is not a guarantee that you are getting good value. CEAT delivers long tread life, good performance in the field and on the road, and durability at an “honest” price . . . or in other words, a low cost of ownership.

The guiding mission of CEAT Specialty Tires is to offer high quality tires at better value to North America’s farmers and ranchers. Or another way of saying it – “high quality tires at an honest price.”

Both bias-ply and radial tires have their place on the farm and ranch. Radial tires provide many important benefits, such as less soil compaction and more traction, but bias tires have a role in the right applications.

We will explain why radial tires are better for your tractor in most cases, but first definitions:

Bias tires — Tractors have been riding on bias tires ever since farmers left metal wheels for pneumatic tires in the 1930s. Bias tires feature multiple plies of rubber in a diagonal pattern from bead to bead, enabling the tread and sidewall to function as one unit. This results in a stiff and strong sidewall that can fend off damage from stumps and rocks. This stiffness provides excellent stability on hills.

On the downside, the bias tire’s stiff construction can deliver a punishing ride for the operator. When the sidewall of the bias tire flexes, so does the tread, which can lead to a smaller or distorted footprint; this can increase wheel slip, reduce traction, and result in additional compaction in the field.

Radial tires — In the radial-play design, the cord plies are arranged at 90 degrees to the direction of travel, or radially (from the center of the tire). This avoids having the plies rub against each other as the tire flexes, reducing the tire’s rolling friction.

Radial tires are the preferred option for most farm uses today. However, that’s not to say that old-fashioned bias-ply farm tires are obsolete. Because they cost less, bias tires are a great purchase for your secondary or utility tractors. This could be the tractor you use for mowing ditches, cutting and raking hay, and performing chores around cattle lots and other livestock sites.

So which is best for your farm equipment? It begins with answering these questions:

• What is your application?

• What is your needed load carrying capacity?

• Is compaction a concern?

• What is your timeline?

More Traction, Less Compaction

If the application requires high traction, you should target radials like the CEAT FARMAX R70 – same for reducing compaction.

What type of radial depends on the application, load carrying capacity needed and speed required. If high speed (above 25 mph) is required, you need a “D” rated or 40 mph rated tire. If the standard radial does not have an adequate load carrying capacity required for the most demanding application, which is quite often when you are roading equipment at the highest speeds, you should look to the “IF” and “VF” options, such as the CEAT Torquemax.

The “IF,” or increased flexion radials, carry about 20% more load than standard radials at the same inflation pressures. The “VF,” or very high flexion radials, carry about 40% more load than standard radials at the same inflation pressures.

Conversely, these high-tech tires can carry the same loads as standard radials with reduced inflation pressures. If you want to run the lowest inflation pressures you can to help minimize compaction, the “IF” and “VF” options will provide the best opportunities to achieve your objective.

The Bias Option

Bias do not provide the benefits of radial technology. If you want the best traction possible, improved efficiency, larger footprints, reduced compaction, a better ride, or any of the above, you need to go with radials.

In most cases, the bias tire will be less expensive than the radial but not always. Pricing differentials have narrowed in the last few years. It is always good to check both if you are considering bias tires. Another very important factor is the service life of a comparable radial . . . about 30% longer than the bias. Keep in mind that the pricing of the bias tires should be around 30% less than the radials to provide a comparable value or cost per hour of service regardless of additional benefits.

Above all, ask your tire dealer the right questions and request options along with the costs involved as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

What is the cost of down time when there are crops to harvest and a tractor tire is out of commission? Or you’re buying another set of tractor tires because your current set wore out much quicker than expected?

Farm tractor and implement tires are a significant investment, but don’t be penny wise and pound foolish! Buying the cheapest Ag tire could quite likely cost you more in the long term. Likewise, opting for the farm tire with the highest acquisition price is not a guarantee that you are getting good value.

Total cost of ownership

This is what matters the most – tread life and best service at the optimum acquisition price. Until you have experience with a new tire brand, follow your tire dealer’s advice based on his experience. The objective is to compare the acquisition price with the tread wear and overall performance achieved to determine the total cost of ownership (TCO). CEAT farm tractor tires, such as the Torquemax VF, are gaining rapid acceptance from North American farmers because they deliver a superior TCO.

Warranty

Does the tire come with a warranty? Farm tractor tires are a significant investment for any farm or ranch, so a good warranty provides peace of mind. CEAT Ag radials are backed with a 7 year manufacturer’s warranty and a 3 year field hazard warranty. The warranty is very rarely needed but it provides good peace of mind.

For some criteria, such as traction in the field and ride on the road, you will know fairly soon whether you made the right decision. Concerning the very important metric of cost per hour, you cannot ascertain that until the tire is worn out. Then you can compare the acquisition price to the number of hours of service.

Brent Sisson, Agricultural Tire Specialist for Tirecraft Sarnia in Ontario, Canada, says it takes him about four years to truly evaluate an Ag tire brand. He’s been selling CEAT farm tires for four years now and he is all in!

“For myself, it’s about a 4-year process before I can feel confident in telling my customers I have confidence in a product,” Sisson notes. “I have to see it first-hand with known comparisons. CEAT is one brand that has surpassed my requirements. They provide a high quality, precision product. We have had lots of excellent customer feedback.”

IF/VF Tires

The “right” Ag tire for you may very well be one featuring IF or VF technology. One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years is IF (increased flexion) and VF (very high flexion) tires. IF tires are designed to carry 20% more load than a standard radial and, alternately, carry the same load as a standard radial at 20% less pressure. VF tires such as the Torquemax VF, are even more advanced with the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. Structural and compound innovations in IF/VF tires allow the sidewalls to flex more during operation. By utilizing the lower inflation pressures made possible by IF/VF tires, a farmer can increase the tires’ ground contact area, helping with traction and fuel economy, and also reduce the harmful downward forces that cause soil compaction.

CEAT is committed to providing North American farmers and ranchers high quality tires at an “honest price.” The company continually invests in R&D and its manufacturing plants to deliver the highest quality products to its customers. Of particular note, CEAT is totally committed to following Total Quality Management (TQM) principles. CEAT is the only tire company outside of Japan to receive the prestigious Deming Prize (in 2017) for TQM excellence.

The guiding mission of CEAT Specialty Tires is to offer high quality tires at better value to North America’s farmers and ranchers. Or another way of saying it – “high quality tires at an honest price.”

Easy enough to say . . . but CEAT devotes substantial financial and human resources in R&D, manufacturing, customer service and many other areas to make it a reality!

And reality it is . . . CEAT farm tractor and implement tires (radial and bias) have received a very positive response from North American farmers, ranchers and tire dealers. Founded almost 100 years ago in Turin, Italy, CEAT has a long history of manufacturing and producing tires for international markets. CEAT Specialty Tires began selling Ag and OTR (off-the-road) tires in North America five years ago.

Tire technology must advance to keep up with farming machinery that is increasingly becoming more massive and technologically sophisticated. While farm tractor and implement tires may look similar, they are not! It pays to know the company behind the tire. With CEAT, you can count on a farm tire that was borne from advanced R&D and produced through the most stringent total quality management (TQM) manufacturing processes.

The company continually invests in R&D and its manufacturing plants to deliver the highest quality products to its customers. Of particular note, CEAT is totally committed to following Total Quality Management (TQM) principles. CEAT is the only tire company outside of Japan to receive the prestigious Deming Prize (in 2017) for TQM excellence. This commitment gives CEAT the confidence to offer a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty and 3-year field hazard warranty on all of its Ag radial tires.

The CEAT Torquemax VF – a “high quality tire at an honest price”

The Torquemax VF (Very High Flexion) tire is designed to carry 40% more load, as compared to standard radial tires at the same pressure. On the other hand, VF tires like the Torquemax can be operated at 40% lower air pressure as compared to standard radials for the same load. This produces a larger tire footprint which leads to lower soil compaction.

CEAT is delivering VF and IF (“Increased Flexion” tires equipped to carry 20% higher load than the standard radial tires at the same pressure) to North American farmers and ranchers at an aggressive price point.

Great feedback from North American farmers and ranchers

The feedback Tirecraft Ontario, which has the distribution rights to Eastern Canada including Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario, has been very positive and very typical.

Barry Hawn, Director of Off-Road Products for Tirecraft Ontario, has been in the tire business for 50 years – all of them with a heavy emphasis on farm tires. He has first-hand experience with practically every Ag tire brand, so he was skeptical when he heard four years ago that another brand was entering the “already saturated Ag market.”

Hawn’s first impressions of the CEAT organization and appearance of the tires were very good, so he decided to give CEAT a try. To ensure 100% satisfaction with this new brand, Hawn offered his corporate stores and associate dealers a “60-day no nonsense, if you don’t like them for any reason, or if your end user doesn’t like them for any reason, I’ll take them back.” There is no longer a need to follow up, Hawn notes. Not a single tire returned! CEAT farm tractor tire sales have been brisk.

The longtime tire executive says he has received rave reviews on the roadability of CEAT tires — “The CEAT tires have done a great job with their capability to roll down the road with a nice comfortable ride, and traction wise I have not had a single complaint.”

With CEAT, you can count on a farm tire developed through advanced R&D and produced through stringent total quality management (TQM) manufacturing processes . . . at a price that does not break the bank.

Few people understand the importance of profitability like North America’s farmers and ranchers, where every single equipment decision has the potential to impact yields for years to come.

That is precisely why CEAT Specialty Tires is dedicated to providing high quality tires at an honest price.

This is our guiding mission – to offer high quality tires at better value to North America’s farmers and ranchers.

Tire prices have not increased nearly as much as other input costs such as fertilizer in the past couple of years, but they still represent a substantial portion of farm and ranch input costs. Given this, CEAT’s endeavor is to offer a tire that carries higher loads while caring for the crops at an affordable price . . . tires like the Torquemax VF designed for high power tractors.

Higher load carrying capacity

The VF (Very High Flexion) tires are designed to carry 40% more load, as compared to standard radial tires at the same pressure. IF (Increased Flexion) tires are equipped to carry 20% higher load than the standard radial tires at the same pressure.

Reduced soil compaction

On the other hand, VF tires can be operated at 40% lower air pressure (20% for IF tires) as compared to standard radials for the same load. This produces a larger tire footprint which leads to lower soil compaction.

The best value tires for North America’s farmers

Founded almost 100 years ago in Turin, Italy, CEAT has a long history of manufacturing and producing tires for international markets. CEAT Specialty Tires began selling Ag and OTR (off-the-road) tires in North America five years ago.

The company continually invests in R&D and its manufacturing plants to deliver the highest quality products to its customers. Of particular note, CEAT is totally committed to following Total Quality Management (TQM) principles. CEAT is the only tire company outside of Japan to receive the prestigious Deming Prize (in 2017) for TQM excellence. This commitment gives CEAT the confidence to offer a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty and 3-year field hazard warranty on all of its Ag radial tires.

“Where’s the beef?” was introduced as a slogan for the fast food chain Wendy’s in 1984. It could very well apply to Feb. 1-3 as beef industry professionals from across North America will gather in New Orleans for the annual convention of the NCBA (National Cattleman’s Beef Association).

CEAT Specialty Tires, which makes a full range of tractor and implement tires for ranchers, is proud to serve as the sponsor of the convention’s “Rest & Recharge Lounge” in booth #2432 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. CEAT representatives will be on hand to answer any tire-related questions you may have while you are taking a load off.

On display will be the CEAT FARMAX R85 farm tractor tire which has gained rave reviews from ranchers and farmers since being introduced to North America five years ago.

Durable and efficient, FARMAX R85 radial farm tractor tires are designed to deliver enhanced roadability, superior traction, and

longer service life. A tread depth of R1-W makes the FARMAX R85 tractor tire one of the longest-serving workers on the ranch. With a higher angle lug and lug overlap at the center, FARMAX R85 tractor tires offer superior roadability. A lower angle at the shoulder brings home superior traction. All CEAT farm radials are backed with a 7 year manufacturer’s warranty and 3 year field hazard warranty.

Ohio farmer Jarad Sage says, “I’ve run a lot of different tires on a lot of different tractors over my years and this tire is very reliable. We’ve never had a flat on the CEAT tires. They are very durable. We’re anticipating 10,000 hours on a current set. In the past, with other tires I’ve run on other tractors, we’ve gotten about half that life and they were also radials.” Please come by see us at the Rest & Recharge Lounge. We would love to hear about your operation and talk tires. Where is the beef? At CEAT of course!

Some insight was provided recently on why CEAT farm tires are being so well received by farmers and ranchers in North America.

CEAT Ltd’s Halol plant has been awarded the ‘Lighthouse Certification’ by the World Economic Forum. The certification is given to manufacturers that use fourth-industrial revolution technologies to transform factories, value chains, and business models for sustainability, empowering the workforce and increase in productivity.

CEAT Specialty Tires began selling Ag and OTR (off-the-road) tires in North America five years ago, and the feedback from farmers and tire dealers on CEAT quality has been outstanding. The prestigious certification from the World Economic Forum confirms the unflagging commitment to innovation and quality manufacturing at CEAT.

“We are the first tire company in the world to get the certification and this journey started 3-4 years back. To get certified one has to use fourth industrial revolution technology that includes advanced analytics, machine learning, and predictive analytics in their plant,” said Anant Goenka, Managing Director, CEAT Ltd.

The technologies are used to improve equality, efficiency, factory parameters, and productivity of the plant.

Anant Goenka- MD (second from right) and Jayasankar Kurrupal- SVP Manufacturing, receive the award for CEAT’s Halol plant at the Global Lighthouse Network at Davos from The World Economic Forum & McKinsey.

“Checks and audits are undertaken by the members of the World Economic Forum. The fourth industrial revolution came with digitization, using sensors in different parts of the machine that enables it to become the smart machine. It reduces the use of energy in the factor,” said Goenka.

Servicing OEM and international markets

With the use of the latest technology, CEAT is aiming to advance its OEM and international market.

“Important markets that we are looking into growing is the OEM market where the demand from automakers is present and second is the international market. Both sets are the customers that need high type specifications in terms of production of tires especially,” added Goenka.

About CEAT

CEAT was established in 1924 in Turin, Italy. Today, it is one of India’s leading tire manufacturers, and CEAT tires are sold in more than 115 countries worldwide.

The brand came to India in 1958, and later became part of the RPG Group. RPG is among the top business houses in India, with a group turnover of $3.7 billion.

In the specialty segment, CEAT manufactures farm, mining and earthmover, industrial, and construction equipment tires, as well as special application off road tires.

Those in the North American Ag industry know fully well just how hi-tech our industry has become. Well buckle up buckaroos . . . the next few years and decades will see a tremendous technology boost from AI (artificial intelligence).

From leveraging computer vision technology for crop and soil monitoring to disease detection and robots working the fields, the Ag industry is entering a new phase of evolution with AI.

CEAT Specialty Tires is devoted to delivering the latest in farm tire technologies to farms and ranches of all sizes like our Torquemax VF for high power tractors. The company is keeping a close eye on emerging AI technologies for the Ag industry to determine how they will affect tire development. Here are six ways that AI has the potential to improve farming in 2023:

Security — AI and machine learning can reduce domestic and wild animals’ potential to accidentally destroy crops or identify a break-in or burglary at a remote farm location. AI and machine learning video surveillance systems scale just as easily for a large-scale agricultural operation as for an individual farm. Machine-learning based surveillance systems can be programmed or trained over time to identify employees and their vehicles.

Smart Drones — AI and machine learning improve crop yield prediction through real-time sensor data and visual analytics data from drones. This provides entirely new data sets such as combining in-ground sensor data of moisture, fertilizer and natural nutrient levels to analyze growth patterns for each crop over time.

Detecting disease and pests — AI technology helps in detecting disease in plants and pests, as well as poor nutrition in the fields. AI sensors can detect and target weeds and then decide which herbicide to apply within the region. This helps in reduced usage of herbicides and cost savings.

Yield mapping – This agricultural technique relies on supervised machine learning algorithms to find patterns in large-scale data sets for crop planning. Using a combination of machine learning techniques to analyze 3D mapping, social condition data from sensors and drone-based data of soil color, agricultural specialists can now predict the potential soil yields for a given crop.

Pest management — Using infrared camera data from drones, combined with sensors on fields that can monitor plant health, AI can predict and identify pest infestations before they occur.

Robots in the field — There’s a shortage of agricultural workers in many regions in the US and across the world. AI and machine learning-based smart tractors, agribots and robotics will increasingly become (sooner than you think) a viable option for agricultural operations that struggle to find workers. For instance, self-propelled robotics machinery can be programmed to distribute fertilizer on each row crop to help keep operating costs down and further improve field yields.

Technology will be the key to feeding and clothing the world’s ever-increasing population, a task made even more difficult by the adverse effects of global warming. CEAT Specialty Tires is committing substantial R&D resources to design and manufacture next generation tires for farm tractors and implements. The company is paying close attention to how AI and machine learning technologies will affect farming practices, particularly as they relate to tires.

Determining the right inflation pressure for your farm tractor tires is extremely important for getting the optimal wear and possibly avoiding dreaded downtime.

Inflation pressure for agricultural tires is very simple. Farmers just need to inflate to the most demanding application. The hard part is determining exactly the most demanding application. Inflating tires to their maximum recommended air pressures is one approach, but it’s not the best way to deliver the maximum performance and benefits from your tires.

What is the right inflation pressure? The answer depends on many different factors, but generally speaking:

Inflate to the air pressure that is appropriate for the most demanding application for each tire. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. The load and inflation tables show the speed range, the inflation range and the load range for each tire. Your tire dealer can also be a valuable resource.

A tractor tire operating outside of the specified range is a problem waiting to happen – probably sooner rather than later. The farmer may have a tire not suited for his or her application, or the farmer may need to adjust the speed or load to ensure the tire is operating within these boundaries. Damage is inflicted on any tire that operates outside of these limits and will eventually lead to failure.

The heaviest load the tire carries may not be the most demanding application. If that tire operates at higher speeds such as during the roading of one’s equipment, the highest speeds are likely the most demanding aspect, and air pressures will need to be set to account for the increased speed.

Check When Cold

Air pressures taken after the tire has been running will be higher than the “cold” air pressures and can be misleading. If you reduce your pressure after taking a warm inflation pressure, you likely will end up in an under-inflation situation. Under inflation of any tire can result in sidewall deflection that extends beyond the deflection parameters of the sidewall, resulting in tire damage. Overinflation can also be damaging. Maximum “cold” inflation pressures should be adhered to very diligently. The air chamber determines the load each tire can carry. The larger the air chamber, the larger the load it can carry. When you have too small of an air chamber to carry the required load, it is sometimes tempting to over-inflate the tire. Increased air pressures can carry more load but exceeding the manufacturers’ maximum inflation pressure is not endorsed by any manufacturer.

There are some situations where a manufacturer may utilize extended load and inflation tables for certain tires in certain applications in their portfolio. These extended tables are not usually printed in their data books. If you have this information from the manufacturer, it is fine to follow their directions.

All manufacturers have buffer zones for inflation pressures as well as speed ratings. What is comfortable and reasonable for a manufacturer to recommend is up to them. Tire dealers are advised to follow the manufacturer’s specifications.

Farm tractor tires are expensive, down time is critical and tires do not repair themselves. Maintaining proper inflation in your Ag tires will unquestionably save you money and enhance your tire performance.

Choosing a tire setup is more complex than choosing your tractor, says Brent Sisson, Agricultural Tire Specialist for Tirecraft Sarnia in Ontario, Canada.

For some criteria, such as traction in the field and ride on the road, you will know fairly soon whether you made the right decision. Concerning the very important metric of cost per hour, you cannot ascertain that until the tire is worn out. Then you can compare the acquisition price to the number of hours of service.

“For myself, it’s about a 4-year process before I can feel confident in telling my customers I have confidence in a product,” Sisson notes. “I have to see it first hand with known comparisons. Some brands that are positioned as a premium don’t meet my requirements. There is definitely a good size market for good midline tires such as CEAT. I just try to provide the best information I can, and let the customer decide.”

Sisson says, “CEAT is one brand that has surpassed my requirements. They provide a high quality, precision product. We have had lots of excellent customer feedback.”

When choosing a tire for your tractor, Sisson recommends basing your decision on the following:

The size, model and designation of the tire that is optimal for a particular tractor

“The space limitations on the tractor will somewhat dictate what you can use. Choose a taller tire to provide a longer, more efficient contact area and provide the most volume.

Keep in mind the need to retain reasonable clearances. Consider your other requirements for overall width, track width, row width, what type of surface, draft hp, weight and speed you will be using this tractor for. You want to choose a tire that meets or exceeds all of your requirements.

Usually the larger volume tire will give you the best chance at lowering soil impact. All soil types benefit from lower compaction. A good rule of thumb is a field pressure from 8-15 psi for an optimum setup.

In row crop situations you may want to consider multiple tire setups and/or IF/VF options (like the CEAT Torquemax VF) to make the best choice for your situation. Choose a model and size with the traction/wear trade off that suits your needs best.  Another factor farmers  are up against lately is availability. Having a ‘one off’ tire or a low production size is not good if you ruin a tire and there are no replacements.

Consider value

Usually choosing something on the premium side will provide more value . . . in terms of price per hour of use, as well as the ability to maintain excellent traction, wear and ride quality during the life of the tire. A company that offers a better warranty is probably a sign that you won’t need to use that warranty (CEAT Ag radials are backed with a 7-year warranty along with a 3-year field hazard warranty). A brand that is supported by the supplier and the manufacturer is key.  Be aware that some brands don’t offer much warranty and some brands have a warranty but have trouble admitting their product may have deficiencies.

Choosing a tire today based on price can be misleading. There are some higher priced brands I would put to the lower end of premium, if not higher side of mid range. Sometimes the most expensive is not the best. You really need the advice of a trusted expert. Keep in mind money and honesty are rarely found together. Salespeople tend to promote what they have to sell, so it is hard to get a non-biased advisor. Sometimes salespeople may be excited about their offerings, but really don’t have the experience to know if they are a good value. Independent testing results are another way, but these have been misrepresented by omitting or including some of the comparisons with competitor tires.”

The bottom line, according to Sisson, get advice from a trusted Ag tire dealer and then do some homework of your own on the brand he recommends. Finally, keep good records on the hours of service per tire so you can compare the hours with the acquisition price.

When CEAT Specialty Tires first visited Barry Hawn of Tirecraft Ontario, traction in the field was a big discussion point because of its obvious importance to farmers.

That was four years ago. Since then, CEAT has been gaining steady traction with Tirecraft dealers and their farmer customers.

“Traction wise I have not had a single complaint on the CEAT tires,” the longtime tire industry veteran notes. “When CEAT first came to present to us, they explained how well they did against the competition on traction in the field. So far it has worked out exactly as they said.”

A farm tire’s ability to deliver traction is a big factor in its overall performance. A tractor tire providing good traction increases the tractor’s productivity and reduces the tractor’s fuel consumption. It can also minimize slipping and sliding which reduces efficiency, burns more fuel and can tear up a field which has all sorts of negative consequences.

The CEAT FARMAX R70 tractor tire, for example, features a lower angle at the shoulder for superior traction. The key for a farm tractor tire is to deliver the needed traction while not compacting the soil. The FARMAX R70 has rounded shoulders to ensure there’s less damage to the soil and crop. Wider treads with larger inner volumes also reduce soil compaction, which is critical for protecting the farmer’s yield now and in the future.

Lug-to-Void Ratio

The space between a tire’s lugs is also a very important factor in traction. The space allows tractor tires to expel mud, dirt, and water for better traction. Treads with lower lug-to-void ratios work better in the field. Tires with higher lug-to-void ratios work better on hard surfaces like the road. Ideally, the tractor tire, like the CEAT FARMAX tires, delivers the best of both worlds – dependable traction in the field and a smooth ride on the road.

Tread Depth

A discussion of tractor tires would not be complete without a look at the difference between R1 and R-1W tires. R1 tractor tires are excellent tires for everyday farm chores. They perform decently in muddy fields and dirt but are not as capable in the snow.

A R-1W farm tire, like the FARMAX R70, is a more aggressive type of tractor tire in terms of tread; the W (wet) in the name signifies its ability to perform tasks in deep mud or clay. This ability comes from a 25 percent deeper cleat compared to the R1 tire.

The Bottom Line

A very important consideration when selecting a tractor tire is the intended application; is it meant to be used for pulling, plowing, tilling or something else?

Talk to your local tire dealer about CEAT and find out what Tirecraft customers have learned – the combination of CEAT technology and acquisition price is hard to beat. All CEAT Ag radials are backed with a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 3-year field hazard warranty.

There are always so many chores on the farm and finite time, but taking the time to properly maintain your tractor tires is well worth the time and effort.

Priority #1 is keeping your farm tires properly inflated. A tire operating outside of the specified inflation range is a problem waiting to happen. Your tractor’s tire pressure can have a large effect on pulling power, traction, ride quality, and soil compaction. Tread life is also an issue – it is estimated that a tire underinflated by just 10% below the recommended levels can reduce your tire life by as much as 15%.

The tire pressure supports the structural integrity of the tire.  If the tire is not properly inflated, the tire can become degraded.  Uneven wear and poor traction are two side effects of an underinflated tire.  Another consequence of an underinflated tire is bead slip, which occurs when the bead of the tire slips against the tire’s rim — creating a tremendous amount of heat that ultimately destroys the tire.

Overinflated tires can cause an operator to experience discomfort while running the machine — plus the overall tractor performance can falter. An overinflated tire reduces the tire flex, which affects the ride quality.  Over inflation will also increase the wear and tear on the tractor. Tire and tractor manufacturers agree that as little as a 20% over-inflation can reduce your tractor performance by as much as 30%.

Correct tire inflation minimizes soil compaction, gains traction due to having the maximum ground contact, delivers optimum ride quality and extends the life of the tire.

So how do you get it right? Inflate to the air pressure that is appropriate for the most demanding application for each tire. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. The load and inflation tables show the speed range, inflation range and the load range for each tire.

It’s important to regularly check the tire air pressure. Air pressures should be taken when the tractor tires have not been running and considered to be at a “cold” temperature. Checking tires first thing in the morning is best since they have been sitting overnight. If you reduce your pressure after taking a warm inflation pressure, you likely will end up in an under-inflation situation. Under inflation of any tractor tire can result in sidewall deflection that extends beyond the deflection parameters of the sidewall, resulting in tire damage.

Adjust Inflation for the Load

Each tractor tire has a load capacity as mentioned above. Carrying load that is way above the recommended load for the tractor or implement will cause damage and increase the tread wear rate. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. Your tire dealer can also be a valuable resource for determining a tire’s load capacity.

Visual checks

In addition to tire inflation, it is important to inspect your tires on a regular basis. Look for abnormalities in the tread pattern and sidewall, such as bulges cracks and tears. Also, if you see signs of irregular wear in the tread, this could mean the tire is not being used properly for the application (most often is under inflated) or there is an issue with the equipment. Either way, detecting irregular wear early will help you correct the problem before too much damage is done.

Tire Storage

Properly storing your farm tires over the winter or when they are not in use will extend their life. The first step is to clean them before storage.

Tractor tires typically accumulate brake dust, road grime, and dirt. This gunk can be harmful to the tire if it is allowed to stay on for extended periods of time. Use soap, water and a good tire brush. Then wipe the tires down completely and allow them to air dry.

Watch the speed

Farm tractor tires are spending more and more time on the road these days as farmers work tracts that are more spread out. Most farm tires have a maximum speed rating of 25 miles per hour or less. When drivers go faster than their recommended speeds, they generate an excessive amount of heat in the tires. This heat breaks down the rubber in the tires, separating interior liners and belts. Not a good thing as you can imagine!

Leading global tire manufacturers like CEAT Specialty spend tens of millions of dollars to develop tractor tires that provide exceptional levels of traction, durability, roadability and less soil compaction that were unattainable just a few years ago.

The CEAT Torquemax VF, for example, keeps your tractor running smooth regardless of conditions on field on and off the field. It features a tilted lug tip that reduces vibration and noise. A higher angle and lug overlap at the center provides better roadability, and the lower angle at shoulder gives superior traction. The rounded shoulders ensure lesser damage to soil and crops. A wider tread and larger inner volume reduce soil compaction, and the R1-W tread depth ensures longevity of the tires.

With the VF (very high flexion) technology, the Torquemax has the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. By utilizing the lower inflation pressures, a farmer can increase the tires’ ground contact area, helping with traction and fuel economy . . . and reduce the harmful downward forces that cause soil compaction.

Farmers are always prioritizing their many tasks. Make tire maintenance one of your “must do’s” and you will receive substantial rewards.

Driving tractors on the road represents a significant and demanding portion of the farmer’s workload these days as they work many fields separated by paved roads.

As Barry Hawn, Director of Off-Road Products for Tirecraft Ontario, notes, “Farmers are in their tractors all day long. When they get on the road they’ve got to get to the next field as quickly as possible. They are going pretty fast, so ride comfort is a huge issue. If they get beat up on the road, at the end of the day they are not happy!”

“The CEAT tires have done a great job with their capability to roll down the road with a nice comfortable ride,” says Hawn who has been in the tire business for 50 years. He has experience with the vast majority of Ag tire brands.

Tirecraft dealers have received great feedback from their farmer customers on CEAT farm tires, including the FARMAX line of tractor tires, according to Hawn.

The FARMAX R80 delivers superior roadability due to its higher angle lug and lug overlap at the center. In addition to roadability, the FARMAX line is also outstanding in traction in the field and reducing soil compaction.

Other features and benefits include a lower angle at the shoulder that brings home superior traction. Wider treads, with larger inner volume, reduce soil compaction and rounded shoulders cause less disruption to soil and crop. FARMAX radials perform well on 2WD tractors, 4WD tractors, MFWA tractors and combine/harvesters.

“If you have a good tire that performs well in the field and equally well on the road, you have a winner,” Hawn says. “CEAT is that tire!”

Tirecraft Ontario, which has the distribution rights to Eastern Canada including Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario, has been carrying CEAT Ag tires for four years now.

All CEAT Ag radials are backed with a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 3-year field hazard warranty.

Are you in the market for farm tractor tires? Here are the top 5 features to look for:

• Total cost of ownership – At the end of the day, this is what matters the most– which tractor tire gives you the longest life and best service at the optimum acquisition price? Until you have experience with a new tire brand, follow your tire dealer’s advice based on his experience. The objective is to compare the acquisition price with the tread wear and overall performance achieved to determine the total cost of ownership (TCO). CEAT farm tractor tires, such as the Torquemax VF, are gaining rapid acceptance from North American farmers because they deliver a superior TCO.
  
• Radial tires have many advantages — Bias tires might be the right option but they do not provide the benefits of radial technology. If you want the best traction, larger footprints, reduced compaction, a better ride, or any of the above, you need to go with radials. Bias farm tractor tires do not deliver these improved features due to the carcass design, but they may be the right choice depending on the equipment and usage.
• R-1W tread depth — R1 tractor tires are great for everyday farm chores, performing decently in muddy fields and dirt –but they are not as capable in the snow or deep mud and clay. The R-1W farm tire, like the FARMAX R70, has more aggressive tread; the W (wet) in the name signifies its ability to perform tasks in deep mud or clay and snow. This ability comes from a 25 percent deeper cleat compared to the R1 tire.
• Warranty – Does the tire come with a warranty? Farm tractor tires are a significant investment for any farm or ranch, so a good warranty provides peace of mind. CEAT Ag radials are backed with a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 3-year field hazard warranty which many Ag tire brands do not provide. The CEAT warranty is very rarely needed but, again, good peace of mind.
• IF/VF — One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years is IF (increased flexion) and VF (very high flexion) tires. IF tires are designed to carry 20% more load than a standard radial and, alternately, carry the same load as a standard radial at 20% less pressure. VF tires are even more advanced with the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. Structural and compound innovations in IF/VF tires allow the sidewalls to flex more during operation. By utilizing the lower inflation pressures made possible by IF/VF tires, a farmer can increase the tires’ ground contact area, helping with traction and fuel economy, and also reduce the harmful downward forces that cause soil compaction.

CEAT farm tractor tires deliver the latest technologies, such as IF/VF, to farms and ranches of all sizes. Talk to your local tire dealer about CEAT and find out why so many farmers are going with the CEAT brand.

Tractor tires are a significant investment for farmers and ranchers. Follow these steps to ensure you get maximum life and performance from your investment.

Inflate properly– Nothing is more important than keeping your farm tires properly inflated. A tire operating outside of the specified inflation range is a problem waiting to happen – probably sooner rather than later. Damage is inflicted on any tractor tire that is not properly inflated. Inflate to the air pressure that is appropriate for the most demanding application for each tire. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. The load and inflation tables show the speed range, inflation range and the load range for each tire.

Check air pressure — It’s important to regularly check the tire air pressure. Air pressures should be taken when the tractor tires have not been running and considered to be at a “cold” temperature. Checking tires first thing in the morning is best since they have been sitting overnight. If you reduce your pressure after taking a warm inflation pressure, you likely will end up in an under-inflation situation. Under inflation of any tractor tire can result in sidewall deflection that extends beyond the deflection parameters of the sidewall, resulting in tire damage.

Don’t overload tractor or implement– Each tractor tire has a load capacity as mentioned above. Carrying load that is way above the recommended load for the tractor or implement will cause damage and increase the tread wear rate. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. Your tire dealer can also be a valuable resource for determining a tire’s load capacity.

Visually inspect tractor tires– Look for abnormalities in the tread pattern and sidewall, such as bulges cracks and tears. Also, if you see signs of irregular wear in the tread, this could mean the tire is not being used properly for the application (most often is under inflated) or there is an issue with the equipment. Either way, detecting irregular wear early will help you correct the problem before too much damage is done.

Tire storage — Properly storing your farm tires over the winter or when they are not in use will extend their life. The first step is to clean them before storage.

Tractor tires typically accumulate brake dust, road grime, and dirt. This gunk can be harmful to the tire if it is allowed to stay on for extended periods of time. Use soap, water and a good tire brush. Then wipe the tires down completely and allow them to air dry.

Store them upright in a cool, dry place — Store tractor tires in an upright position, not lying down flat or stacked if possible. Make sure to keep them in a cool, dry place away from the sun

Watch the speed – Farm tractor tires are spending more and more time on the road these days as farmers work tracts that are more spread out. Most farm tires have a maximum speed rating of 25 miles per hour or less. When drivers go faster than their recommended speeds, they generate an excessive amount of heat in the tires. This heat breaks down the rubber in the tires, separating interior liners and belts. Not a good thing as you can imagine!

Leading global tire manufacturers like CEAT Specialty spend tens of millions of dollars to develop tractor tires that provide exceptional levels of traction, durability, roadability and less soil compaction that were unattainable just a few years ago.

The CEAT Torquemax VF, for example, keeps your tractor running smooth regardless of conditions on field on and off the field. It features a tilted lug tip that reduces vibration and noise. A higher angle and lug overlap at the center provides better roadability, and the lower angle at shoulder gives superior traction. The rounded shoulders ensure lesser damage to soil and crops. A wider tread and larger inner volume reduce soil compaction, and the R1-W tread depth ensures longevity of the tires.

With the VF (very high flexion) technology, the Torquemax has the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. By utilizing the lower inflation pressures, a farmer can increase the tires’ ground contact area, helping with traction and fuel economy . . . and reduce the harmful downward forces that cause soil compaction.

Farmers are always prioritizing their many tasks. There are just enough hours in the day right? Taking the time to properly maintain your tractor tires, however, will pay handsome dividends.

CEAT Specialty Tires is a proud sponsor of rodeo. We have met so many nice, hardworking families in this sport over the past three years.

We are especially proud to sponsor junior competitors, the future of the sport, and are thrilled to welcome sisters Charly and Chaney Sellers of Waurika, OK, to the CEAT team.

The Sellers girls, daughters of Jay and Christy Sellers, have been riding horses for most of their young lives and are very dedicated to the sport.

Charly is a high school freshman. She runs barrels, ties goats and is in breakaway. Like so many junior rodeo competitors, she excels in many areas. Charly plays basketball, is active in FFA, and serves on the livestock judging team. Despite all these activities, she’s also on the academic honor roll.

Her rodeo accomplishments include:

• 2020 Junior High National Qualifier, barrel racing
• 2020 Top 15, OKJRHSRA goat tying
• 2021 Top 15, OKJRHSRA, ribbon roping, goats, barrel racing
• 2021 BBR World Finals Youth barrel champion
• 2022 Top 15, OKJRHSRA, goat tying, ribbon roping, breakaway

Chaney is a 7th grader. She runs barrels, ties goats, competes in breakaway and does ribbon roping. She is a middle school cheerleader, plays basketball, is on the livestock judging team in 4-H, and is on the academic honor roll like her sister.

Chaney’s rodeo achievements include: 2019 MRCA Reserve All-around champion, 2019 MRCA goat tying champion and 2021 OKJHSRA Top 15 in goat tying.

CEAT Specialty Tires is the “Official Ag Tire Sponsor and Exclusive Category Event and Broadcast Partner” of the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA), Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC) and the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA).

“I come from a farming family, so I know that equipment buying decisions including farm tires are not taken lightly,” said Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT Specialty Tires. “The wrong decision on tires can really set you back, and on the flip side, having the right tires for the equipment and operating conditions can significantly contribute to profitability. With these sponsorships, CEAT hopes to connect with the farmers and ranchers that comprise the backbone of the rodeo community and help them make the right decisions when it comes to their tire needs.

Loethen added, “We are especially pleased to sponsor outstanding young competitors like Charly and Chaney Sellers who represent everything great about this great sport!”

Barry Hawn, Director of Off-Road Products for Tirecraft Ontario, has been in the tire business for 50 years – all of them with a heavy emphasis on farm tires.

He has first-hand experience with practically every Ag tire brand, so he was skeptical when he heard that another brand was entering the “already saturated Ag market.”

He recalled his first visit from CEAT Specialty Tires executives about four years ago. “They hit on a lot of small little details about the CEAT brand and the company that really intrigued me. After a number of follow-up calls and emails, I had to see these tires for myself. Opening order placed!”

Hawn said he was totally impressed by the appearance of the CEAT farm tractor tires and quickly sold a few sets. Hawn and Tirecraft have built their reputation on strong customer service so he was determined to follow up with his dealers. He asked, “What are your thoughts on the looks of the tires, how did they mount, how did they ride, but most importantly what was your customer’s response?” The response from his dealers? “Not a single negative word. All positives.”

To ensure 100% satisfaction, Hawn offered his corporate stores and associate dealers a “60-day no nonsense, if you don’t like them for any reason, or if your end user doesn’t like them for any reason, I’ll take them back.” There is no longer a need to follow up, Hawn notes. Not a single tire returned! CEAT farm tractor tire sales have been brisk.

Hawn and Tirecraft Ontario, which has the distribution rights to Eastern Canada including Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario, have had great success with the CEAT FARMAX tractor tire line and the Torquemax VF.

The CEAT TORQUEMAX, designed for high power tractors, available in both VF and IF version, features:

• a stepped lug design that provides better grip and traction.
• a center tie bar gives the Torquemax superior roadability, which is increasingly important these days as farm equipment spends more time on the road traveling from one tract of land to another.
• rounded shoulders which mean less soil and crop damage.
• a tilted lug tip that reduces vibration and noise.
• a wider tread and larger inner volume reduce soil compaction, and the R1-W tread depth ensures long service life.

“We are looking forward to continue building a  long term relationship with CEAT Specialty Tires,” says Hawn.

CEAT feels the same way about Tirecraft!

Farm tractor tires represent a significant portion of a farm’s operating budget. Be aware of these five secrets before purchasing your next tractor tires:

• The farm tractor tire’s inflation is okay as long as it does not have a big bulge. You cannot confirm a radial tire’s proper air inflation through a visual check. This is a myth from the bias tire days when any kind of sidewall bulge meant the bias tire was low on air. Radial tires must have a certain bulge in order for the tire to deliver optimum traction and the overall performance intended by the tire manufacturer. You cannot confirm a radial tire’s proper air inflation through a visual check. Consult with your tractor/tire dealer and check the tire manufacturer’s databook and load range table. The radial’s superior performance is realized only with proper inflation.
• You get what you pay for in farm tractor tires. When you buy the most expensive farm tractor tire, you will most likely get a good quality tire. But you must compare the acquisition price with the tread wear and overall performance achieved to ascertain the true total cost of ownership (TC0) of that tire. This is the only meaningful metric on tire value. For instance, if a particular brand tire costs half the price of the most expensive brand but delivers 80% of the operating hours and comparable performance, then the less expensive tire is delivering a better TCO by 30%. CEAT farm tractor tires, such as the FARMAX R80, are gaining rapid acceptance from North American farmers because they deliver a superior TCO. CEAT farm tractor tires deliver the latest tire technologies at a more affordable price.
• The dealer (tractor or tire dealer) doesn’t always set the tires to the proper inflation when the tractor or tires are delivered to the farmer. New farm tractor tires are normally inflated to 30 psi when shipped from the factory to minimize bouncing on the trailer. Dealers may overlook reducing the tire pressures or may not reduce the pressure to the proper level for the load on the axle. Also, tire changers often inflate the farm tractor tire to 35 psi to set the tire beads on the rim. The farmer must take the initiative to ensure that the pressure matches the load on the axle by double checking with the dealer and consulting the tire databook and load range tables
• Bias tires might be the right option but they do not provide the benefits of radial technology. If you want the best traction, larger footprints, reduced compaction, a better ride, or any of the above, you need to go with radials. Bias farm tractor tires do not deliver these improved features due to the carcass design.
• R1 tractor tires are great for everyday farm chores, performing decently in muddy fields and dirt –but they are not as capable in the snow or deep mud and clay. The R-1W farm tire, like the FARMAX R70, has more aggressive tread; the W (wet) in the name signifies its ability to perform tasks in deep mud or clay and snow. This ability comes from a 25 percent deeper cleat compared to the R1 tire.

CEAT farm tractor tires deliver the latest technologies, such as IF/VF, to farms and ranches of all sizes. Talk to your local tire dealer about CEAT and find out why so many farmers are going with the CEAT brand.

Farm tractor tires are a major investment for farmers and ranchers. With input costs such as fertilizer increasing exponentially, it’s even more important than ever for farmers to make the right choice on tractor tires.

Should you consider CEAT Specialty for your tractor tires? Here’s what our customers have to say:

“The traction provided by the CEAT tires is as good as any of the major Ag tire brands, and the acquisition price is very favorable compared to the so-called name brands,” according to Georgia peanut farmer Justin Studstill.

“The CEAT tires are very durable. We’re anticipating 10,000 hours on a current set. In the past, with other radial tires I’ve run on, we’ve gotten about half that life,” says Ohio dairy farmer Jarad Sage.

“When we first started carrying CEAT, with every pair sold I did a follow up. What are your thoughts on the looks of the tires, how did they mount, how did they ride? Not a single negative word. All positives. No longer is there a need to follow up,” notes Barry Hawn, Director of Off-Road Products for Tirecraft.

CEAT Specialty Tires spends millions to develop tires that provide dependable traction in the field, smooth ride on the road and long tread wear.

The first task at CEAT is understanding the needs of farmers and ranchers, the terrain they work on, and their type of equipment. Driven by the core technologies of tire design, engineering, material development and process engineering, the company delivers tires that increase the efficiency of the vehicles and the people they work with, while being gentle enough to protect the crops.

One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years is IF (increased flexion) and VF (very high flexion) tires. IF tires are designed to carry 20% more load than a standard radial and, alternately, carry the same load as a standard radial at 20% less pressure. VF tires are even more advanced with the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure.

Structural and compound innovations in IF/VF tires allow the sidewalls to flex more during operation. By utilizing the lower inflation pressures made possible by IF/VF tires, a farmer can increase the tires’ ground contact area, helping with traction and fuel economy . . . and reduce the harmful downward forces that cause soil compaction.

The CEAT TORQUEMAX, designed for high power tractors, is available in both VF and IF versions. This high-tech farm tractor tire features many other innovations such as:

• a stepped lug design that provides better grip and traction.
• a center tie bar gives the TORQUEMAX superior roadability, which is increasingly important these days as farm equipment spends more time on the road traveling from one tract of land to another.
• rounded shoulders which mean less soil and crop damage.
• a tilted lug tip that reduces vibration and noise.
• a wider tread and larger inner volume reduce soil compaction, and the R1-W tread depth ensures long service life.

Technology is one thing . . . acquisition price is another. The best farm tire is one that delivers the lowest total cost of ownership, factoring in acquisition price, tread life and overall performance. If you purchase the least expensive tire and it fails in no time, your cost of ownership is high. Likewise, the most expensive tire may not deliver the tread life commiserate with the price.

With CEAT, you can count on a farm tire developed through advanced R&D and produced through stringent total quality management (TQM) manufacturing processes . . . at a price that does not break the bank.

A farm tractor tire that is right for the application and delivers on traction, roadability, less soil compaction and tread wear can greatly enhance farm productivity. Here’s 12 tractor tire facts that farmers need to know:

• Tractors vary by HP wherein a higher HP tractor is used when the farm sizes are bigger and the load to be hauled is more. Tractor tires are designed keeping these varied requirements in mind.
• Tractor tires come in multiple sizes. Depending on the tractor HP, there is a specific tractor tire size that is recommended.
• While tractor tires come in radial and bias technologies, the specific application, load-carrying capacity, and compaction and traction needs are the main deciding factors on whether radial or bias tires are better suited.
• Bias tires might be the right option but they do not provide the benefits of radial technology. If you want the best traction possible, improved efficiency, larger footprints, reduced compaction, a better ride, or any of the above, you need to stick with radials. Bias farm tractor tires do not deliver these improved features due to the carcass design.
• The angle of the farm tire’s lugs is a big factor in dictating traction. The CEAT FARMAX R85 features a higher angle lug and lug overlap at the center of the tread for superior roadability.
• A lower angle at the shoulder, an important feature of CEAT FARMAX tractor tires, delivers superior traction in the field.
• The space between a tire’s lugs is also a very important factor in traction. The space allows tractor tires to expel mud, dirt, and water for better traction. Treads with lower lug-to-void ratios work better in the field. Tires with higher lug-to-void ratios work better on hard surfaces like the road. Ideally, the tractor tire, like the CEAT FARMAX line, delivers the best of both worlds – dependable traction in the field and a smooth ride on the road.
• R1 tractor tires are excellent tires for everyday farm chores. They perform decently in muddy fields and dirt but are not as capable in the snow.
• The R-1W farm tire, like the FARMAX R70, is a more aggressive type of tractor tire in terms of tread; the W (wet) in the name signifies its ability to perform tasks in deep mud or clay. This ability comes from a 25 percent deeper cleat compared to the R1 tire.
• One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years is IF (increased flexion) and VF (very high flexion) tires. IF tires are designed to carry 20% more load than a standard radial and, alternately, carry the same load as a standard radial at 20% less pressure. VF tires are even more advanced with the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure. Structural and compound innovations in IF/VF tires allow the sidewalls to flex more during operation. By utilizing the lower inflation pressures made possible by IF/VF tires, a farmer can increase the tires’ ground contact area, helping with traction and fuel economy, and also reduce the harmful downward forces that cause soil compaction.
• Nothing is more important for long tire life than keeping your farm tires properly inflated. A tire operating outside of the specified inflation range is a problem waiting to happen – probably sooner rather than later.
• Each tractor tire has a load capacity. Carrying load that is way above the recommended load for the tractor or implement will cause damage and increase the tread wear rate. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. Your tire dealer can also be a valuable resource for determining a tire’s load capacity.
  

With input costs such as fertilizer going through the roof, it makes more sense than ever for farmers to get as much wear and performance out of their farm tractor tires as possible. Every penny saved these days is welcomed news, and tractor and implement tires represent a significant portion of the farm’s operating budget.

Here are 3 tips to properly maintain your tractor tires.

• Inflate properly– Nothing is more important than keeping your farm tires properly inflated. A tire operating outside of the specified inflation range is a problem waiting to happen – probably sooner rather than later. Damage is inflicted on any tractor tire that is not properly inflated. Inflate to the air pressure that is appropriate for the most demanding application for each tire. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. The load and inflation tables show the speed range, inflation range and the load range for each tire. It’s also important to regularly check the tire air pressure. Air pressures should be taken when the tractor tires have not been running and considered to be at a “cold” temperature. Checking tires first thing in the morning is best since they have been sitting overnight. If you reduce your pressure after taking a warm inflation pressure, you likely will end up in an under-inflation situation. Under inflation of any tractor tire can result in sidewall deflection that extends beyond the deflection parameters of the sidewall, resulting in tire damage.
• Don’t overload tractor or implement– Each tractor tire has a load capacity as mentioned above. Carrying load that is way above the recommended load for the tractor or implement will cause damage and increase the tread wear rate. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. Your tire dealer can also be a valuable resource for determining a tire’s load capacity.
• Visually inspect tractor tires– Look for abnormalities in the tread pattern and sidewall, such as bulges cracks and tears. Also, if you see signs of irregular wear in the tread, this could mean the tire is not being used properly for the application (most often is under inflated) or there is an issue with the equipment. Either way, detecting irregular wear early will help you correct the problem before too much damage is done.

Today’s farm tractor tires, such as the CEAT Torquemax VF, are engineering marvels that provide levels of traction, durability, roadability and less soil compaction that were unattainable just a few years ago . . . but only if they are properly maintained!

Guest post by CEAT intern Hannah Loethen

Beautiful ball gowns, rhinestone boots, and sparkly cowboy hats are just a small part of the National High School Rodeo Association Queen Contest. Washington’s queen, Madison Stoddard, told us how she prepared and got involved in the queen contest.

Madison is the High School Rodeo Queen for the state of Washington. Madison is 16 years old and got involved in the National High School Rodeo Association this past year. “It has been a great experience for myself and I have met plenty of really nice people,” stated Madison.

Along with the queen contest, Madison competes in barrels and poles, and she hopes to start doing breakaway this coming year. She also has competed in many jackpots and barrel races around the world.

When Madison started high school rodeo this past year, one of her mentors, Christy Gray, talked to all of the girls about having some people step up to compete in the queens contest in state finals. “I thought it would be a great opportunity and I always wanted to run for queen,” recalled Madison. “Since I started, I have met tons of great people and I have gotten more involved in my high school rodeo in Washington.”

After Madison won the Miss Washington title, she only had three weeks to prepare for nationals. In those three weeks, she and her mother had to get multiple outfits together which required them to get really creative. “We had to dye boots and pants, and find outfits that fit in that short time,” Madison recalled. “Although we were crunched for time, we had a lot of fun finding colors that look good on me and what colors I like to wear best. I also had a lot of fun writing my speech.”

In the queen contest, each contestant has to deliver a two-minute speech. Madison’s speech was about her great grandpa and how she started riding at only three years old. She started out riding her great grandpa‘s old ranch horse named Copper. “My speech went on to talk about how I rode the little devil pony named Elvis at the farm that no one could touch,” she said. “My great grandpa taught me some great words of wisdom . . . if I could ride the pony that no one else could ride, then I could ride anything. From then on, those words became the motto for my life.”

One memory that has stuck with Madison is when her doctors told her that she could indeed ride horses. “I struggle with focal complex seizures and when I was told I could ride I went for it,” exclaimed Madison. “And from there I started learning how to ride horses and started training my current barrel horse.” Madison’s barrel horse is her “best friend” and she has taught him everything he knows.

“The NHSRA experience has really helped my confidence. Everyone is at a different level, especially in barrel racing,” stated Madsion. “All these girls have very fast horses and it doesn’t matter how fast your horse can go, it matters how well you run your pattern.”

Madison’s biggest goal is to make it to the NFR. With her being in the NHSRA and barrel racing alongside these girls, it has taught her that the competitiveness is intense.

“A huge part of a rodeo queen’s job is to do grand entries. Grand entries show all of our sponsor flag. I would like to say a huge thank you to CEAT for their sponsorship,” concluded Madison.

CEAT Specialty Tires began sponsoring rodeo three years ago to promote its farm tractor tires to farmers and ranchers across America. The tire company, which has been in North America for five years now, is the “Official Ag Tire Sponsor and Exclusive Category Event and Broadcast Partner” of the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA), Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC) and the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA).

The CEAT Specialty Tires booth at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, IA, last week was a popular destination. Farmers, dealing with crushing input prices, were looking for alternatives to the “name brands” that have skyrocketed in price this year along with fertilizer and so many other costs.

Farmers were very interested in the CEAT value proposition — farm tractor tires and implement tires available at a more attractive price but still delivering the latest technologies fostering optimum levels of traction, roadability, minimized soil compaction and long tread wear.

“A key message we delivered at the Farm Progress Show was that CEAT tractor tires and implement tires enable farms of all sizes to take advantage of the latest Ag tire technologies. The price-performance equation delivered by CEAT Ag tires adds up to a very competitive cost per hour,” said Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT Specialty Tires Inc.

The CEAT Torquemax VF was one of the highlights of the booth. Designed for high-power tractors and offering VF technology, the Torquemax is now available for a larger number of tractors with the launch of the VF800/70R38 size.

The CEAT Yieldmax, now available in the 800/65R32 size, was also on display at the massive farm show, along with a a new radial farm implement pattern and other key CEAT tread patterns. The Yieldmax offers increased load carrying capacity to support larger combines, as well as high traction and stability.

Several of CEAT’s top distributors from the US, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica helped work the booth, relating their experiences selling CEAT farm tractor tires and implement tires to inquisitive farmers. It was also great to hear from dealers who recently started carrying CEAT tires . . . like  Jeremy McDaniel from Memphis, MO. “I was a little hesitant on the CEAT tires at first because the price was so low,” he noted. “I found out, however, that the CEAT quality is as good as any brand out there, and like I said, the price is really attractive.”

Building on its five-year momentum in the North American market, CEAT Specialty Tires will unveil new 800 series tires and a new radial farm implement pattern at the upcoming Farm Progress Show in Boone, IA, on Aug. 30 – Sept. 1.

The CEAT Torquemax VF will be one of the highlights of the booth (#309 in Northwest Quadrant), which has doubled in size since the previous show in Boone.

Designed for high-power tractors and offering VF technology, the Torquemax is now available for a larger number of tractors with the launch of the VF800/70R38 size.

The CEAT Yieldmax, now available in the 800/65R32 size, will also be on display at the Farm Progress Show. The Yieldmax offers increased load carrying capacity to support larger combines, as well as high traction and stability.

“We are very thankful for the reception CEAT has received from American farmers since we entered this market five years ago,” said Amit Tolani, Chief Executive, CEAT Specialty  “We look forward to sharing news about our new releases and the fact that our company is in expansion mode. We are adding capacity every quarter and are looking at increasing our overall capacity by 75 percent this year.”

Tolani said that in addition to the release of the 800 series tires, the company is developing 850 and 900 series tires- the size IF 850/75 R 42 will be released under the Torquemax range in September.

Tolani said a key message at the Farm Progress Show will be that CEAT tractor tires and implement tires enable farms of all sizes to take advantage of the latest Ag tire technologies

Tolani added, “Word-of-mouth on CEAT Ag tires has been very positive in American farming communities. The price-performance equation delivered by CEAT Ag tires adds up to a very competitive cost per hour.”

The company sponsors the WCRA, WRWC and NHSRA rodeo championships.  “We decided to associate with rodeo events as it has deep roots in America’s agriculture and ranching history. The sponsorships make us relevant to this target group and helps us build awareness of CEAT as the ag tire choice for farms and ranches of all sizes,” Tolani noted.

About CEAT

CEAT was established in 1924 in Turin, Italy. Today, it is one of India’s leading tire manufacturers, and CEAT tires are sold in more than 115 countries worldwide. The brand came to India in 1958, and later became part of the RPG Group. RPG is among the top business houses in India, with a group turnover of $3 billion.

In the specialty segment, CEAT manufactures farm, mining and earthmover, industrial, and construction equipment tires, as well as special application off road tires.

The CEAT Specialty Tires office in Charlotte was opened in 2017, and the company has been steadily increasing distribution across North America.

Farm tractor tires are a major investment for farmers and ranchers. The stakes are even higher these days with input costs, such as fertilizer, increasing exponentially! You most certainly want to avoid making the wrong decision on the type of farm tractor tire or brand you purchase.

Here’s some key questions to begin with:

• What is your application?
• What is your needed load carrying capacity?
• Is compaction a concern?
• What is your timeline?

Here are 5 common mistakes when choosing tractor tires:

• Buying on price alone – The goal is to achieve the optimum equation of price versus performance. How much did you pay for the farm tractor tire? How many hours of service did it provide? Did it die prematurely from failure? Did it deliver dependable traction, good roadability, minimal soil compaction, etc., during its lifespan? A key metric is cost per hour, which takes into account the acquisition price compared to the total hours of service.
• Warranty or not – Farm tires are expensive so find out if the tire is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. CEAT Ag radials are backed with a 7-year limited workmanship warranty, plus a field hazard warranty. The CEAT warranty is very rarely needed, but it gives peace of mind to CEAT customers.
• Going with bias tires over radial or vice versa – It all depends on how the equipment is being used. Bias tires might be an alternative but they do not provide the benefits of radial technology. If you want the best traction possible, improved efficiency, larger footprints, reduced compaction, a better ride, or any of the above, you need to go with radials. Bias Ag tires do not deliver these improved features due to the carcass design. In most cases, the bias tire will be less expensive than the radial but not always. Pricing differentials have narrowed in the last few years. It is always good to check both if you are considering bias tires. Another very important factor is the service life of a comparable radial . . . about 30% longer than the bias. If your tractor or implement are used less often and in less demanding conditions, the bias design might be the right choice though.
• Not consulting your trusted local tire dealer – Tire dealers who specialize in Ag tires are very motivated to get you in the right tire. Repeat customers are their lifeblood and word-of-mouth, whether good or bad, in farming communities is absolutely critical for tire dealers. Ask your tire dealer the right questions and request options along with the costs involved as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each option. The “best” option should not depend on what your tire dealer has in the warehouse.
• Trying to “shoehorn” a tire onto your equipment that was not engineered for that type of equipment and your application — For instance, is the tire specially designed for sprayers or a tractor tire that happens to come in a size for your sprayer? A tire purpose-built for sprayers will deliver better performance. Go with the manufacturer’s intent – use sprayer tires for sprayers (or whatever the equipment is) and tractor tires for tractors.

A good example is the CEAT Spraymax VF which is specially designed for self-propelled sprayers. It is engineered to carry 40% more load than a standard radial. Alternately, it carries the same load as a standard radial at 40% lesser pressure. The VF technology is very important for sprayer tires because it facilitates the higher load carrying capacity and decreases soil compaction.

In conclusion, carefully consider how your tractors and implements are being used in terms of frequency, load carrying needs, soil compaction concerns and the type of soil. Get the advice of a trusted tire dealer who specializes in farm tires. If the tractor is just doing jobs in the yard, it may not need as much tread depth and technical sophistication as one pulling heavy implements in the field. But if good tread depth is needed for the job, a good dealer won’t let you go into the field with one arm tied behind his back.

The tire dealer also has a very good idea on which tire brands are working best for his customers in terms of tread wear, resisting stubble damage, traction in the field, roadability and the other key farm tire attributes. CEAT tractor and implement tires, both radial and bias, have grown dramatically in market share since entering the North American market five years ago because CEAT dealers are getting great feedback from farmers and recommending CEAT to their other customers.

Tractor tires and sprayer tires are sometimes used interchangeably, but you need to be aware of the differences.

Here are the top 5 tips for choosing the right sprayer tires:

• Is it a tire specially designed for sprayers or a tractor tire that happens to come in a size for your sprayer? A tire purpose-built for sprayers will deliver better performance. Go with the manufacturer’s intent – use sprayer tires for sprayers and tractor tires for tractors.
• Does the sprayer tire come with VF (very high flexion) or IF (increased flexion) technology? VF or IF technology facilitates a higher load carrying capacity — self-propelled sprayers can carry quite a heavy load of liquid.
• What is the lug to void ratio in the tread pattern? Traction is generally not as much of a concern for sprayers as it is for tractors. A smooth, stable ride on the road is a big concern for sprayers however. That is why more lugs and less void (the gap in the tread) is best for sprayer tires.
• How is the sprayer being used? Self-propelled sprayers can be retrofitted with different tire sizes according to how they are being used at the time. For instance, wider tires can be used for flotation and less compaction before planting. The sprayer can be switched to more narrow tires to work between the rows once the crops have been planted.
• For pull -behind sprayers, the tanks are smaller and carry less fluid, so tires are not as critical as on self-propelled sprayers. The sprayer will travel as fast as the tractor pulling it, and there is no torque applied to the tires. These free rolling tires still must be rated heavy enough to carry the load, however.

Most of today’s self-propelled sprayers are heavy because they carry a lot of liquid weight, and they can run up to 40 miles per hour.

They are driven on the highway to get to the fields, so tires built especially for these sprayers must be able to handle the speeds, loads and the highway. A self-propelled sprayer is quite tall to clear the growing crops, so a stable ride with less tread squirm on the road is very reassuring for the operator.

The CEAT Spraymax VF is specially designed for self-propelled sprayers. It is engineered to carry 40% more load than a standard radial. Alternately, it carries the same load as a standard radial at 40% lesser pressure. The VF technology is very important for sprayer tires because it facilitates the higher load carrying capacity and decreases soil compaction.

Especially as the weights of self-propelled sprayers increase, IF/VF technology becomes even more critical. These technologies allow a tire to increase carrying capacity at lower inflation pressures, affecting the contact patch and compaction levels. Despite the narrow sizes of a sprayer tire, the flexion of IF/VF tires creates a fuller tread profile, promoting traction and reduced soil compaction benefits.

The CEAT Spraymax VF has a stepped lug design that provides better grip and traction in the field. A center tie bar gives this tire superior roadability. Its rounded shoulders mean less soil and crop damage. This highly advanced CEAT tire has more lugs and less void ratio for more stability and less squirm on the highway.

In the future, the sprayer tire market may be further impacted by hybrid tread patterns that lower the void ratio and deliver stability with on-/off-road tread patterns.

You can count on CEAT Specialty Tires to be at the forefront of technology for purpose-built sprayer tires and farm tractor tires.

At the early age of three, Tyler Acree was strapped on a pony and rode for hours. “I would ride until I fell asleep on the pony, and I would never ride without my sippy cup,” Tyler recalled.

Today, Tyler and his pony Rocket are turning heads in junior high school rodeo competition and CEAT Specialty Tires is thrilled to be along for the ride. In fact, CEAT is sponsoring the young man, as well as various rodeo associations such as the Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC) and National High School and Junior High School Rodeo. The company is using rodeo to spread the word to farmers and ranchers that its farm tractor tires are technologically advanced and affordably priced.

Tyler and Rocket competed in the National Junior High School Rodeo on June 19-25 in Perry, Georgia.  I asked him some questions about his life competing in rodeos. 

Tyler and Rocket have a strong bond and can calm each other’s nerves before every competition. “Rocket is the main reason why I’m here, he gets me in the best spot,” stated Tyler. Rocket was also loved by everyone at the rodeo. People were coming up left and right telling Tyler that Rocket is the cutest pony they have ever seen. Not only is Rocket a cute pony, but he also has a funny personality. “Rocket will annoy me by trying to get me to give him treats, but he knows I won’t give in,” laughed Tyler. 

Tyler and Rocket have created such a strong bond by training together every day. The affable pony learns best from consistency and repetition, according to Tyler. They will practice the events over and over again until Rocket has the utmost confidence. “He does a lot for his age,” Tyler said. “He is only 6 years old and with training horses you normally start at 10 years old, but I have kept training and training him and here we are.”

Tyler started off in sheep riding and did well, but discovered that it wasn’t his thing. He then did a little trick riding and still does from time to time, but rodeo is his passion.  

Tyler has made many achievements in his career. When he was seven years old, he went to the YBR World Finals for sheep

riding. After that he went to the National Junior High Rodeo finals for bare back and earned 30th place. Next, he went to the

North American Trick Riding Championship and won the competition. Then he earned 4th in Missouri’s state competition for breakaway and 3rd in goat tying. “Hopefully one day I’m going to win the World Championship, but you never know,” he noted.

Being a part of the Missouri Junior High Rodeo Association has played a huge role in Tyler’s life. “It has taught me how to control my emotions when I rodeo and realize that it is not the end of the world if I don’t place how I want to. If you want to be good at something, you really have to work hard at it. Practice makes perfect,” Tyler observed.

As Tyler gets older he aims to be a part of the Missouri High School Rodeo Association and then go to college to become a vet. Another path he is considering is to become a full time professional rodeo competitor. 

In closing Tyler stated, “I would like to thank my sponsor CEAT because without them I wouldn’t be able to compete in the NJHFR and I wouldn’t be able to enter as many competitions as I have. I just can’t thank CEAT enough.”  

 Tyler’s hard work and determination is inspiring. CEAT Specialty Tires, which makes hard working farm tires for hard working farmers and ranchers, cannot wait to see what he accomplishes next!

Today’s farm tractor tires are marvels of modern engineering with companies like CEAT Specialty Tires spending millions to develop tires that provide dependable traction in the field, smooth ride on the road and long tread wear.

The first task at CEAT is understanding the needs of farmers and ranchers, the terrain they work on, and their type of equipment. Driven by the core technologies of tire design, engineering, material development and process engineering, the company delivers tires that increase the efficiency of the vehicles and the people they work with, while being gentle enough to protect the crops.

One of the most important developments in farm tires in recent years is IF (increased flexion) and VF (very high flexion) tires. IF tires are designed to carry 20% more load than a standard radial and, alternately, carry the same load as a standard radial at 20% less pressure. VF tires are even more advanced with the ability to carry 40% more load or the same load with 40% less pressure.

Structural and compound innovations in IF/VF tires allow the sidewalls to flex more during operation. By utilizing the lower inflation pressures made possible by IF/VF tires, a farmer can increase the tires’ ground contact area, helping with traction and fuel economy, and also reduce the harmful downward forces that cause soil compaction.

The CEAT TORQUEMAX, designed for high power tractors, is available in both IF and VF versions. This high-tech farm tractor tire features many other innovations such as:

• a stepped lug design that provides better grip and traction.
• a center tie bar gives the TORQUEMAX superior roadability, which is increasingly important these days as farm equipment spends more time on the road traveling from one tract of land to another.
• rounded shoulders which mean less soil and crop damage.
• a tilted lug tip that reduces vibration and noise.
• a wider tread and larger inner volume reduce soil compaction, and the R1-W tread depth ensures long service life.

The CEAT Spraymax, designed for self-propelled sprayers, is also available with VF technology. Like the TORQUEMAX, the Spraymax VF features a center tie bar which gives it superior roadability. Its rounded shoulders mean less soil and crop damage as it works between the rows.

Tire technology must advance to keep up with farming machinery that is increasingly becoming more massive and technologically sophisticated. While farm tractor and implement tires may look similar, they are not! it pays to know the company behind the tire. With CEAT, you can count on a farm tire that was borne from advanced R&D and produced through the most stringent total quality management (TQM) manufacturing processes.

The purchase of tractor tires is one of the most important decisions farmers and ranchers will make. A tractor tire that is right for the application and delivers on key benefits such as traction, roadability and tread wear can greatly enhance farm productivity and lower operating costs.

Key facts about farm tractor tires:

• Tractors vary by HP wherein a higher HP tractor is used when the farm sizes are bigger and the load to be hauled is more. Tractor tires are designed keeping these varied requirements in mind.
• Tractor tires come in multiple sizes. Depending on the tractor HP, there is a specific tractor tire size that is recommended.
• While tractor tires come in radial and bias technologies, the specific application, load-carrying capacity, and compaction and traction needs are the main deciding factors on whether radial or bias tires are better suited.

CEAT offers a complete range of tractor tires. No matter the requirements, farmers and ranchers will find a CEAT tractor tire that

is the perfect fit. CEAT radial tires offer low compaction, high traction, and high roadability. With tilted lug tips, the FARMAX R65 radial tractor tire, for example, delivers superior operator comfort, with less vibration and noise. A higher angle and lug overlap at the center offers superior roadability. While a lower angle at the shoulder imparts superior traction.

The company also offers an IF/VF radial tractor tire range that offers 20%/40% more load carrying capacity compared to standard radials. The CEAT Torquemax for high-power tractors is available in IF and VF versions. It ensures constant and smooth transfer of torque from the tractor to the ground. With lower compaction, higher traction and better roadability, CEAT TORQUEMAX keeps the tractor running smooth regardless of conditions in the field and on the road.

CEAT is a preferred supplier of tractor tires to major global tractor manufacturers including John Deere, AGCO, Mahindra and Mahindra, CNH. CEAT tractor tires are built to the manufacturer’s specifications and designed to offer high mileage and durability. CEAT tractor tires come in multiple tread patterns keeping in mind varied user requirements. The tractor tire compound provides durability and ensures resistance to chipping and cuts. CEAT tractor tires come in different sizes to fit a wide range of farm equipment. CEAT tires offer versatility and durability for farming as well as haulage.

A farm tire’s ability to deliver traction is a big factor in its overall performance.

A tractor tire providing good traction increases the tractor’s productivity and reduces the tractor’s fuel consumption. It can also minimize slipping and sliding which reduces efficiency, burns more fuel and can tear up a field which has all sorts of negative consequences.

No single part of a tractor tire is responsible for delivering traction, but the tread pattern and lug depth play a major role in determining how much traction a tractor tire delivers.

Tire Lugs

The angle of the farm tire’s lugs is certainly a big factor in dictating traction. CEAT FARMAX radial tractor tires, such as the

CEAT FARMAX R85, feature a higher angle lug and lug overlap at the center of the tread for superior roadability, which is increasingly important as farmers such as Justin Studstill in Georgia work many fields separated by miles of roadway. A lower angle at the shoulder of CEAT FARMAX tractor tires delivers superior traction in the field.

In addition to dependable traction in the field and a smooth ride on the road, CEAT FARMAX tractor tires have a wider tread with larger inner volume which helps reduce soil compaction.

In addition to the higher angle and lug overlap at the center and lower angle at the shoulder, the CEAT TORQUEMAX features a tilted lug tip that reduces vibration and noise. The rounded shoulders of this tractor tire for high-powered tractors ensure lesser damage to soil and crops.

Lug-to-Void Ratio

The space between a tire’s lugs is also a very important factor in traction. The space allows tractor tires to expel mud, dirt, and water for better traction. Treads with lower lug-to-void ratios work better in the field. Tires with higher lug-to-void ratios work better on hard surfaces like the road. Ideally, the tractor tire, like the CEAT FARMAX line, delivers the best of both worlds – dependable traction in the field and a smooth ride on the road.

Tread Depth

A discussion of tractor tire tread patterns would not be complete without a look at the difference between R1 and R-1W tires.

R1 tractor tires are excellent tires for everyday farm chores. They perform decently in muddy fields and dirt but are not as capable in the snow.

The R-1W farm tire, like the FARMAX R70, is a more aggressive type of tractor tire in terms of tread; the W (wet) in the name signifies its ability to perform tasks in deep mud or clay. This ability comes from a 25 percent deeper cleat compared to the R1 tire.

The Bottom Line

A very important consideration when selecting the tread pattern of the tractor tire is the intended application; is it meant to be used for pulling, plowing, tilling or something else?

Doing some of your own research and getting advice from your local Ag tire dealer, you can make an informed decision on a very importance purchase for your farm.

We’ve all heard of the saying “this ain’t my first rodeo,” but I actually did experience my first rodeo recently. I was in Fort Worth, Texas, at the Women’s Rodeo World Championship which was sponsored by CEAT Specialty Tires. I was in awe watching these women professionals compete.

I did not know exactly what to expect. The only thing I knew was that there were going to be people riding horses and trying to rope calves. What I did not know was how fun the atmosphere is around the rodeo and how impressive the competitors and horses are.

The Events

Three events took place at the Women’s Rodeo World Championship in Fort Worth. One of the events was barrel racing; I had not heard of that before. There were three barrels, and the competitor and their horse had to ride in a cloverleaf pattern around the barrels as fast as they could. The way that they took the turns so tight around each barrel was so impressive — they made it look so effortless!

The other two events at the Fort Worth competition were breakaway roping and team roping. These two were a lot of fun to watch because I don’t think I have ever been more impressed watching a sporting event. In breakaway roping, the competitor and their horse wait in a box next to a chute that has a calf inside. Once the calf is released from the chute, the competitor and their horse charge out of the box and try to rope the calf’s neck as fast as possible. Some of the competitors at the Women’s Rodeo World Championship roped the calf in only two seconds! It blew my mind how these competitors were able to ride a horse, focus on the calf, and rope the calf’s neck all at one time.

Team roping is just like breakaway roping, except there are two competitors going at once. The first competitor is trying to rope the front of the calf, while the second competitor is trying to rope the hind feet of the calf. I can easily say team roping was my favorite event because it requires so much coordination from both competitors to rope the same calf. Not only are they trying to rope the calf with accuracy, but they are also racing against the clock.

The People

Throughout the rodeo, you are surrounded by some of the nicest people you will ever meet. I don’t think there was a single person that was not as friendly as can be.

Overall, I have a new appreciation for rodeo. Before I attended this rodeo, I did not realize how much skill it takes to be able to do these events. In any other sport, your number one priority is yourself, then your team; however, in rodeos, your number one priority is your horse, then yourself. I can confidently say that this will not be my last rodeo!

With tire costs a significant portion of a farm operating budget and downtime a major deterrent to operating efficiency, developing a relationship with a good tire dealer is paramount for farmers and ranchers.

Here’s three key things to look for in your tire dealer:

Knowledge

One key attribute is knowledge. The dealer must be knowledgeable about the farm tires he and his team sells . . . how they

perform in certain applications and how they deliver on key attributes such as tread wear and roadability.

This may seem like a no brainer but some dealers carry mostly passenger and/or medium/heavy truck tires, along with a limited supply of Ag tires. You should do business with a dealer who specializes in Ag tires . . . who hires people with Ag tire expertise and trains his staff on the latest Ag tire technologies. CEAT Specialty Tires works closely with its distributors and dealers to educate them on the latest technologies so they can better advise their farmer customers.

Customer Service

Successful Ag tire dealers are always off the charts on customer service. They treat their farmer customers almost like family. You can usually get a pretty good sense of how a dealer treats his sales and service staff by their tone, attentiveness, word-of-mouth and so on.

A very tangible customer service assessment is when you have a tire failure in the field. A good tire dealer will move mountains to get a service truck to your location as quickly as possible because down time is a killer for farmers.

Also, when a tire manufacturer’s warranty comes into play, does the tire dealer work closely with the manufacturer to handle the situation?

Your Profits or Their Profits?

Tire dealers, like all businesses of course, need to make decent profits to stay in business. But do they have your farm’s viability at heart when they make recommendations. Do they provide you an honest assessment of your tire needs?

For instance, If the tractor is just doing jobs in the yard, it may not need as much tread depth and technical sophistication as one pulling heavy implements in the field. But if good tread depth is needed for the job, the dealer won’t let you go into the field with one arm tied behind his back.

Can the deer antler in the sidewall be repaired or have there been so many punctures that you are better off with a new tire? This also gets into overall expertise and experience. A good tire dealer will check the overall condition of the punctured tire to assess its potential for failure. A repair is much less expensive than a new tire but will that repaired tire fail when you need it the most – again, no one wants down time in the field!

You need a tire dealer who takes the time to understand your operation and makes recommendations that are in your best interest – a real partner! We at CEAT Specialty Tires take a similar approach in determining the dealers that represent our brand. The tire dealer is our connection to farmers and ranchers and is absolutely critical to the ongoing success of our company and the end users of our products.

With rodeo’s deep roots in America’s agriculture and ranching history, CEAT Specialty Tires is sponsoring rodeo events across the US again this year to build awareness of CEAT as the Ag tire choice for farms and ranches of all sizes.

The tire company, which has been in North America for five years now, is the “Official Ag Tire Sponsor and Exclusive Category Event and Broadcast Partner” of the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA), Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC) and the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA).

“I come from a farming family, so I know that equipment buying decisions including tires, are not taken lightly,” said Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT Specialty Tires. “The wrong decision on tires can really set you back, and on the flip side, having the right tires for the equipment and operating conditions can significantly contribute to profitability. With these sponsorships, CEAT hopes to connect with the farmers and ranchers that comprise the backbone of the rodeo community and help them make the right decisions when it comes to their tire needs.”

The sponsorships entail branding on the organizations’ digital assets, national TV coverage and significant exposure at seven rodeo events in 2022:

• WCRA Triple Crown Rodeo in Corpus Christi, TX
• WRWC Finals in Fort Worth, TX
• NHRSA Junior High Finals in Perry, GA
• NHRSA High School Finals in Gillette, WY
• Days of 47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo in Salt Lake City, UT
• WRWC Finals in Las Vegas
• The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas in Las Vegas
• WCRA Cowtown Christmas Championship in Fort Worth, TX

About CEAT

CEAT was established in 1924 in Turin, Italy. Today, it is one of India’s leading tire manufacturers, and CEAT tires are sold in more than 115 countries worldwide.

The brand came to India in 1958, and later became part of the RPG Group. RPG is among the top business houses in India, with a group turnover of $3 billion.

In the specialty segment, CEAT manufactures farm, mining and earthmover, industrial, and construction equipment tires, as well as special application off road tires. The CEAT Specialty Tires office in Charlotte, NC, was opened in 2017.

With spring planting season in full swing in most parts of the country, farmers are getting their various implements into the fields and ready for action. If your implement equipment needs new tires, here’s some facts to know:

Overall, implement tires by necessity have grown larger in diameter as well as section width. This increase in size was due to the increasing sizes of equipment and additional attachments to existing equipment. Larger, heavier and more complex implements require more load and speed capacity.

Farm implement tires traditionally were barely adequate at best in many fitments, but as the equipment size and more importantly the weights increased, there was a need to increase the weight carrying capacity to minimize tire failures. Increasing the diameter, as well as the section width, increases the size of the air chamber and can increase the tires’ weight carrying capacity along with raising the ply rating.

Also, farmers are becoming more concerned with compaction. They are looking for options to minimize compaction during all operations in their fields. This is why CEAT developed the Spraymax VF for self-propelled sprayers. The CEAT Spraymax VF is engineered to carry 40 percent more load than a standard radial. Alternately, it carries the same load as a standard radial at 40 percent lesser pressure. Furthermore, the Spraymax VF delivers exceptional traction in the field and a smooth steady ride on the road.

Key elements of the Spraymax VF design include:

• Stepped lug design provides better grip and traction.
• The center tie bar delivers superior roadability.
• Its rounded shoulders mean less soil and crop damage.
• The higher NSD ensures longer life.

Tread patterns on implement tires have typically been straight rib designs with low void ratios, but these designs tend to skid or push soil forward. Therefore, more and more implement tire tread designs like the Spraymax VF have some variations that incorporate higher lug-to-void ratios. These designs roll better and have enhanced self-cleaning capabilities. They also help stabilize the equipment to minimize sideways movement on hills.

We are also seeing a transition in implement tires from bias ply construction to radial tires such as the Spraymax VF that can be used in the field at lower air pressures than bias tires. Bias implement tires performed okay when the equipment was smaller, road use was not needed as much and the tractors didn’t drive as fast. Today’s equipment has outgrown the weight carrying capacity and speeds of standard bias implement tires.

The radial implement tires that employ IF or VF technology are even more adept at accommodating heavier equipment loads while minimizing soil compaction. In addition to reducing soil compaction, evenly distributing the load across the largest possible footprint also reduces fuel consumption by increasing flotation. With diesel prices at their present levels and farmers facing sky high input costs (i.e., fertilizer), farmers are more interested than ever in reducing fuel costs.

The Spraymax VF, as well as CEAT farm tractor tires, offer the latest technologies at an affordable price for farms and ranches of all sizes. CEAT believes the advantages of VF Ag tires, including soil conservation and higher yield per acre, should not be the sole realm of the mega farming operations. CEAT is delivering VF technology at an affordable price to small and midsize farms that are often multi-generational. The cost per hour of CEAT farm tires is among the industry’s best; coupled with an aggressive entry level price, CEAT delivers VF technology and other Ag tire innovations to farms and ranches of all sizes.

Farm tractor tires are a major investment for farmers and ranchers. The stakes are even higher these days with input costs, such as fertilizer, going through the roof! Making a false move on the type of farm tractor tire or brand you purchase can negatively impact operating costs and productivity.

It’s always good to be armed with information when you visit your local tire dealer – even more so if you are buying farm tractor tires online.

Before you Google “tractor tires for sale” or “tractor tires near me,” it’s important to understand the main classifications of tractor tires:

R1 Tires

These are excellent tractor tires for everyday farm chores. They perform efficiently in muddy fields and dirt but are not as capable on road surfaces and especially not on snow.

R-1W Tires

This is a more aggressive type of tractor tires in terms of tread; the W (wet) in the name signifies its ability to perform tasks on deep mud or clay. This ability comes from a 25 percent deeper cleat compared to the R1 tire. This tire is a perfect fit for working in muddy or greasy clay areas.

The CEAT FARMAX R80 is good example of a R-1W farm tractor tire featuring the latest in tire technologies . It helps reduce soil compaction and delivers enhanced roadability, superior traction, and longer service life, thus raising the levels of efficiency on any farm or ranch.

With a higher angle lug and lug overlap at the center, FARMAX R80 tractor tires offer superior roadability. A lower angle at the shoulder brings home superior traction.

Wider treads, with larger inner volume reduce soil compaction and rounded shoulders cause less disruption to soil and crop, while a tread depth of R1-W lends the FARMAX R80 tractor tire a long service life.

Georgia peanut farmer Justin Studstill purchased his first set of CEAT Ag radial tires (FARMAX R80, size 480/80R46 R1-W R) in 2021 on the advice of his tire dealer.

“We plant and harvest peanuts in about a 60 square mile area, so our tractors spend a lot of time on the road,” he notes. “The CEAT tires provide a good stable ride. They don’t get squirrelly like some of the brands we’ve used. And it looks like the tread wear is going to be outstanding.”

Studstill says the traction provided by the CEAT tires is as good as any of the major Ag tire brands he has run on, and the acquisition price is very favorable compared to these so-called “name brands.”

R-1HA tires are another radial type that will be in wide use this spring and summer on farms across America. This type is especially used for row cropping as its tall and slim design makes it easier to fit between the rows of plants. The R-1 HA (High Angle) name refers to its higher tread angle of 45 degrees, instead of the traditional 23 degrees in R-1.

The Spraymax VF, for example, is specially designed for self-propelled sprayers. It is engineered to carry 40% more load than a standard radial. Alternately, it carries the same load as a standard radial at 40% lesser pressure.

In the field, VF tires can be operated at 40 percent lower air pressure as compared to standard radials, for the same load. For the IF tires, the air pressure can be lowered by 20 percent compared to standard radials, while carrying the same load. The lower pressure of VF and IF tires produce a larger tire footprint which leads to lower soil compaction.

Be informed before you purchase a set of farm tractor tires to get the most value out of your significant investment.

Farm tractor tire technologies are progressing at an impressive rate to keep up with the tractors and other wheeled farm equipment that keep getting larger and more sophisticated.

Farmers are also increasingly aware of the insidious effects of soil compaction on their farm’s yield per acre. Tire manufacturers such as CEAT are devoting considerable resources to developing farm tractor and implement tires that minimize soil compaction while delivering dependable traction. IF and VF tire technology is a relatively recent (and underutilized) technological advance that can help farmers increase productivity and efficiency, while reducing soil compaction, lowering fuel consumption, and providing a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) than standard radial tires.

For example, the CEAT Spraymax VF, which is specially designed for self-propelled sprayers, is engineered to carry 40 percent more load than a standard radial. Alternately, it carries the same load as a standard radial at 40 percent lesser pressure. This allows the sprayer to effectively work the field while minimizing soil compaction.

Good roadability (smooth ride, less squirm) is also a key farm tractor tire attribute these days as farmers spend more time on the road working tracts spread out over a greater square mile area.  CEAT FARMAX farm tractor tires are getting rave reviews from farmers across North America, such as Georgia peanut farmer Justin Studstill, for their smooth and steady ride on the road.

With all the new technologies and information coming out about farm tractor tires, there are, however, some common myths still circulating out there. Here are five of the more prevalent ones:

• The farm tractor tire’s inflation is okay as long as it does not have a big bulge. This is a myth from the bias tire days when any kind of sidewall bulge meant the bias tire was low on air. Radial tires must have a certain bulge in order for the tire to deliver optimum traction and the overall performance intended by the tire manufacturer. You cannot confirm a radial tire’s proper air inflation through a visual check. Consult with your tractor/tire dealer and check the tire manufacturer’s databook and load range table. The radial’s superior performance is realized only with proper inflation.
• The dealer (tractor or tire dealer) sets the tires to the proper inflation when the tractor or new tires are delivered to the farmer. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. New farm tractor tires are normally inflated to 30 psi when shipped from the factory to minimize bouncing on the trailer. Dealers may overlook reducing the tire pressures or may not reduce the pressure to the proper level for the load on the axle. Also, tire changers often inflate the farm tractor tire to 35 psi to set the tire beads on the rim. The farmer must take the initiative to ensure that the pressure matches the load on the axle by double checking with the dealer and consulting the tire databook and load range tables.
• Under-inflated farm tractor tires can cause premature wear, less than optimal performance and even outright failure, but over-inflated tires are not that big of an issue. Over -nflated farm tractor tires are a problem as well. Over inflation can cause loss of tire traction, excessive soil compaction, fast wear both in field and on road, higher fuel consumption, harsh ride and impact breaks.
• You get what you pay for in farm tractor tires. When you buy the most expensive farm tractor tire available at your dealer, you will undoubtedly get a good quality tire. But you must compare the acquisition price with the tread wear and overall performance achieved to ascertain the true total cost of ownership (TC0) of that tire. This is the only meaningful metric on tire value. For instance, if a particular brand tire costs half the price of the most expensive brand but delivers 80% of the operating hours and comparable performance, then the less expensive tire is delivering a better TCO by 30%. CEAT farm tractor tires, such as the FARMAX R80, are gaining rapid acceptance from North American farmers because they deliver a superior TCO. CEAT farm tractor tires deliver the latest tire technologies at a more affordable price.
• Farm tractor tires can be stored any way possible without any harm. Today’s farm tractor tires are indeed very tough and durable, but how you store them during the winter or when not in use can have a major influence on how long they ultimately last. The first step is to clean them before storage. Once your tires are clean and dry, store them in an airtight bag if possible. Store tractor tires in an upright position, not lying down flat or stacked if possible. Make sure to keep them in a cool, dry place away from the sun. Click here for more farm tractor tire maintenance advice.

Farm tractor tires and implement tires represent a significant portion of any farm’s operating budget, so it makes total sense to get as much wear and performance out of your tires as possible.

Here are 10 tractor tire maintenance tips to help you maximize your tire investment:

Study the manual – Understanding the equipment and tire manuals will help you identify the do’s and don’ts. Manuals list the basic instructions on vehicle and tire care, as well as advice on troubleshooting frequent problems.

Learn about your tires’ specification – There’ a wealth of information in the tractor tire’s specifications, including its height, width, diameter, model number, size of the tractor tire, and the recommended tire pressure and weight. Here’s a related blog post on reading a tire sidewall.

Inflate properly – Nothing is more important than keeping your farm tires properly inflated. A tire operating outside of the specified inflation range is a problem waiting to happen – probably sooner rather than later. The farmer may have a tire not suited for his or her application, or the farmer may need to adjust the speed or load to ensure the tire is operating within these boundaries. Damage is inflicted on any tire that operates outside of these limits and will eventually lead to failure.

Inflate to the air pressure that is appropriate for the most demanding application for each tire. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. The load and inflation tables show the speed range, inflation range and the load range for each tire.

Regularly check air pressure — Air pressures should be taken when the tractor tires have not been running and considered to be at a “cold” temperature. Checking tires first thing in the morning is best since they have been sitting overnight.

Air pressures taken after the tractor tire has been running will be higher than the “cold” air pressures and can be misleading. If you reduce your pressure after taking a warm inflation pressure, you likely will end up in an under-inflation situation. Under inflation of any tractor tire can result in sidewall deflection that extends beyond the deflection parameters of the sidewall, resulting in tire damage.

Don’t overload tractor or implement – Each tractor tire has a load capacity as mentioned above. Carrying load that is way above the recommended load for the tractor or implement will cause damage and increase the tread wear rate. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book.

Visually inspect tractor tires – Look for abnormalities in the tread pattern and sidewall, such as bulges cracks and tears. Also, if you see signs of irregular wear in the tread, this could mean the tire is not being used properly for the application (most often is under inflated) or there is an issue with the equipment. Either way, detecting irregular wear early will help you correct the problem before too much damage is done. Your implement and tire dealers can help you evaluate.

Clean tractor tires before storing – Properly storing your farm tires over the winter or when they are not in use will certainly extend their life. The first step is to clean them before storage.

Tractor tires typically accumulate brake dust, road grime, and dirt. This gunk can be harmful to the tire if it is allowed to stay on for extended periods of time. Use soap, water and a good tire brush. Then wipe the tires down completely and allow them to air dry.

Place tractor tires in airtight storage — Once your tires are clean and dry, store them in an airtight bag. Airtight storage is necessary to prevent the lubricating oil within the tire from evaporating during storage. The best airtight containers to use are airtight plastic bags like lawn or garden bags. When you place the tires in these bags, try to get out as much air as possible.

Store them upright in a cool, dry place — Store tractor tires in an upright position, not lying down flat or stacked if possible. Make sure to keep them in a cool, dry place away from the sun. Click here for informative video on tractor tire storage.

Watch the speed – Farm tractor tires are spending more and more time on the road these days as farmers work tracts that are more spread out. Most farm tires have a maximum speed rating of 25 miles per hour or less. When drivers go faster than their recommended speeds, they generate an excessive amount of heat in the tires. This heat breaks down the rubber in the tires, separating interior liners and belts. Not a good thing as you can imagine!

Overall, use the tire manufacturer data book and your trusted tire dealer to help you develop a consistent tire maintenance program that will save you considerable dollars.

What air pressures should I carry in my farm tractor tires? How often should I check my air pressures? While the answers are dependent on many different factors, here’s some general advice:

The air pressures in farm tractor tires are extremely important for getting the optimal wear and performance from the tires, as well as possibly avoiding dreaded downtime.

Inflate to the air pressure that is appropriate for the most demanding application for each tire. This critical information is contained in the tire manufacturer’s data book. The load and inflation tables show the speed range, the inflation range and the load range for each tire.

A tractor tire operating outside of the specified range is a problem waiting to happen – probably sooner rather than later. The farmer may have a tire not suited for his or her application, or the farmer may need to adjust the speed or load to ensure the tire is operating within these boundaries. Damage is inflicted on any tire that operates outside of these limits and will eventually lead to failure.

The heaviest load the tire carries may not be the most demanding application. If that tire operates at higher speeds such as during the roading of one’s equipment, the highest speeds are likely the most demanding aspect, and air pressures will need to be set to account for the increased speed.

Speed Kills

Speed generates heat, which is the No. 1 enemy of rubber and your tires. Rubber shrinks when subjected to excess heat and causes separations due to the internal tire construction. These separations lead to failures. They can be dangerous as well as inconvenient and expensive because they never happen in the shed. Air pressures should be taken when the tires have not been running and are considered to be at a “cold” temperature. Checking tires first thing in the morning is best since they have been sitting overnight.

Check When Cold

Air pressures taken after the tire has been running will be higher than the “cold” air pressures and can be misleading. If you reduce your pressure after taking a warm inflation pressure, you likely will end up in an under-inflation situation. Under inflation of any tire can result in sidewall deflection that extends beyond the deflection parameters of the sidewall, resulting in tire damage.

Overinflation can also be damaging. Maximum “cold” inflation pressures should be adhered to very diligently. The air chamber determines the load each tire can carry. The larger the air chamber, the larger the load it can carry. When you have too small of an air chamber to carry the required load, it is sometimes tempting to over-inflate the tire. Increased air pressures can carry more load but exceeding the manufacturers’ maximum inflation pressure is not endorsed by any manufacturer.

There are some situations where a manufacturer may utilize extended load and inflation tables for certain tires in certain applications in their portfolio. These extended tables are not usually printed in their data books. If you have this information from the manufacturer, it is fine to follow their directions.

Overinflation is a Problem Too

Overinflation with over loads can help reduce the sidewall deflection, but the structural integrity of the tire, as well as the service condition likely, have been compromised. Running tires in an overloaded and over-inflated condition is really asking for a catastrophic failure. Manufacturers know the parameters of their tires and will determine if their tires will function properly in these conditions.

All manufacturers have buffer zones for inflation pressures as well as speed ratings. What is comfortable and reasonable for a manufacturer to recommend is up to them, and as tire dealer, you should follow the manufacturer’s specifications.

Farm tractor tires are expensive, down time is critical and tires do not repair themselves!

Inflation pressure for agricultural tires is very simple. Farmers just need to inflate to the most demanding application. The hard part is determining exactly the most demanding application. Inflating tires to their maximum recommended air pressures is one approach, but it’s not the best way to deliver the maximum performance and benefits from your tires.

Farm tractor tires have made substantial technology and quality advances over the past 10 to 15 years. So many options and making the wrong decision can hurt your productivity and operating budget big time.

Before you Google “tractor tires for sale” or “tractor tires near me,” it’s important to understand the main classifications of tractor tires:

R1 Tires

These are excellent tractor tires for everyday farm chores. They perform efficiently in muddy fields and dirt but are not as capable on road surfaces and especially not on snow.

R-1W Tires

This is a more aggressive type of tractor tire in terms of tread; the W (wet) in the name signifies its ability to perform tasks on deep mud or clay. This ability comes from a 25 percent deeper cleat compared to the R1 tire. This tractor tire is a perfect fit for working in muddy or greasy clay areas.

The CEAT FARMAX R85, a good example of the R-1W farm tractor tire, helps reduce soil compaction and delivers enhanced roadability, superior traction, and longer service life, thus raising the levels of efficiency on any farm or ranch

F.eatures include:

• A Wider tread with larger inner volume to reduce soil compaction.
• Rounded shoulders cause less disruption to soil and crop.
• With a higher angle lug and lug overlap at the center, the R85 farm tractor tires offer superior roadability.
• A lower angle at the shoulder brings home superior traction.

R-1HA Tires

This type is especially used for row cropping as its tall and slim design makes it easier to fit between the rows of plants. The R-1 HA (High Angle) name refers to its higher tread angle of 45 degrees, instead of the traditional 23 degrees in R-1.

The Spraymax VF, for example, is specially designed for self-propelled sprayers. It is engineered to carry 40% more load than a standard radial. Alternately, it carries the same load as a standard radial at 40% lesser pressure.

So what are the benefits of IF (increased flexion) and VF (very increased flexion)? The two major characteristics which set VF and IF  tires apart from standard radials:

1)Higher load carrying capacity:

The VF (Very high flexion) tires are designed to carry 40 percent more load, as compared to standard radial tires at the same pressure. On the other hand, the IF (Increased Flexion) tires are equipped to carry 20 percent higher load than the standard radial tires at the same pressure.

2) Reduced soil compaction: In the field, VF tires can be operated at 40 percent lower air pressure as compared to standard radials, for the same load. For the IF tires, the air pressure can be lowered by 20 percent compared to standard radials, while carrying the same load. The lower pressure of VF and IF tires produce a larger tire footprint which leads to lower soil compaction.

Radial vs. Bias

Whether to go with radial or bias farm tractor tires is based on the type of equipment and application.

Radials allow the sidewall and tread to function as two independent features of the tire. Bias tires have multiple rubber plies, or layers overlapping each other. Puncture resistance is better in bias, but radials have better traction.

Bias tires are designed to carry loads and transport them over distances. Radial-designed tires carry the load and transport that load, but also provide increased traction, improved flotation, reduced compaction and a longer service life.

The Bottom Line

A very important consideration when selecting tractor tires is the intended application; is it meant to be used for pulling, plowing, tilling or something else?

Doing some of your own research and getting advice from your local Ag tire dealer, you can make an informed decision on a very importance purchase for your farm.

Before doing an online search for “tractor tires near me,” it’s important to know some of the key attributes of farm tractor tires and implement tires.

Do the tires, for instance, have the right construction and tread design to minimize soil compaction? This is becoming a bigger and bigger issue for North American farmers as the size of their equipment gets bigger and heavier.

Soil Compaction

With soil compaction, the density of the soil increases when it is compressed. In other words, the soil becomes denser and everypound of soil weighs more when the pores are compressed. It is often easy to understand and gauge the effects of soil compaction from watching a farm tractor tire roll over loose soil in wet conditions.

Soil compaction results in root growth being restricted. It decreases the number and size of large pores, macropores. As a result, there are fewer pores with diameter larger than roots in which the roots can grow freely.

Soil compaction also restricts the movement of water down through the soil. This causes water saturation in the upper layers, which in turn can lead to oxygen deficiency for the roots. In addition, soil aeration status affects the availability of various plant nutrients such as nitrogen and manganese. It all adds up to less yield per acre.

CEAT farm tractor tires, such as the FARMAX R90, feature wider treads, with larger inner volume, to reduce soil compaction. In addition, the rounded shoulders of the CEAT tractor tires cause less disruption to the soil and crop.

Roadability

These days, as more and more farms pass on to the next generation, the acreage is split up among the children. Also, the cost of tractors, combines and other equipment has gotten sky high, so farmers need to work as much acreage as possible to pay for their equipment. These two factors together mean a lot of road time for farm tractor tires.

Take third-generation peanut farmer Justin Studstill for instance. His crew plants and harvests peanuts over a 60 square mile area in southeastern Georgia. That’s a lot of road time for his John Deere tractors, and he is thrilled with the roadability of his CEAT FARMAX R80 tractor tires. He says they provide a good stable ride on the road – not “squirrelly” – and the longer service life is outstanding.

The superior roadability of FARMAX tractor tires comes courtesy of a higher angle lug and lug overlap at the center.

Traction in the Field

The R1-W tread depth of CEAT FARMAX tractor tires provides longer service life and dependable traction in the field. Less slippage translates into efficiency all the way around, including fuel savings. In addition to tread depth, a lower angle at the shoulder of CEAT farm tractor tires brings home superior traction.

Combine tires

Having the right tractor tires is only part of the equation of course. Combines today are getting larger and larger; they require a new generation of radial tires such as the CEAT YIELDMAX, specially designed to support the massive machinery and provide a higher load capacity.

The CEAT YIELDMAX is engineered and designed to ensure minimum impact on the soil.

It features a lower lug angle around the shoulders to ensure higher traction, and sharp shoulders enable excellent grip.

A higher lug angle around center lug also provides better side stability. The CEAT YIELDMAX has a tough casing and rigid belt that provides all the advantages of the radial construction while supporting heavy equipment and loads, making it suitable for all types of harvesting applications, like combine harvester, forage harvester and sugarcane harvester.

Tractor tires and farm implement tires are not a commodity; Some of them, like the Ag radials produced at the ultra-advanced CEAT plant, are marvels of modern engineering. Do your research before making a purchase. Making the right decision on your farm tractor tires can contribute significantly to your bottom line. With input costs going through the roof in 2022, farmers and ranchers can use all the help they can get!

CEAT Specialty Tires has become a corporate member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and looks forward to meeting many great folks who participate in the US beef industry.

The company, which produces and sells a wide range of Ag radial and bias tires, is making great inroads in North America since entering this market four years ago. While new to North America, CEAT is a 93-year-old company.

After advertising on the NCBA website this year and attending the recent national conference, CEAT is pleased to be expanding on its relationship with the NCBA, said Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT Specialty Tires Inc.

CEAT has expanded its radial and bias tire production to keep up with demand. Loethen said ranchers who may have purchased better known farm tire brands in the past are now giving CEAT a try due to product availability.

“Once ranchers experience CEAT quality, they want to stay with our brand and they tell their neighbors about CEAT,” Loethen said.

The CEAT FARMAX R80 farm tractor tire is a real work horse. High roadability, reduced soil compaction and superior traction are just a few features that make FARMAX R80 radial farm tractor tires an all-round performer.

Features and benefits include:

• With a higher angle lug and lug overlap at the center, the FARMAX R80 offers superior roadability. A lower angle at the shoulder delivers superior traction.
• A wider tread, with larger inner volume, reduces soil compaction, while rounded shoulders cause less disruption to the soil and crop.
• A tread depth of R1-W lends the FARMAX R80 a long service life.

CEAT Ag tires have been in North America only four years (company is 93 years old) now, but are rapidly gaining popularity with farmers and ranchers due to product quality and availability.

According to Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT Specialty Tires Inc., the company has gained market share by focusing on logistics amid recent industrywide supply-chain disruptions.

“We’ve been able to take real positions away from competitors because we are good logisticians and we are getting our stuff in when people are starting to run out of tires, and then they realize how great (CEAT tires) really are,” Loethen said in a recent interview with Tire Business magazine.

Loethen, who has logistics experience through a longtime stint as a US Army officer, has been working closely with the logistics team in India to get CEAT farm tractor tires and implement tires into North America.

Logistics is a key factor in today’s Ag tire market, Loethen told Tire Business, given the much-publicized overseas shipping backlogs at the ports and shortages of shipping containers and trucks to transport them to their final destinations.

Getting tires imported into North America is one thing, but the other part of the equation is product quality. Once farmers give CEAT tires a try, they want more! CEAT has expanded radial and bias ag and OTR tire production to keep up with demand.

Loethen said farmers who may have purchased better known farm tire brands in the past are now giving CEAT a try due to product availability.

“Once farmers experience CEAT quality, they want to stay with our brand and they tell their neighbors about CEAT,” Loethen said.

“Small farmers can’t afford expensive tires, and they are missing out on all the technologies. At CEAT we have all those things. We have a VF tire, high technology, flexible sidewalls, low soil compaction. Why should just the big farmers get those? Why can’t the family farmer have those? He should be able to be profitable, too. He should be able to have that type of equipment,” Loethen said. “With CEAT, the farmer is getting less rolling resistance, better gas mileage, less soil compaction . . . all those good things that a top-tier tire gives you but not paying a top-tier price.”

More than half of America’s big farmers expect prices for inputs such as fertilizer and fuel to soar by more than 12% this year, according to a poll by Purdue University.

Although much of the attention on increasing input costs has focused on this year’s dramatic rise in fertilizer prices, virtually all other input costs, such as seeds and machinery, are also expected to increase as the nation grapples with inflation and supply chain issues.

There’s no doubt that farmers are burning the midnight oil, calculating what to plant based on needed inputs and commodity futures.

What About Your Tires?

With fertilizer and other input costs skyrocketing, farmers are considering where they can reduce operating costs. What about your farm tractor tires and implement tires? What about CEAT?

CEAT Specialty Tires provides high quality farm tires with the latest technologies at an affordable price.

For example, we’re offering VF technology tires with the introduction of the Spraymax VF, which is specially designed for self-propelled sprayers. It is engineered to carry 40 percent more load than a standard radial. Alternately, it carries the same load as a standard radial at 40 percent lesser pressure.

CEAT offers a comprehensive line-up of radial and bias farm tires which deliver a cost per hour that is among the industry’s best. The CEAT Torquemax VF, for example, is designed for high power tractors. Our FARMAX series of farm tractor tires is getting rave reviews from farmers, such as Justin Studstill, peanut farmer in southeastern Georgia.

“We have been very pleased with the CEAT tires,” Studstill notes. “Our tractors spend a lot of time on the road, and the CEAT tires provide a smooth steady ride. They don’t get squirrelly like some tires do; very stable even when pulling heavy implements.”

The successful peanut farmer is also impressed with the traction provided by his FARMAX R80 radials. And while the CEAT tires have only been in operation at Big Creek Farms through one planting season and a recent harvest, they look almost brand new. Studstill is confident that the R1-W tread depth will deliver long service life.

This article was published in the Millersburg, OH, version of bargainhunter.com

Millersburg Tire Service owner Brad Schmucker said many farmers don’t know about CEAT Specialty farm tires.

His hope is that is about to change, drastically.

Recently, MTS became one of CEAT Specialty’s initial partners here in the United States, and while MTS has sold CEAT farm tires for the past several years, Schmucker said the company is about to gain some serious traction in the United States, and he and his company are thrilled to be a part of CEAT’s national growth.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to team up with CEAT (pronounced SEE’-ott) on an even bigger scale,” Schmucker said. “We are jumping in with both feet.”

Millersburg Tire had been purchasing CEAT farm tractor tires and implement tires through a broker but made the recent move to purchase directly from CEAT, eliminating the middleman, something Schmucker hopes will help his business grow the CEAT name quicker.

“Millersburg Tire is our best retailer in the country,” said Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT North American Operations. “They’ve been our most durable and loyal partner, and it is a pleasure to work with them.”

Loethen went on to say CEAT is now exploring several ways to grow the partnership, building a new and unique sales model he hopes will be beneficial for both parties.

“To be honest, they are the only partner I think we want to try this with,” Loethen said. “We have a high-quality product, and the last thing we want to do is team up with a low-quality dealer and someone who doesn’t understand the value.”

CEAT has been in business since 1917, founded in Turin, Italy. (The company has been in North America for four years now.)

CEAT recently sent a team of representatives to meet with Schmucker and his staff, and Schmucker said the plan developed quickly out of thin air. He said with COVID issues, it has been difficult to get all parties on board, and it remains difficult to get tires in stock with shipping issues plaguing the nation right now.

Schmucker said having been working with CEAT for the past four years, they know the kind of quality product the company provides and added there are several farmers in the area who will buy nothing but CEAT tires.

He said word of mouth alone will help push CEAT sales as the farming community begins to learn more about how productive and tough CEAT tires are. He said they know and trust the tires, and the two companies are now working on a plan to get the tires here in a timelier fashion.

Amit Tolani, CEAT chief executive, was excited to catch a plane from India and fly to the U.S. to visit with Schmucker and his staff to learn more about his business and to sit down face to face to hash out a plan that benefits both parties.

“We are excited because we see the U.S. as a big market, and we need partners who can build a brand here,” Tolani said. “Brad and his team here are doing exactly that, and the passion he has in terms of understanding what’s taking place right now in the tire world and the feedback he is giving us is invaluable. He knows this business here more than any of us do. He is on the ground and can catch trends and what is happening in trends, and it is all about how passionately he runs the business.”

Tolani said he took the 18-hour flight because he understands how important this connection is between the two companies. He said Millersburg Tire is very important to CEAT, and building this relationship is critical to growing their company in the United States.

He said he has been very impressed with MTS and the vision it has, and they have big expectations for this partnership and the relationship being a driving force in CEAT’s growth in the U.S. market.

“It’s about understanding each other better,” Tolani said. “They have been a loyal partner.”

Monty Hawthorne, director of agricultural sales in North America, said CEAT prides itself on making the highest quality tractor tires, and in building relationships in the U.S., they wanted to start with companies that put an emphasis on quality.

The American office of CEAT opened in 2018, and Loethen said with quality product that is fairly priced, CEAT tires are ideal for smaller farmers.

“We want someone who will invest in our brand as Millersburg Tire did, who will spend time with us and carry the same passion for quality and durability,” Loethen said. “We are making hard-working tires for hard-working people, and this community appears to be a perfect fit for what we want to promote.”

Schmucker said farmers who have invested in CEAT tires love the product, and he hopes this new partnership will most importantly benefit the hard-working farmers who drive the local agricultural economy.

Two million farms dot America’s rural landscape. About 98% of U.S. farms are operated by families – individuals, family partnerships or family corporations. It is amazing that 86 percent of U.S. Ag products are produced on family farms or ranches, and one U.S. farm feeds 166 people annually in the U.S. and abroad.

Our hat is off to America’s farming families. It is often very rewarding work, but not for the faint of heart. It is demanding. It is high stakes with the cost of equipment these days. Many input costs, such as fertilizer, are expected to double this year. Weather, of course, is another variable that farmers have absolutely no control over.

Kudos are nice but they don’t put food on the table. CEAT Specialty Tires is actively supporting America’s farming families by providing high quality tractor farm tires and farm implement tires with the latest technologies at an affordable price.

For example, we’re offering VF technology tires with the introduction of the Spraymax VF, which is specially designed for self-propelled sprayers. It is engineered to carry 40 percent more load than a standard radial. Alternately, it carries the same load as a standard radial at 40 percent lesser pressure.

Why should the “big boys” only benefit from VF technology?” The advantages of VF Ag tires, including soil conservation and higher yield per acre, should not be the sole realm of the mega farming operations! CEAT is delivering VF technology at an affordable price to small and midsize farms that are often multi-generational.

At CEAT we believe you do not have to sacrifice modern VF technology due to the price of the tire. We offer the VF advantage at an honest price. Our cost per hour is among the industry’s best; coupled with an aggressive entry level price, our VF technology is available to farms of all sizes.

Key elements of the Spraymax VF design include:

• Stepped lug design provides better grip and traction.
• The center tie bar delivers superior roadability.
• Its rounded shoulders mean less soil and crop damage.
• The higher NSD ensures longer life.

Are you in the market for farm tractor tires? Here’s some key information you’ll need to find the right tires for your equipment and applications.

Tractor tires in the U.S. are regulated by the Department of Transportation and are given an “agricultural” tire classification which includes tractors, as well as combines, harvesters, sprayers, trailers and other heavy agricultural equipment. Ag tires have very prominent, strategically placed lugs in order to grip the terrain they are traditionally used on.

The rims on your farm tractor tires are a direct determinant of the diameter of the tire. Your tractor tires should always match the rim size.

Tractor tires are always classified in size by “width” and “rim diameter.” Or you can see tractor tires with three numbers on the sidewall. Sometimes, you’ll see them advertised with three numbers, which would signify “height,” “width” and “rim diameter.”

Sizing in terms of millimeters (mm) has become more common but you may come across tractor tires advertised not in inches but millimeters. For instance, for the CEAT FARMAX R85 farm tractor tire, the size will appear as “420/85R30.” This sizing is the equivalent standard of 16.9R30.

Section Width: The “420” refers to the section width of the tire in millimeters. Divide the 420 by 25.4 and you will get the standard measurement. These conversions don’t always calculate out exactly. The section width is the widest measurement of the tire normally at the center of the sidewall on the bottom side of the tire with a standard inflation pressure and standard load.

Aspect Ratio: The “85” is the aspect ratio of the tire. This is the ratio of the sidewall height to the section width of the tire. In this case the sidewall height is 85% of the section width of the tire. If the “85” is not in the sizing, you have a bias tire and the aspect ratio is a standard “85.”

“R”: The “R” stands for radial. If there is no “R” then you have a bias tire. Usually, the bias tires use a dash in place of the “R.”

Rim Diameter: The rim diameter is stated in inches, and in this example it is “30.”

Load Index/Speed Rating: Right after the sizing you will find the load index/speed rating for the tire. In this example it is “140 A8.” The “140” is the load index and the corresponding load can be found in the standard load table — it equals 7,165#. The speed rating is the “A8/B”. This tire has a dual speed rating. This speed rating equivalent can be found in the Speed Rating tables and “A8” equals 25 mph and the “B” equals 31 mph. In this case, the same 7,165# load can be carried at 31 mph with the maximum inflation pressure. In most cases with dual speed ratings the second speed rating is higher than the first speed rating and is quite often followed by a reduced or devalued load index. If this is the case with a dual speed rating and a dual load index, the tire is rated to carry a reduced load at higher speeds. A tires’ load index/speed ratings are determined by the heaviest load at the highest speed. If you have a dual marked tire with the load devalued for higher speed, the load index is the lower speed and the heavier load.

Maximum Inflation Pressure: The maximum recommended inflation pressure is identified on each tire. In this example you will find an inflation statement that says 23 psi is the maximum inflation pressure.

Directional Symbol: Some tires will have a circle on the sidewall with an arrow incorporated that shows the direction the tire is designed to rotate.

Manufacture Date Code: There is always an oval stamped into the sidewall near the bead that most often has one or two letters followed by four numbers. The letters signify the plant the tire was built in, and the numbers are the date code. The first two numbers are the week of the year, and the last two numbers are the last two numbers of the year.

Maximum Mounting Inflation Pressure: All Ag tires should have a picture of a section cut of a tire with a triangle inside with a statement of the maximum inflation pressures to use when seating the bead to the rim during mounting.

Ply Rating: You may see something like a “12pr or 12 ply” following the size of the tire and no load index/speed rating. This designation would be on bias tires and refers to the carcass strength which is a 12-ply rating. The higher the pr or ply number the stronger the carcass strength. This number is purely a strength of carcass number and does not refer to the actual number of carcass plies that are utilized in the manufacturing of the tire. There is no good way to convert ply ratings to the load index of radials and vis versa. Radials have a load index/speed rating, and bias tires have a ply or pr rating.

Service Type Description: These markings indicate the type of service the tire has been designed for. There are various types that include implement, forestry, industrial, loader, multipurpose as well as agroforestry and others.

Service Description: Some tires may have a service description symbol on the sidewall. These symbols are normally a circle with and arrow point incorporated in the circle which indicates a drive tire. If there is a circle with an arrow that is extended outside the circle you are looking at a free rolling or non-drive tire.

Tractor Tire Tube: One or the other designation will be present on the sidewall. When you see a tube type designation the tire needs to have a tube installed for mounting and service. Tubeless indicates the tire is designed for use without a tube. You may add a tube to a tubeless tire if needed especially when utilizing liquid ballast.

Tires without tubes last longer, as they are far easier to repair and do not require you to remove the tire, then remove the tube for repair work. Tubes are generally a requirement for tires that require liquid ballast, which is inserted into the tube itself. The choice for tubed versus no-tube tires ultimately weighs on this requirement, or purely on the tractor operator’s preference.

Steel Belted: Some Ag tires will have “steel belted” on the sidewall which indicates steel belting

Lots of information to digest. Your tire dealer can break it all down for you, and tire manufacturer websites are also great sources of information for a tractor tire size chart.

The first-ever WCRA Rodeo Fan Vote Contest by CEAT Specialty Tires is in the books. Breakway roper JJ Hampton collected the most votes in the online Facebook/Instagram contest, and breakaway roper Hope Thompson came in 2nd place. CEAT is sponsoring rodeo to promote its farm tractor tires and implement tires to North American farmers and ranchers.

Hampton will receive $1,000 and Thompson $500 from CEAT, a 90-year-old company that entered the North American Ag tire market four years ago.

Hampton, a two-time National Finals Breakaway Roping qualifier and 17-time WPRA champion, grew up competing in junior rodeos in barrel racing, goat tying and breakaway roping. She dropped barrel racing by the time she was in 5th or 6th grade to concentrate on roping. She finished 7th in the world in breakaway roping in 2020. Her awards include: Tarleton’s Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee, 2014; member of Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Cowboy Capital of Texas Walk of Fame; and had the WPRA Breakaway Roping Horse of the Year Sara Rey Lynx, 1996 & 1998.

Thompson, a four-time world champion in breakaway roping, had an outstanding 2021 season. She tied for second at Dickinson (ND) ProRodeo Breakaway Roping and finished second at Rapid City (SD) ProRodeo Breakaway Roping. Also:
• Tied for third at Burley (ID) ProRodeo Breakaway Roping
• Tied for third at Mobridge (SD) ProRodeo Breakaway Roping
• Won the Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl Challenge Team Roping during the Bob Feist Roping in Guthrie, OK, with partner Whitney DeSalvo.

In July, CEAT announced a three-year partnership with the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA), wherein CEAT was designated the “Official Ag Tire Sponsor and Exclusive Category Event and Broadcast Partner.”

With this sponsorship, CEAT hopes to connect with the farmers and ranchers that comprise the backbone of the rodeo community and help them make better decisions when it comes to their farm tractor tire needs.

“I come from a farming family, so I know that equipment buying decisions including tractor tires, are not taken lightly,” said Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT Specialty Tires. “The wrong decision on farm tractor tires can really set you back, and on the flip side, having the right tires for the equipment and operating conditions can significantly contribute to profitability.”

Loethen continued, “We definitely want to contribute to the profitability of ranchers by offering them high quality farm tires at affordable prices.”

An exciting WCRA season is wrapping up on Dec. 15-18 with the Cowtown Christmas Championship Rodeo in Fort Worth, as is the CEAT Fan Favorite online contest.

Top voter getter will receive a $1,000 cash prize, and second place finisher gets $500. All voters will be entered into a random drawing for $100.

At the present, breakaway roper JJ Hampton is in first place, and breakaway roper Hope Thompson is in second.

In July, CEAT announced a three-year partnership with the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA), wherein CEAT was designated the “Official Ag Tire Sponsor and Exclusive Category Event and Broadcast Partner.”

With this sponsorship, CEAT hopes to connect with the farmers and ranchers that comprise the backbone of the rodeo community and help them make better decisions when it comes to their tire needs.

“I come from a farming family, so I know that equipment buying decisions including tires, are not taken lightly,” said Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT Specialty Tires. “The wrong decision on tires can really set you back, and on the flip side, having the right tires for the equipment and operating conditions can significantly contribute to profitability.”

Loethen continued, “We definitely want to contribute to the profitability of ranchers by offering them high quality tires at affordable prices.”

For this upcoming Thanksgiving, let’s serve a big helping of gratitude to American farming  families!

Americans enjoy a food supply that is abundant, affordable and among the world’s safest, thanks in large part to the efficiency and productivity of America’s farm and ranch families.

Here are some statistics to consider:

• Two million farms dot America’s rural landscape. About 98% of U.S. farms are operated by families – individuals, family partnerships or family corporations.
• 86% of U.S. Ag products are produced on family farms or ranches.
• One U.S. farm feeds 166 people annually in the U.S. and abroad.
• About 11% of U.S. farmers are serving or have served in the military.
• 25% of all farmers are beginning farmers (in business less than 10 years); their average age is 46.
• Women make up 36% of the total number of U.S. farm operators; 56% of all farms have at least one female decision-maker.
• More than half of America’s farmers intentionally provide habitat for wildlife. Deer, moose, birds and other species have shown significant population increases for decades.
• Careful stewardship by America’s food producers has spurred a 34% decline in erosion of cropland by wind and water since 1982.

We at CEAT Specialty Tires pride ourselves on providing hard working Ag tires for America’s hard-working farmers and ranchers. “Hard working” in terms of long wear, reduced soil compaction, outstanding traction in the field and a smooth, stable ride on the road.

Best of all, we provide the latest in Ag tire technologies, such as VF (very high flexion) tires at a competitive price to farmers and ranchers of all sizes. CEAT VF tires such as the Spraymax VF and Torquemax VF carry 40 percent more load at a standard radial’s inflation pressure—or the same load (as a standard tire) at 40 percent less pressure – very good for reducing soil compaction!

On this Thanksgiving holiday, let’s all say thanks to America’s farming families for keeping us fed and clothed!

The John Deere tractors at Big Creek Farms in southeastern Georgia spend a lot of time on the road – a necessity when you are farming peanuts on 6,000 acres in a 60-mile square area.

When farm owner Justin Studstill heard about the roadability of CEAT FARMAX Ag tires from his local tire dealer, he decided to try a set of FARMAX R80 radials on one of his John Deere 8420 tractors. Suffice it to say, Studstill sees more CEAT tires in his future.

“We have been very pleased with the CEAT tires,” Studstill notes. “Our tractors spend a lot of time on the road, and the CEAT tires provide a smooth steady ride. They don’t get squirrelly like some tires do; very stable even when pulling heavy implements.”

The successful peanut farmer is also impressed with the traction provided by his FARMAX R80 radials. And while the CEAT tires have only been on his Deere through one planting season and a recent harvest, they look almost brand new. Studstill is confident that the R1-W tread depth will deliver long service life.

High roadability, reduced soil compaction and superior traction are just a few features that make the FARMAX R80 tractor tire an all-round performer.

Features and benefits include:

• With a higher angle lug and lug overlap at the center, the FARMAX R80 tractor tires offer superior roadability.
• A lower angle at the shoulder brings home superior traction.
• Wider treads, with larger inner volume, reduce soil compaction and rounded shoulders cause less disruption to soil and crop.

FARMAX R80 radials perform well on 2WD tractors, 4WD tractors, MFWA tractors and combine/harvesters.

The FARMAX R80, like all CEAT Ag radials, is backed with a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty, as well as a field hazard warranty.

Studstill was visited recently by Monty Hawthorne, director of agricultural sales for CEAT Specialty Tires, and Brick Oltmann who oversees quality assurance for American Omni Trading Company. American Omni is a main importer of CEAT tires to the US.

Who doesn’t love peanuts? Well most of us do anyway!

Representatives of CEAT Specialty Tires got a special treat recently with a visit to Big Creek Farms, a very large peanut farming operation located in Lakeland, GA, a few miles from Valdosta in the southeastern corner of the state.

Farm owner Justin Studstill, who purchased his first set of CEAT Ag radial tires (FARMAX R80, size 480/80R46 R1-W R) last March, graciously invited CEAT folks down to see the tires and his operation in action. And what an operation it is – they grow and harvest more than 6,000 acres of peanuts each year. If you enjoy a pack of M&M’s chocolate peanuts every now and then, you may very well have eaten some of the nuts grown at Big Creek Farms.

Joining Studstill during harvest time last week were Monty Hawthorne, director of sales for CEAT Specialty Tires, and Brick

Oltmann, who oversees quality assurance for American Omni Trading (AOT), a company responsible for importing a significant share of CEAT Ag tires into North America.

Studstill only started using CEAT tires during the last planting season, but there’s little doubt he will be purchasing more! First of all, there’s the roadability. “We plant and harvest peanuts in about a 60 square mile area so our tractors spend a lot of time on the road,” he notes. “The CEAT tires provide a good stable ride. They don’t get squirrelly like some of the brands we’ve used. And it looks like the tread wear is going to be outstanding.”

Studstill says the traction provided by the CEAT tires is as good as any of the major Ag tire brands he has run on, and the acquisition price is very favorable compared to these so-called “name brands.”

Compaction in the sandy soil at Big Creek Farms is also a major concern, and Studstill says the square footprint of the CEAT FARMAX R80 is adept at reducing compaction and protecting the soil for many seasons to come. They definitely have the long view at Big Creek Farms – Studstill’s great grandfather first started growing peanuts there in 1905.

On the day of the CEAT visit, there were 21 John Deere tractors pulling Amadas harvesters and making quick work of a big field of peanuts. Click here to see a brief video of the equipment kicking into action.

So we had to ask. Justin, what is your favorite brand of peanut butter? “I have to be honest. By the time we get through with harvesting, I don’t want to see a jar of peanut butter,” he laughed. He did allow, though, that Snickers is his favorite candy bar featuring peanuts.

We sincerely appreciate Big Creek Farms becoming a CEAT customer and hope to visit them next year to measure how the CEAT tires are performing on tread wear.

Monty Hawthorne, who has been involved in the US commercial tire industry for close to 20 years, has joined CEAT Specialty Tires as director of agricultural sales, North America.

Hawthorne’s previous position was South Central territory manager for IMI, which provides tire, wheel, and fuel preserving solutions for commercial tires. Prior to joining IMI, Hawthorne was with Michelin for 15 years, serving the truck tire and agriculture business segments.

“We are thrilled to have Monty join the team as we continue to expand our distribution footprint across North America,” said Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT Specialty Tires, North America. “He has a proven track record in working closely with tire distributors and dealers. CEAT is growing rapidly but it is still a relatively new tire brand here. Monty will help our distributors and dealers tell the CEAT story of quality and value to their farmer and rancher customers.”

Loethen added that Hawthorne’s technical expertise in Ag tires will be very beneficial as CEAT continues to expand its VF range of radial tires and deliver other advanced tire technologies to farmers of all sizes.

Hawthorne grew up in Conroe, TX, and currently resides with this wife, twin sons and labrador retriever in Edmond, OK.

CEAT was established in 1924 in Turin, Italy. Today, it is one of India’s leading tire manufacturers, and CEAT tires are sold in more than 115 countries worldwide. The brand came to India in 1958, and later became part of the RPG Group. RPG is among the top business houses in India, with a group turnover of $3 billion. The CEAT Specialty Tires office in Charlotte was opened in 2017.

With rodeo’s deep roots in America’s agriculture and ranching history, it’s no surprise CEAT Specialty Tires is tapping into the rodeo community to educate people about how to save money by investing in the right tires.

In July, CEAT announced a three-year partnership with the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA),

wherein CEAT was designated the “Official Ag Tire Sponsor and Exclusive Category Event and Broadcast Partner.”

CEAT will also sponsor the upcoming (Oct. 26-29) Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC) in Las Vegas. This event, with a very impressive purse, is being put on by the WCRA and Professional Bull Riders (PBR). CEAT is also sponsoring the National High School Rodeo Association (NHRSA) and the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR).

The tire company is currently running an online Fan Favorite Contest with cash prizes for the top two vote getters.

With these sponsorships, CEAT hopes to connect with the farmers and ranchers that comprise the backbone of the rodeo community and help them make better decisions when it comes to their tire needs.

“I come from a farming family, so I know that equipment buying decisions including tires, are not taken lightly,” said Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT Specialty Tires. “The wrong decision on tires can really set you back, and on the flip side, having the right tires for the equipment and operating conditions can significantly contribute to profitability.”

Loethen continued, “We definitely want to contribute to the profitability of ranchers by offering them high quality tires at affordable prices.”

We welcomed Brad Schmucker, owner of Millersburg Tire, at our Farm Progress Show booth recently and were pleased to hear that more and more of his farmer customers are asking for CEAT Ag tires by name.

Millersburg Tire Service in Millersburg, OH, has been in business for 66 years because their farmer customers trust them — trust them to provide a quality product backed by quality service.

Millersburg Tire Service has been selling CEAT for four years now and Schmucker says the brand is growing in reputation among farmers in Ohio and the surrounding states.

“What makes me feel really good is when they call in on the phone and they want that ‘CEAT Tire,'” Schmucker says. “That’s the key to making inroads in a market . . . when you have a tire that people ask for by name.”

“The service guys come back and say what a nice flat footprint,” the longtime tire dealer notes. “When you are going down the road, the CEAT tires have good stability . . . they don’t crown up. They mount flat and have really good traction.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE BRIEF VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH SCHMUCKER

“We need to have good products at a good price backed by good service . . . not just for the big farmers but for the small farmers as

well, because in our business, they are all important!” Schmucker explains.

We appreciated Brad helping us out at the Farm Progress Show and certainly got a kick out of seeing him on our mechanical bull which drew hundreds to our booth. CEAT is a proud sponsor of rodeo; hence the bull!

Our Farm Progress Show booth in Decatur, IL, last week was a hub of activity . . . with hundreds riding our mechanical bull and farmers checking out a wide range of CEAT Ag radial and bias tire options.

The bull was part of our booth to celebrate our rodeo sponsorships and to create buzz around the CEAT brand name. And it really worked! We had one of the most active booths at the very large show featuring hundreds of Ag brands.

Illinois High School Rodeo Queen Anna Merrigan (breakaway roping and goat roping) and Haven Courville (barrel racing and breakaway roping) were on hand to talk to youngsters about the sport. Anna even proved adept at controlling the bull’s moves. The cockier the rider, the harder he fell. LOL!

One of the CEAT tread patterns to gain a lot of attention was the Torquemax VF.  The superior VF technology gives 40%  higher load carrying capacity than a standard radial. Alternately, the tires can carry the same load at 40% lesser pressure.

The Torquemax was developed to complement the growing performance requirements of the latest high-power tractors – both on roads and on fields.

Key elements of Torquemax design include:

• Stepped lug design to provide superior grip
• Wider tread width for lower soil compaction, increasing yield
• Longer & wider lugs that provide higher contact area for longer life
• Tilted lug tips, for lower vibration at higher speed. This improves roadability and gives a more comfortable ride

 We appreciate everyone who stopped by our booth!

Founded almost 100 years ago, CEAT has a long history of producing tires for international markets. CEAT Specialty began selling Ag and OTR tires in North America four years ago.

“With customer centricity being the guiding principle for all our actions, we continually invest in customer service and R&D to deliver the highest quality products to all our customers,” said CEAT Specialty Tires President Ryan Loethen. “Additionally, we follow Total Quality Management (TQM) principles. The Deming Prize we received in 2017 is a testament to that commitment.”

The prestigious Deming award recognizes companies that achieve business transformation by implementing TQM. CEAT was the first non-Japanese tire company in the award’s history to earn the distinction.

Edward Deming was an American statistician and business consultant whose methods helped hasten Japan’s recovery after the Second World War and beyond. He derived the first philosophy and method that allowed individuals and organizations to plan and continually improve themselves, their relationships, processes, products and services.

CEAT Specialty entered the North American market with the intent to offer the same level of customer centricity, and feedback from farmers and ranchers so far has been outstanding.

Apart from rigorous internal test, CEAT Ag radials also undergo testing at renowned independent facilities. “This gives us confidence to offer a 7-year manufacturing warranty and a 3-year field hazard warranty on all our farm radial products,” Loethen said.

CEAT Specialty will showcase a wide selection of Ag radial and bias tires at the Farm Progress Show beginning Aug. 31. The star of the company’s booth will be the Spraymax VF which is currently being rolled out nationwide.

The CEAT Spraymax VF is engineered to carry 40 percent more load than a standard radial. Alternately, it carries the same load as a standard radial at 40 percent lesser pressure.

Key elements of the Spraymax VF design include:

• Stepped lug design that provides better grip and traction.
• Advanced lug geometry that delivers superior roadability.
• Rounded shoulders that ensure less soil and crop damage.
• Higher NSD that ensures longer life.

“It is our constant endeavor to give our American farmers the most modern products. Keeping this in mind, we have launched Spraymax VF. This range will offer more load carrying capacity while caring for their soil and crops,” said Ryan Loethen, president of CEAT Specialty Tires Inc.

CEAT will also showcase the Spraymax VF at the company’s booth (#504) at the MAGIE farm show being held in Bloomington, IL, the week prior to the Farm Progress Show.

Another “star” of the CEAT Specialty Farm Progress Show booth (Northeast Quadrant – 1126) in Decatur, IL, will be a mechanical riding bull to promote the company’s recently announced rodeo sponsorships, including the WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance). Attendees will test their bull riding prowess for prizes in different age categories.

About CEAT

CEAT was established in 1924 in Turin, Italy. Today, it is one of India’s leading tire

manufacturers, and CEAT tires are sold in more than 115 countries worldwide.

The brand came to India in 1958, and later became part of the RPG Group. RPG is among the top business houses in India, with a group turnover of $3.3 billion.

In the specialty segment, CEAT manufactures farm, mining and earthmover, industrial, and construction equipment tires, as well as special application off road tires.

The CEAT Specialty Tires office in Charlotte was opened in 2017, and the company has been steadily increasing distribution across North America.

Traction and flotation represent different operational tasks on the farm. Identifying tire solutions that can ideally accomplish both will help Ag tire dealers provide the best possible advice to their farmer customers.

Flotation

Ag tire flotation is the ability to remain on or near the soil surface as you are moving across that surface. Flotation is directly related to the weight and the footprint of the tires that are carrying that weight. The larger the footprint the better the flotation, as well as the lighter the weight the better the flotation. When you are increasing the footprint and/or reducing the weight carried, you are reducing the weight per square inch or down pressure. This reduces the ground pressure and reduces the compaction potential. Reducing compaction potential results in maximizing crop production.

How do you maximize flotation? Reduce the weight carried and maximize the footprints of your tires. Reducing the weight carried isn’t usually much of an option but maximizing the footprint is a very good tool that will reduce compaction.

Tire selection is really key to maximizing the footprint. Adding more tires (like front duals along with rear duals, triples or even quads), wider tires, larger diameter tires, higher load carrying capacity tires, higher aspect ratio tires, and “IF” (increased flexion tires) and “VF” (very high flexion tires) can all help achieve flotation objectives.

The air chamber in Ag tires determines the weight carrying capacity for the most part, so increasing the air chamber will increase flotation. The larger the air chamber the more you can reduce your air pressures which are directly related to ground pressure. You can increase the size of your air chamber by increasing the width, height and aspect ratio. The higher the tires’ load carrying capacity the more you can reduce your inflation pressures. The higher the aspect ratio the more sidewall you have available for sidewall deflection to grow your footprint.

The way to maximize flotation is pretty straightforward. Add more tire! Utilize very large diameter tires with large section widths, high aspect ratios and high load carrying capacities, coupled with IF or VF technology.

Traction
Ag tire traction is the transfer of power to the ground resulting in movement across the surface. To maximize traction, you need to reduce tire slip.

Tire companies like CEAT devote considerable resources to designing tires that can exert more force without slipping, using factors like tread and lug design, surface type, compounding and features like sipes to increase traction.

Reducing tire slip can be achieved by increasing ballast weight — opposite to the concept of reducing pressure to the soil via flotation. In most soil conditions, however, utilizing the higher load carrying capacity tires, as well as IF and VF tires, will also increase your traction as the footprint architecture is altered in length and provides more in line tractive surfaces — while simultaneously improving flotation.

At CEAT, we are focusing heavily on the VF solution which allows tires to carry about 40% more load at the same air pressure or carry the same load at 40% reduced air pressure, as compared to standard radials. Our new Spraymax VF radial, for example, is getting great feedback from farmers for providing lower soil compaction without measurably sacrificing traction.

Flat Plate
There are really no industry standards for comparing footprints so be careful when using this information to compare between manufacturers. In general, using the flat plate or footprint calculations as a tool to increase flotation is quite easy. The larger the footprint the better the flotation. Utilizing the footprint to increase traction is not so clear cut. In some cases, the smaller the footprint the better the traction because you simply increase your weight per inch or per unit area.

Conclusion
The big challenge is wanting to maximize traction to optimize equipment efficiency while minimizing compaction potential to optimize crop yields.

Flotation and traction are almost on a teetertotter. As flotation increases the traction decreases due to reduced ground pressures. As the flotation decreases the traction increases. These opposing effects are not so dramatic under low torque applications but can be quite extreme in high torque situations.

The best way to increase traction while minimizing compaction during high torque applications is to:

• make sure correct air pressures are used for road and field speeds.
• increase the footprints in length via IF and VF.
• use higher load carrying capacity tires, along with higher aspect ratio tires with larger air chambers.

These tactics will grow the tire footprint in length providing optimum flotation, while at the same time, lining up the tractive surfaces to provide the most efficient transfer of power to the ground.

Ag tires are advancing so quickly and becoming more and more specialized, I advise discussing the operational conditions, such as soil types, that your farmer customers are facing with your tire manufacturer engineers to devise the best solutions for your customers.

They are some of the most loyal fans anywhere. That’s rodeo!

CEAT Specialty Tires has launched a Fan Vote Contest on Facebook focusing on athletes competing in the WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance). The tire company, which entered the North American market five years ago, is the official Ag tire sponsor of the WCRA (wcrarodeo.com), a professional sport and entertainment entity that produces major rodeo events across America. The sponsorship is for three years.

The contest runs through Nov. 30, 2021. The competitor with the most fan votes will receive $1,000 from CEAT and 2nd place competitor gets $500. In addition, monthly random drawings are being held for the voters with a $100 winner each month.

CEAT is also sponsoring:

• WRWC (Women’s Rodeo World Championship), a first-of-its-kind event open to any female athlete in the world competing in breakaway roping, barrel racing and team roping. This year’s competition, organized by the WCRA and PBR (Professional Bull Riders), will be held Nov. 1-6 in Las Vegas in conjunction with the PBR World Finals.
• The National High School Rodeo Association, the world’s largest youth western equine association founded in 1949.
• The INFR, an organization devoted to enhancing and keeping Indian professional rodeo alive.

“Rodeo is such a natural fit for CEAT,” said Amit Tolani, Chief Executive- CEAT Specialty. “A large percentage of rodeo fans are farmers and ranchers. We were also drawn to the competitors themselves- young men and women who compete in rodeo at all levels.”

In an effort to support rodeo, which is a significant part of American culture, CEAT Specialty has partnered with WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) for a period of three years.

The tire company, which entered the North American market five years ago, is the official Ag tire sponsor of the WCRA (wcrarodeo.com), a professional sport and entertainment entity that produces major rodeo events across America.

CEAT is also sponsoring the WRWC (Women’s Rodeo World Championship), a first-of-its-kind event open to any female athlete in the world competing in breakaway roping, barrel racing and team roping. This year’s competition, organized by the WCRA and PBR (Professional Bull Riders), will be held Nov. 1-6 in Las Vegas in conjunction with the PBR World Finals.

In addition, CEAT is sponsoring the National High School Rodeo Association, the world’s largest youth western equine association founded in 1949, and the INFR, an organization devoted to enhancing and keeping Indian professional rodeo alive.

“Rodeo is such a natural fit for CEAT,” said Amit Tolani, Chief Executive- CEAT Specialty. “A large percentage of rodeo fans are farmers and ranchers. We were also drawn to the competitors themselves- young men and women who compete in rodeo at all levels.”

Tolani added, “We are especially pleased to sponsor women’s rodeo which is coming on very strong, as well as the junior high/high school competitors and Native American rodeo events.”

CEAT sponsored events include: the NHSRA Jr. High Finals in Des Moines, IA; NHSRA High Finals in Lincoln, NE, July 18-24; WCRA in Salt Lake City July 20-24; NHSRA in Bowman, ND, Oct. 8-10; WCRA in Greensboro, NC, Oct. 9-10; INFR in Las Vegas, Oct. 19-23; WRWC in Las Vegas Nov. 1-6; and NHSRA in Perry, GA, Nov. 4-7.

The tire company will have representatives at all the events so that they can interact with rodeo fans and competitors. In addition, CEAT will utilize its own social media platforms to engage with rodeo fans.

Nothing pleases us more than hearing feedback from our farmer customers!

Take Jarad Sage of Clover Patch Dairy Farm in Ohio for example:  “I’ve run a lot of different tires on a lot of different tractors over my years and this tire is very reliable. We’ve never had a flat on the CEAT tires,” according to Jarad who is the operations manager at Clover Patch Dairy Farm. “They are very durable. We’re anticipating 10,000 hours on a current set. In the past, with other tires I’ve run on other tractors, we’ve gotten about half that life and they were also radials.”

Josh Zimmerly, farm manager at Catalpadale Dairy Farm, is also high on CEAT:  “With radial tires, sometimes when you go from asphalt to concrete the ride can be like night and day. With CEAT, the ride is smooth the entire time . . . it doesn’t matter if you are carrying a big load or no load, or what the speed is,” Josh says.

Click here for brief video with Jarad and Josh riding on CEAT Ag tires.

Technology for the “Small Guys”

We welcome farms and ranches of all sizes to give CEAT Ag radial and bias tires a try, but we are particularly proud to make the latest technologies, such as VF, available to the smaller operations at an affordable price . . . because they aren’t “small” to us!

We’re expanding our line-up of VF technology tires with the introduction of the Spraymax VF, which is specially designed for self-propelled sprayers. And we continue to ask the question, “Why should the ‘big boys’ only benefit from VF technology?”

At CEAT we believe you do not have to sacrifice modern VF technology due to the price of the tire. We offer the VF advantage at an honest price. Our cost per hour is among the industry’s best; coupled with an aggressive entry level price, our VF technology is available to farms of all sizes.

Click here for video on the Spraymax VF radial.

Get your cowboy (and cowgirl) on! CEAT Specialty Tires is sponsoring youth and professional rodeo competitions across America.

“It’s a natural fit for CEAT,” says Ryan Loethen, President of CEAT Specialty Tires North America. “We offer a comprehensive line-up of hardworking Ag radial and bias tires for getting the ranch jobs done. And speaking of ‘hardworking,’ we are extremely impressed with the work ethic and dedication rodeo competitors put into their sport.”

Case in point is CEAT-sponsored Tyler Acree of Missouri. Tyler first started riding horses at three years old after his mother safety strapped him to the saddle of his pony Hanna. Tyler had a smile from ear to ear that day and his emergence into the world of rodeo and other equestrian events began with his mother Valerie serving as his primary coach and mentor.

Tyler started mutton busting that year and by the age of five had earned the nickname “sticky iceman” for his resolve to stay on the sheep as they ran. Tyler’s grit proved itself early when he won the Missouri – Kansas (MO-KAN) mutton busting championship and was sent to Amarillo, TX, to compete at the mutton busting world finals.

As Tyler grew out of mutton busting, he and Valerie searched for their next rodeo competition. They found Pony Broncs, and Tyler excelled in this as well, eventually winning several buckles and qualifying for the Jr. National Finals in Pony Broncs in 2016.

Tyler began trick riding with Jenny Gatrel in 2017. Jenny taught Tyler how to compete in this dangerous sport and once again Tyler excelled. He performed across Missouri, in South Dakota at the Black Hills Stock Show and eventually in Oklahoma where he won the North American Trick Riding Championship 2018.

Tyler’s knowledge of horsemanship continues to grow as he has attended various clinics such as the Double Dan Reining clinic. Tyler is also taking lessons from Whitney Kincade for reining, along with calf roping lessons twice a week with Gene Crouse, who is the father of two national calf roping champions.

Through the years, Tyler has worked and trained several horses and ponies, including one set of ponies for a girl with special needs. These ponies were prone to kick and were dangerous for a young blind girl. When Tyler was done working with the set of ponies the desire to kick was gone and the ponies were safe for the young girl.

Tyler’s most trustworthy ponies are Painty, a bombproof 25 year old roping horse that has been in the family since he was bought off a ranch in South Dakota as a colt and Rocket, a 5-year-old pony cross that has trained to compete in trick riding and calf roping.

Tyler, who trains and competes most of the year, has maintained good grades and was his school’s alternate in the county spelling bee.

CEAT salutes Tyler for his hard work and awesome cowboy skills, as well as his parents George and Valerie for their outstanding support. Keep your eye out for Tyler as he continues to develop as a great young man and cowboy! Please join our Facebook and Instagram pages so you can keep up with Tyler’s exploits and our many other rodeo activities.

Most farmers have different size tractors working their land to fulfill different tasks. Different tire inflation tactics are required for each.

Looking at small two-wheel-drive tractors, if they are fitted with bias tires the approach is pretty simple. Quite often these are fitted with front-end loaders and are utilized by small land owners for many different operations. In these situations, the air pressures should be maximized (according to the equipment specs.) in the front wheel positions and likely maximized in the rear.

If you have a two-wheel-drive tractor fitted with radials, you should inflate to the most demanding application. When the tractor is fitted with a front-end loader you need to inflate the fronts to their maximum. The rears can be inflated to the most demanding application which may be less than the maximum inflation pressures.

Rear tire inflation pressures quite often are determined by the type of implement attached to the three-point hitch and its weight. Ultimately, the inflation pressure is determined by the load on each axle as well as the maximum speed. 

Amit Tolani has been named Chief Executive of CEAT Specialty.  CEAT Specialty has a US office which has been servicing the Ag and OTR tire requirements of North American customers since 2017.

Tolani has been with CEAT since 2004 and has served in various roles across sales, marketing and supply chain functions. Prior to this, he was the Chief Marketing Officer of CEAT.

“This is an exciting time for CEAT Specialty as we increase our distribution footprint across North America and provide products that meet the needs of farming operations of all sizes,” Tolani said.

Tolani noted that the movement towards higher HP tractors and sprayers with larger capacities has led to the need for increased loadability from tires. Therefore, CEAT has expanded its VF range of radial tires in the tractor and sprayer space. “CEAT is delivering VF technology at an affordable price to all our North American customers,” he said.

Tolani added, “We are on track to complete the first phase of capacity expansion of our Ag radial plant in Ambernath. Further, we have committed capital expenditure to increase the capacity to three times of current in the next 18 months. This will further reduce our lead times. We have a great team in place headed by CEAT Specialty Tires president Ryan Loethen, and I look forward to visiting our North American dealers and customers.”

CEAT was established in 1924 in Turin, Italy. Today, it is one of India’s leading tire manufacturers, and CEAT tires are sold in more than 115 countries worldwide. The brand came to India in 1958, and later became part of the RPG Group. RPG is among the top business houses in India, with a group turnover of $3.3 billion.

In the specialty segment, CEAT manufactures farm, mining and earthmover, industrial, and construction equipment tires, as well as special application off road tires.

The CEAT Specialty Tires office in Charlotte was opened in 2017, and the company has been steadily increasing distribution across North America.

We’re expanding our line-up of VF technology tires with the introduction of the Spraymax VF, which is specially designed for self-propelled sprayers. And we continue to ask the question, “Why should the ‘big boys’ only benefit from VF technology?”

The advantages of VF Ag tires, including soil conservation and higher yield per acre, should not be the sole realm of the mega farming operations! CEAT is delivering VF technology at an affordable price to small and midsize farms that are often multi-generational.

At CEAT we believe you do not have to sacrifice modern VF technology due to the price of the tire. We offer the VF advantage at an honest price. Our cost per hour is among the industry’s best; coupled with an aggressive entry level price, our VF technology is available to farms of all sizes.

Key elements of the Spraymax VF design include:

• Stepped lug design provides better grip and traction.
• The center tie bar delivers superior roadability.
• Its rounded shoulders mean less soil and crop damage.
• The higher NSD ensures longer life.

About CEAT

CEAT was established in 1924 in Turin, Italy. Today, it is one of India’s leading tire manufacturers, and CEAT tires are sold in more than 115 countries worldwide. The brand came to India in 1958, and later became part of the RPG Group. RPG is among the top business houses in India, with a group turnover of $3 billion.

In the specialty segment, CEAT manufactures farm, mining and earthmover, industrial, and construction equipment tires, as well as special application off the road tires.

The CEAT Specialty Tires office in Charlotte, NC, was opened in 2017, and the company has been steadily increasing distribution across North America.

In a sense, inflation pressure for Ag tires is very simple — inflate to the most demanding application.  Different tactics, however, may be necessary depending on the type of equipment and tires.

Implement Tires

Implement tires were mostly bias not so many years ago. As the implement designs continued to grow larger and larger, the gross weights also grew. These bias tires had difficulty in carrying these heavier loads, so the ply ratings were increased to try and accommodate the increased weights.

Sometimes this fixed the problem, but the “fix” was temporary. When the increased ply ratings and load carrying capacities could not keep up with increasing weights, as well as higher speeds going down the road, the addition of more tires came into play where possible.

Radial truck tires, as well as used aircraft tires, were utilized in some applications because of their higher speed ratings and load carrying capacities. These tires greatly reduced the failure rates and appeared to be a good solution.

A better solution has been the development of “IF” and “VF” technology — very attractive for this fitment due to the advantages of load carrying capacities as well as the compaction problems the previously utilized tires were creating. Implement tires with these new technologies are a very good solution for both weight carrying and compaction problems, while reducing tire failures and down time.

Spraymax VF

CEAT is pleased to offer VF technology to small and midsize farmers at an honest price with the introduction of the Spraymax VF, specially designed for self-propelled sprayers. Why should the “big boys” be the only ones to reap the benefits of VF technology, including reduced soil compaction and higher yields per acre?

Key elements of the Spraymax VF design include:

• Stepped lug design provides better grip and traction.
• The center tie bar delivers superior roadability.
• Its rounded shoulders mean less soil and crop damage.
• The higher NSD ensures longer life.

The recommended air pressures for the “IF and “VF” tires is determined by the maximum load each tire will need to carry. The speed becomes much less important as long as you keep your transport speeds at or below 40 mph. The bottom line with implement tires is to inflate to carry the load for the most demanding application and to keep your transport speeds at or below the recommended maximum for the tires you are running.

It goes without saying that you replace an Ag tire when you have a tire failure. It is also very true that down time on the farm can be very detrimental, especially during key times such as planting.

The vast majority of failures happen when you are at your busiest and can ill afford downtime. A well-conceived preventative tire replacement program can minimize your unexpected tire failures.

For instance, do you have enough tread depth remaining for another season while retaining traction and overall functionality? The tread depths on your main workhorse tractor should never be below about 25% of the original tread depth because your traction will be compromised and your efficiency will be dramatically reduced, especially in high torque applications. Utility tractor tires may only need to hold air and tread depth may be much less important. Combine tires and grain cart tires rarely wear out but can have extensive cracking or weather checking that can be a problem.

Preventative Replacement Tire Program

The first part of a preventative replacement tire program should be a complete and thorough assessment of all of the tires in your fleet. Ideally, this should be done when fall harvest is complete, but it is never too late to take this important action.

Here are some key actions:

Record the date of your assessment and the operational hours for your power units. Compare and calculate hours run per year and anticipated hours for your upcoming year.

Inspect any damaged areas and make proper repairs if appropriate. If any damaged areas have exposed cords, that tire will fail. It’s difficult to predict when that will happen but it will not be at a convenient time nor place. If you have a tire that is questionable, you should probably replace it before it becomes a problem at a critical time.

Are the tires wearing evenly? If you experience uneven wear, there may be a mechanical reason that likely can be corrected. Air pressures should be recorded because under inflation, as well as over inflation, can cause wear patterns that should be corrected. Do the front lugs have a scrubbed appearance on your front wheel assist tractor? If you see this, it is possible you have a lead/lag issue that needs addressed. Measure and record the remaining tread depths. As you compile tread depth information from year to year you can predict the remaining service life of your tires. If the remaining tread depths are different for tires on the same piece of equipment, a rotation may enable you to extend the service life of the tires.

What are the main uses for each piece of your equipment? Your need for replacement tires should go along with how critical each piece of equipment is to your overall operation. Do you have a backup tractor in case of failures? Should you have any replacement tires due to availability? How much down time can you afford at a critical time?

Are your tires incurring any stubble damage?  If you find any exposed cords on a tire, that tire needs to be replaced. Front tractor and combine tires are the most likely to incur damage.  Is it time to replace or possibly rotate tires to extend the service life? You may consider mechanical stubble manipulation to reduce stubble damage and extend your tires’ service life.

Preventative tire replacement should be a key part of your equipment maintenance program. There will be failures, and downtime that are disruptive and quite expensive. The goal of any maintenance program is to reduce failures and problems to a minimum.

The sidewall of an Ag tire contains a wealth of useful information. It can tell you:

• where the tire came from and when it was manufactured
• What it’s capable of performance-wise
• Its size and other really important specifications

Manufacturer: The manufacturer is usually displayed prominently like “CEAT” on the sidewall. Sometimes the manufacturers’ name on the sidewall is the company marketing the tire. This can result from other manufacturers building tires for another manufacturer.

Brand Name: The brand names are also prominently displayed on the sidewall like “FARMAX R85” in CEAT’s case.

Tread Depth and Carcass Construction: Below or near the brand name you usually find  the type of carcass construction which in this case is “radial” along with the tread depth category which is “R1W.”

Product Sizing: The size of the tire is always on the sidewall and will be in standard nomenclature or in metrics. Sometimes both are stated on the sidewall and usually the equivalent nomenclature is listed in smaller print under the primary sizing. CEAT’s case it will appear like “420/85R30.” Below this sizing is the equivalent standard sizing of 16.9R30.

Section Width: The “420” refers to the section width of the tire in millimeters. Divide the 420 by 25.4 and you will get the standard measurement. These conversions don’t always calculate out exactly. The section width is the widest measurement of the tire normally at the center of the sidewall on the bottom side of the tire with a standard inflation pressure and standard load.

Aspect Ratio: The “85” is the aspect ratio of the tire. This is the ratio of the sidewall height to the section width of the tire. In this case the sidewall height is 85% of the section width of the tire. If the “85” is not in the sizing, you have a bias tire and the aspect ratio is a standard “85.”

“R”: The “R” stands for radial. If there is no “R” in the sizing you have a bias tire. Usually the bias tires use a dash in place of the “R.”

Rim Diameter: The rim diameter is stated in inches and in this example it is “30.”

Load Index/Speed Rating: Right after the sizing you will find the load index/speed rating for the tire. In this example it is “140 A8” The “140” is the load index and the corresponding load can be found in the standard load tables and it equals 7,165#. The speed rating is the “A8/B”. This tire has a dual speed rating. This speed rating equivalent can be found in the Speed Rating tables and “A8” equals 25 mph and the “B” equals 31 mph. In this case the same 7,165# load can be carried at 31 mph with the maximum inflation pressure. In most cases with dual speed ratings the second speed rating is higher that the first speed rating and is quite often followed by a reduced or devalued load index. If this is the case with a dual speed rating and a dual load index the tire is rated to carry a reduced load at higher speeds. A tires’ load index/speed ratings are determined by the heaviest load at the highest speed. If you have a dual marked tire with the load devalued for higher speed, the load index is the lower speed and the heavier load.

“E” Marking: Sometimes you see Ag tires with an “E” marking inside of a circle on the sidewall. This indicates that it has been tested and approved for use in Europe and passes their quality and standards specifications.

Maximum Inflation Pressure: The maximum recommended inflation pressure is identified on each tire. In this example you will find an inflation statement that says 23 psi is the maximum inflation pressure.

Directional Symbol: Some tires will have a circle on the sidewall with an arrow incorporated that shows the direction the tire is designed to rotate.

Manufacture Date Code: There is always an oval stamped into the sidewall near the bead that most often has one or two letters followed by four numbers. The letters signify the plant the tire was built in and the numbers are the date code. The first two numbers are the week of the year and the last two numbers are the last two numbers of the year.

Maximum Mounting Inflation Pressure: All Ag tires should have a picture of a section cut of a tire with a triangle inside with a statement of the maximum inflation pressures to use when seating the bead to the rim during mounting.

Ply Rating: You may see something like a “12pr or 12 ply” following the size of the tire and no load index/speed rating. This designation would be on bias tires and refers to the carcass strength which is a 12-ply rating. The higher the pr or ply number the stronger the carcass strength. This number is purely a strength of carcass number and does not refer to the actual number of carcass plys that are utilized in the manufacturing of the tire. There is no good way to convert ply ratings to the load index of radials and vis versa. Radials have a load index/speed rating and bias tires have a ply or pr rating.

Service Type Description: These markings indicate the type of service the tire has been designed for. There are various types that include implement, forestry, industrial, loader, multipurpose as well as Agroforestry and others.

Service Description: Some tires may have a service description symbol on the sidewall. These symbols are normally a circle with and arrow point incorporated in the circle which indicates a drive tire. If there is a circle with an arrow that is extended outside the circle you are looking at a free rolling or non-drive tire.

Tubeless or Tube Type: One or the other designation will be present on the sidewall. When you see a tube type designation the tire needs to have a tube installed for mounting and service. Tubeless indicates the tire is designed for use without a tube. You may add a tube to a tubeless tire if needed especially when utilizing liquid ballast.

Steel Belted: Some Ag tires will have “Steel Belted” on the sidewall which indicates steel belting is incorporated in the design of the tire.

Warning Statement: All Ag tires should have a warning statement on the sidewall that points out important mounting details that need careful attention paid to them to reduce the risk of accidents.

Pry Notch: This depressed area near the bead is designed for use of a pry bar during mounting or demounting the tire.

Country of Manufacture:  All Ag tires will state the country the tire was built. In CEAT’s case it states “Made in India.”

CEAT Specialty, with a newly opened office in Netherlands, showcased its range of agricultural tires at SIMA  held from 24th to 28th February 2019.

On display were its ag radial range -85 series, 65 series and 70 series, all of which have recently been launched in Europe with great success. These robust radial tires have the following features and benefits :

• Wider tread for reduced soil compaction;
• Higher angle and lug overlap for better roadability;
• Lower angle at shoulder for superior traction.

They also launched their range of radial flotation tires – Floatmax FT  which have the following benefits

• Wider and flatter crown that offer better floating characteristics ,
• Rounded shoulder providing lesser damage to soil and crops
• Robust centre blocks for better stability and roadability.

With its 1,770 exhibitors from 42 countries, its 230,000 trade entries from 135 countries and its 360 international delegations, SIMA is the point of convergence for all types of agriculture worldwide

Ballasting is utilized for equipment functionality and stability, as well as transferring power to the ground.

Commonly used ballasting materials include rocks, soil, cast iron, water, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, beet juice and more. Some of these are relatively cheap while others are expensive. Some are environmentally friendly and others not so much. Some have lots of versatility while others do not.

— The most critical aspect of adding ballasting is how much weight to add and where to place these materials –

Agricultural and construction equipment with buckets or lifting forks have massive cast iron counterweights built into the design of the machine to provide functionality. Agricultural tractors have optional wheel, axle and suitcase weight packages to address total weight and the weight distribution that is critical to optimum performance.

Concerning farm tractors, the first critical factor is knowing the engine horsepower of the tractor and the axle weights. Ideally, the weight per horsepower ratio should be between 100 and 120 pounds/hp. The lighter weights are more desirable and efficient as long as there are no performance issues such as stability or wheel hop. Increased weight ratios may be utilized to reduce slip which increases efficiency especially in demanding applications.

The weight distribution is extremely important:

• For 2-wheel drive tractors, the weight distribution should be 30% on the front axle and 70% on the rear.
• MFWA tractors should have 35% on the front and 65% on the rear axle.
• Four-wheel drive tractors should carry 60% on the front and 40% on the rear axle.

Allowances for additional weight due to attachments should also be calculated into your weight distribution adjustments. Wheel weight, axle weight and suitcase weight packages are utilized to obtain the correct weight total and distribution.

Additional weight adjustments should include weight packages as the first option. Keep in mind that for optimum performance, the weight required often changes with the implement that is carried by the three-point hitch or pulled with the draw bar as well as the application.

Maximizing versatility with weight adjustments should be a major consideration. Adding liquid ballast into the tire’s air chamber is the least desirable. Liquid ballast reduces performance due to inhibiting the deflection of the sidewalls of radial tires. Liquid ballast is less versatile but may be utilized as part of your weight distribution program.

Air pressures should be set just above the maximum load carrying capacity you are expecting from your tires based on the most demanding application. The calculated air pressures for roading are quite different from operational pressures for field work. Changing air pressures between road and field usage is time consuming and usually not practiced.

–– Air pressures should be set for the road application due to the higher speeds which is the most demanding from a load carrying aspect —

Under inflating tires will damage the tires and eventually lead to failure. Tires are too expensive to risk failure from under inflation for any of your applications!

Correct weight distribution and overall weight totals are key to maximizing tractor performance and transfering power to the ground.

It begins with answering these questions:

• What is your application?
• What is your needed load carrying capacity?
• Is compaction a concern?
• What is your timeline?

More Traction, Less Compaction

If the application requires high traction, you should target radials (like the CEAT FARMAX R85 pictured to the right) . . . same for reducing compaction.

What type of radial depends on the application, load carrying capacity needed and speed required. If high speed (above 25 mph) is required, you need a “D” rated or 40 mph rated tire. If the standard radial does not have an adequate load carrying capacity required for the most demanding application, which is quite often when you are roading equipment at the highest speeds, you should look to the “IF” and “VF” options.

The “IF,” or increased flexion radials, carry about 20% more load than standard radials at the same inflation pressures. The “VF,” or very high flexion radials, carry about 40% more load than standard radials at the same inflation pressures.

Conversely, these high-tech tires can carry the same loads as standard radials with reduced inflation pressures. If you want to run the lowest inflation pressures you can to help minimize compaction, the “IF” and “VF” options will provide the best opportunities to achieve your objective.

Placing an Ag tire into service when it does not have the load carrying capacity or the speed rating required will lead to tire damage and ultimately tire failure.

The Bias Option

Bias tires might be an alternative but they do not provide the benefits of radial technology. If you want the best traction possible, improved efficiency, larger footprints, reduced compaction, a better ride, or any of the above, you need to stick with radials. Bias Ag tires do not deliver these improved features due to the carcass design.  

In most cases, the bias tire will be less expensive than the radial but not always. Pricing differentials have narrowed in the last few years. It is always good to check both if you are considering bias tires. Another very important factor is the service life of a comparable radial . . . about 30% longer than the bias.

If you just need a tire that holds air, the bias design might be the right choice.

Keep in mind that the pricing of the bias tires should be around 30% less than the radials to provide a comparable value or cost per hour of service regardless of additional benefits.

A pricing gap of that size, however, is becoming more and more rare these days.

Above all, ask your tire dealer the right questions and request options along with the costs involved as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each option. The “best” option should not depend on what your tire dealer has in the warehouse. 

If you have any questions about this topic, please leave a comment below. And if you want to learn more about CEAT Ag tires, click on the banner below. Thanks for reading!