Czech tyre maker Mitas, which has been working on its unusual PneuTrac tyre technology for four years, believes its tyres could be on sale in 2017. 

“We are getting closer to a clearer release date being available. Our goal is to launch PneuTrac in roughly two years,” says Andrew Mabin, Mitas’ sales and marketing director

See also: Mitas Pneutrac combines track and tyre

Mitas has been carrying out field tests in the Czech Republic with a John Deere 6150R tractor mounted with 480/65 R28 PneuTracs on the front axle and 600/65 R38 PneuTracs on the rear.

The results, says the company, show that the tractive force of the Mitas 600/65 R38 PneuTrac is roughly 25% higher than a standard tyre and 15% better than a low-profile IF-rated version.

Even on smaller tyres, the 480/65 R28 PneuTrac is said to have 10% better traction compared with a standard tyre and roughly 7% better traction than an IF tyre.

“The results of the first field tests that are under way in the Czech Republic give us a good feel for continuing the successful development of the Mitas PneuTrac concept,” said Mr Mabin.  

“The field tests have so far demonstrated the clear advantages of PneuTrac over conventional tyre designs and confirmed previously released lab test results,” says Mr Mabin. “The most important PneuTrac benefits are a larger footprint, greater tractive force and also higher lateral stability at a lower inflation pressure when compared with the standard tyre.”