Tyres & Tracks

and we have been able to see that with these Agri Star II tyres, we have never had any traction problems in terms of grip on the road and in the elds. It has gone very well – we have not had any particular di culties and we can see that the wear is appropriate for the amount of work we have had to do with this type of tyre on this tractor.”

As increasing e ciency remains a key objective for the contractor, Olivier is more than happy with the results achieved so far. “Thanks to these Agri Star II tyres, we have been able to optimise the working time and therefore have a very good quality:price ratio on this range of tyres,” he says, adding: “During these eight months of activity, we were able to carry out a lot of transportation tasks, in particular the transport of liquid manure, transportation services on earthwork sites as well as sowing.” So, his conclusion is clear: “It is a range of tyres which suits us very well.”

Tested and approved

After eight months of testing Alliance Agri Star II tyres on his John Deere tractor, agricultural contractor Olivier Gayet says the tyres suit him well.

Farmers, contractors, and the agricultural industry as a whole are facing tough and, in part, uncertain times. One of the many challenges is to increase e ciency, i.e. to produce more with less input whilst reducing environmental impacts and maintaining viable incomes. In these times, looking beyond borders does help, which includes the local, national and even international level.

That’s why a view across the English Channel and into Brittany also provides interesting insights. In Pipriac, a community of 3,000 inhabitants that is located halfway between Rennes and Redong, Olivier Gayet (pictured) runs an agricultural contracting business. Founded in 1968 by his father, Olivier has managed the company since 2002. It o ers a broad range of services such as the application of liquid manure, the spreading of solid manure, planting maize, harvesting grass silage, hay and other crops as well as sowing wheat in autumn, for example.

Knowing the challenges, searching for solutions

Early in 2022, Olivier Gayet was facing the need to replace worn out tyres on one of his tractors, a John Deere 7230R. Constantly trying to improve the performance and nancial outcome of his contracting business and machinery, Olivier did not simply go for a replacement of the worn-out tyres.

He explains: “As the liquid manure and manure spreading activity is quite important for the company, we have to change tyres regularly because there are three units that do this for 6–7 months of the year. That is a big and time-consuming job.” So, Olivier decided to test new – and potentially better – tyres to better make up for this activity.

Quality:price ratio is one key criteria

Olivier’s own market survey and also hearing farmers speaking enthusiastically about their experiences with the Alliance Agri Star II helped with making this own tyre choice: “We wanted to change a little bit and try this new series of tyres from Alliance, the Agri Star II,” reports Olivier. When considering the acquisition of new tyres, performance on the road and in the eld, comfort and particularly wear are decisive criterions. For Olivier, however, tyre choices are mainly made on the basis of the perceived quality/price ratio. Once chosen, tyres are put through their paces under the demanding conditions of long tough service hours on Breton roads and elds.

Optimising working time

Following around eight months of everyday challenges, Olivier is more than satis ed with his decision all those months ago.

“We have done 1,000 hours of work with them, a lot of transport;

In addition to the excellent quality:price ratio, Olivier also marvels at “the low wear, the very good driving comfort, the very good grip in the eld and on the road”, and he is prepared to adopt the Agri Star II from Alliance on further tractors whenever new tyres are due.

And there is yet another piece of good news for Olivier as well as other farmers and contractors: with 800/70R38 and 210/95R18, Alliance added two more sizes to the already impressive range of Agri Star II sizes in the 65, 70, 85 and 95 series. The two new sizes are ready for production now and will add further highperformance tyre options for modern, sustainability-oriented agricultural businesses around the globe.

Find more information at www.yokohama-oht.com FG

Tyre tips for snow clearing operations

Wheeled equipment like skid steers, wheel loaders, tractors, and telehandlers all aid in snow removal operations. Yokohama OHighway Tires o ers advice on the steps you can take to maximise performance and extend the service life of its tyres.

1. Operate at optimal in ation pressure

In ation pressure in uences everything from a tyre’s performance to its longevity – and as the temperature drops, so does the air pressure in tyres.

Under-in ated tyres can decrease the ability of snow removal equipment to push and lift, reducing productivity and e ciency – not to mention making them less safe to operate. Running under-in ated tyres also increases stress and allows them to build up excess heat.

Get in the habit of checking the psi of your tyres regularly and in ate accordingly. The best time to check tyre pressure is rst thing in the morning after the equipment has been sitting, when the tyre is cool, since in ation pressure increases as tyres get warm with use.

2. Radial construction

Under-in ation is bad for tyres, but the ability to run at low in ation pressures is good for snow removal – larger, more uniform footprints that put more tread on the ground and enhance traction. Radial tyres can operate at lower in ation, while radial construction also dissipates heat – which is important to tyre life even in extreme cold.

3. The right type of tread

While any tyre will work in the snow, the best performing ones in these conditions typically feature a block tread pattern. The numerous blocks found on a tyre like the Alliance 550 MultiUse provide a multitude of biting surfaces for excellent traction in slick conditions, while its low rubber-to-void ratio resists wear and self-cleaning design sheds snow and slush easily. One way to get a grip on equipment performance in snow removal applications is to choose tyres specially designed for winter work. The best winter tyres come with treads made with special compounds engineered to grip and ex in cold weather (like the Alliance 551 MultiUse) and feature sipes (like those found on