It’s fairly commonplace for trailer, tanker and spreader tyres to be available with different tread designs, and Mitas now offers similar choice for its latest harvester tyre, the VF category HC3000.

Developed with combines and foragers in mind, the hexagonal cross-section of the cluster of wires that strengthen the tyre’s bead is among its principal features.

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These wires are grouped to create a strong and durable reinforcement that, according to Mitas engineers, ensures a tight fit on the rim to minimise any risk of slippage.

In addition, the tyre is constructed to meet the norms of the VF (very high flexion) category, so it has tough but highly flexible sidewalls that, together with the low inflation pressure permitted, ensures the maximum rubber-to-soil contact patch length and width.

And it has the CFO (cyclic field operation) designation that effectively means the tyre can be overloaded for short periods – a useful characteristic for grain harvesters since they operate at maximum weight only briefly as the tank becomes full.

The new Stubblock rubber compound, meanwhile, is formulated to be especially resistant to stubble and other hazards to minimise puncture downtime.

Lug variations

As for the tread design, the regular HC3000 and HC3000 R tyres have lugs that are pretty much identical except at the outer reaches.

While the former’s tread bars project to full height at the shoulder for maximum traction, the Rs have a rounded end shape, arguably making it a better bet for an alternative application such as a self-propelled fertiliser, manure or slurry applicator.

The HC3000 R comes in just two 1m wide sizes for now: VF 1000/55 R32 CFO and VF 1000/65 R32 CFO, which contrasts with the HC3000’s eight sizes.

There is just one size for each – from a nominal 580mm to 800mm wide – for 26in, 34in and 38in rims, and five 42in rim sizes from VF 520/85 R42 CFO to VF 900/60 R42 CFO.