Less compaction, more load
Less compaction, more load
ENTER the Mach and Cargo XBib – two new multi-purpose tyre ranges from Michelin which are designed to significantly reduce soil compaction and allow greater load carrying capacities.
Intended for tractors over 180hp, the Mach X Bib range is available in 650/75 R 38 and 900/50 R 42 rear tyre sizes, together with a 710/55 R 30 front version.
Use of six layers within a radial construction enables the tyre to reduce soil compaction by up to 30% compared with Michelins existing XS tyre, says the firm.
For carrying heavy mounted equipment including power harrow drill combinations, the Mach X Bib is designed to carry loads of up to 5600kg at 1.6 bar pressure.
The Mach X Bib features a flat crown with deep lugs which are developed to provide maximum traction for heavy draft operations.
Michelin says the 650/75 R 38 tyre is suitable for high draft operations such as in-furrow ploughing, with the 900/50 R size designed for low ground pressure applications.
For roadwork, the tyre is considered to perform equally well.
A high volume of air, low inflation pressure and a flexible casing allows the tyre to be driven up to 50kph.
Complementing the Mach X Bib is Michelins CargoXbib tyre, which can be specified in a 600/55 R 26.5 size, with 500/60R 22.5, 560/60 R 22.5 and 600/50R 22.5 versions available next year. The CargoXbib is designed to carry greater loads at lower pressures and offers less rolling resistance when compared with the companys XS tyre.
In a comparative test, Michelin fitted 600/55 R 26.5 CargoXbib tyres to a tandem axle trailer weighing 14,000kg, and XS 24 R 20.5 tyres to a second trailer of equivalent weight.
Michelin found that when both trailers were towed over a 250m stretch from a head to head start, the CargoXbib tyres allowed the trailer to be towed faster than XS 24R 20.5 tyres due to less rolling resistance.
The trailer fitted with CargoXbib tyres advanced 80m in front, making a 7cm deep footprint compared with 13cm for the XS tyres. *