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CEAT TIRES FEATURE
CEAT’S MISSION IS TO OFFER HIGHQUALITY TIRES AT A BETTER VALUE TO AMERICA’S FARMERS AND RANCHERS
Few people understand the importance of profitability like America’s farmers and ranchers, where every single equipment decision has the potential to impact yields for years to come.
That is precisely why Ryan Loethen, Head, Sales- North and Central America, CEAT Specialty is dedicated to providing high quality tires at an honest price.
“These days, tires constitute a substantial portion of input costs for farmers. Given this, CEAT’s endeavor is to offer a tire that carries higher loads while caring for the crops, at an affordable price. We are making our technologically advanced tires available and accessible to farming operations of all scales”, Loethen says.
The Best Value Tires for America’s small farmers
Founded almost 100 years ago in Turin, Italy, CEAT has a long history of manufacturing tires for international markets. “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”, Loethen said. “Additionally, we follow Total Quality Management (TQM) principles, which is our commitment to continuous improvement. The Deming Prize that we received in 2017 is a testament to that commitment.”
The prestigious Deming award recognizes companies that achieve business transformation by implementing Total Quality Management. CEAT was the first nonJapanese tire company in the award’s history to earn the distinction.
The company entered the US market with the intent to offer the same level of customer centricity to North American farmers and ranchers.
Apart from rigorous internal tests, CEAT Ag radial tires also undergo testing at renowned third-party facilities.
“This gives us confidence to offer a 7-year manufacturing warranty and a 3-year field hazard warranty (including stubble damage) on all our farm radial products” said Loethen.
- RYAN LOETHEN
Latest technology trends: IF and VF Tires
To meet the latest farming needs (where bigger machines have become the norm), CEAT has introduced its VF and IF range for ultra large tractors and self-propelled sprayers.
The 2 major characteristics which set VF and IF tires apart from the standard radials are:
1. 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. On the other hand, the IF (Increased Flexion) tires are equipped to carry 20% 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% lower air pressure as compared to standard radials, for the same load. For the IF tires, the air pressure can be lowered by 20% compared to standard radials, while carrying the same load. The lower pressure of VF and IF tires produces a larger tire footprint which leads to lower soil compaction.
Reaching Out to America’s Rodeo Community
With rodeo’s deep roots in America’s agriculture and ranching history, it’s no surprise CEAT 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.’ The WCRA is a leading rodeo sports and entertainment company.
- RYAN LOETHEN
CEAT will also sponsor this year’s Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WCRA). The event, put on by the WCRA and Professional Bull Riders (PBR), will be held in conjunction with the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas from Nov. 1-6.
CEAT will also sponsor the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) and the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) in Las Vegas from Oct. 19-23, which celebrates horse culture and ranch lifestyle in America’s Indian Country.
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.
Loethen himself belongs to a family that owns ranches. “We definitely want to contribute to the profitability of ranchers by offering them high quality tires,” he says.
For more information about CEAT Specialty Tires, visit www.ceatspecialty.com. Or, visit the CEAT Specialty Tires booth at the Midwest Ag Industries Exposition (MAGIE), which runs from Aug. 25-26 in Bloomington, Ill. and the Farm Progress Show, which runs from Aug. 31-Sept. 2 in Decatur, Ill.
