New pressure and heat sensing tyres have been fitted to a sprayer for the first time in the UK. The Continental VF tyres have been fitted to a SAM Horizon 4000 self-propelled sprayer. “This is the first time the new VF tyres with pressure sensors have been fitted to a sprayer in the UK and we hope that other sprayer operators will want to introduce this technology to help reduce soil compaction,” says Continental agricultural tyre specialist Richard Hutchins.
ContiPressureCheck™ is a new system that monitors the pressure and temperature of tyres to provide the operator with the information to prevent tyre related issues such as underinflation or overloading. “VF tyres with sensors are the future for farming. On the road these tyres enable the vehicle to carry forty percent more load than a standard tyre at the same pressure. Alternatively, in the field, the pressure of VF tyres can be lowered by forty percent compared to standard tyres, even when carrying the same load. This spreads the weight of the vehicle over a larger surface area and reduces soil compaction,” explains Mr Hutchins.
The sprayer is owned by James Goodley, who runs an arable farm in Norfolk. The tyres are helping him to adapt his farming methods as part of a move to a zero till system. “I want my sprayer tyre pressures as low as possible to maximise the footprint and minimise compaction. My concern has always been to not run them too low, and that is where the tyre monitor comes in, because it can tell the operator if the pressure is safe and correct,” says Mr Goodley.
The Continental VF TractorMaster 600/60R30 162D/159E tyres are part of a larger range that is now available in the UK. “Demands to reduce the impact of heavy machinery on our soil are being met with new technology. Our hope is that others will choose to invest, in the way that Mr Goodley has, to help improve farming methods in the future,” concludes Mr Hutchins.
