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Top 10 Ways to Reduce Soil
Compaction With Tires
RIDE, TRACTION & PERFORMANCE
Matching the tractor to the load
Your tractor has been designed for continuous field
operation at the rated horsepower while traveling at a
speed of 5 mph or faster. If the engine lugs continuously
at slow speeds you can be sure that the load is not
correctly matched to the tractor. This could result in
damage to the tractor drive train as well as wasted fuel,
increased tire wear, and soil compaction.
Maximum gross weight - A tractor’s maximum gross
weight is referred to as the combined static weight of the
tractor and any added ballast. This value must not
exceed the rating of the ROPS structure or the maximum
gross vehicle weight as specified in the Operator’s
Manual. When adding ballast to a tractor, the tractor
should be ballasted as light as possible to minimize soil
compaction and still maintain performance.
Many tire manufacturers recommend using cast iron
weights. If liquid ballast must be used, New Holland
requires it be placed in the inside duals only if the
wheels are spacer band type. Flange style duals or hub
style duals may be lightly filled. Spacer band duals
should never have liquid ballast installed in the outside
dual wheel.
Gross Vehicle Weight
Tire Inflation
Radial tires achieve their high level of tractive
performance as a result of the high contact area between
the rubber and the soil.
Proper adjustment of radial tire pressure means using
the correct tire inflation pressure to support the static
load carried by the tire and still maintain the high
contact area between the tire and soil.
A tire can be inflated to safely support a wide range
of loads.
• An 18.4R42 tire used as a dual, supports
approximately 3200 lbs. of static load when inflated
to 8 PSI
• An 18.4R42 tire will support 6950 lbs. when inflated
to 24 PSI
In both instances, the tire deflects approximately the
same amount. This is known as “Rated Deflection” of
the tire. When the Rated Deflection is correct, the tire
achieves its best performance.
The correct tire pressure for a given tractor is found by
weighing the unit and then dividing the weight per axle
by the number of tires. This weight is then compared to
the values on the Tire Inflation vs. Weight Table to find
the correct tire pressure. Tire Inflation vs. Weight Tables
should be used for proper inflation pressures.
1. Use radial tires. They can operate at lower psi than
bias ply tires, have a larger footprint and reduce
soil disturbance.
2. Use the widest and largest diameter tires possible for
the application that allows the minimum air pressure
(example 6 PSI).
3. Use the proper tire pressure for the load, speed,
and application.
4. Check tire pressures regularly.
5. Add duals or triples to help distribute the load and
optimize the air pressure.
6. Add large tires to the implement being used.
(Many times the implement actually causes more
compaction than the tractor!)
7. Run the tractor at the lightest ballasted weight possible.
8. Always ballast with iron, not fluid in the tires.
9. Utilize precision traffic. (For example, drive in the same
tire tracks and keep major traffic on the headlands.)
10. Use the correct tires to improve fuel efficiency.
Less slip over lots of acres can add up to big savings
in fuel usage.