Tracked Tractor vs Wheeled Tractor. Wheels or Tracks?

Tracked Tractor vs Wheeled Tractor | Wheels or Tracks?
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SmartTrax | Soucy Trac | Camso | Mitas PneuTrac | Mitas AirCell
Since tracks were introduced to agriculture, their makers have commonly claimed reduced compaction and enhanced traction compared to wheeled equipment. In recent years, tire technology has come a long way in leveling the playing field in both regards.

The smoother rides and ability to drive wheeled machines on roads, combined with the improved traction, pushed track equipment to the side of the field. In recent years, track tractors have made a comeback, with improved suspension and rubber cleats replacing steel and reducing the need for transport between fields.

Although traction with track vehicles no longer offered a significant advantage over wheeled equipment, tracks' impact on soil compaction did. Spreading out the weight of the tractor and its load over a longer footprint became a major competitive feature as researchers identified yield loss due to compaction.

In response to grower concerns, tire companies introduced competitive technology. Size, width and load carrying capacity have all increased significantly to increase the footprint and spread out the load while maintaining traction.

However, he pointed out that footprint alone can be deceiving."While the result may be only six psi across the total footprint, the pressure actually increases at the drive wheels and bogey wheels."

We compared that with properly designed new radial tires like those with Michelin Ultraflex technologies. How well the casing deflects and spreads the footprint determines how much pressure is on the footprint. He noted that the industry has reached the point with some tires where one psi in the tire equals one psi on the ground, consistent across the footprint. He points to Michelin AxioBibs as having that 1:1 ratio.

The AxioBib represented a new tire category in 2006 with the increased flexion (IF) design that allowed the sidewalls to flex more than other radials, thereby increasing the footprint. Firestone introduced its first IF tires (AD2 technology) in 2010. Michelin introduced very high flexion (VF) SprayBib VF tires that same year. They allowed for a decrease of air pressure of up to 40 percent compared to a standard tire of the same size.

Meanwhile, Goodyear expanded its Optitrac radial farm tire line with the R+ advanced flexion design. The European-originated R+ design allows field speed dependant load increases that can be more than offered by IF and VF designs. And so the race for superior and competitive tire technology will continue as load, speed, compaction and cost concerns all continue to increase.

More information
about track systems:
www.soucy-track.com
https://camso.co/en/products-solution...
SmartTrax:
http://agriculture1.newholland.com/na...

about tire innovations:
Mitas AirCell, Mitas PneuTrac
www.mitas-tyres.com

Trelleborg variable iflation pressure system (VIP)
http://www.trelleborg.com/en/wheels/y...