| Tyres
BKT at Agritechnica
The new Flotation FL 637 and Agrimax V-Flecto tyres.
an a tractor that
weighs more than
1,500 kg (plus
wheels) be
transparent? Yes, it
can actually - if
made of Plexiglass. Yet, can a
large multinational company with
some thousand employees be
transparent? Yes, it can actually - if
it remains open-minded and
receptive for innovation and
research as well as for the world of
employment, young people, and
the society. Both these
transparencies became crystal
clear at Agritechnica 2017, the
leading trade fair for agricultural
machinery which took place at
Hanover - from November 12 to
18, 2017.
BKT launched the brand-new FL
637 (in size 520/50 R 17), part of
the flotation lineup. This product is
perfect for spreaders, trailers, and
tank trucks boasting excellent
performance features both in the
fields and on the road. The
directional tread design ensures
top flotation features, low rolling
resistance, and extraordinary self-
cleaning properties. The steel-
belted structure ensures
C
remarkable load capacity and
great resistance.
The BKT booth at Agritechnica
2017 was literally dominated by a
huge transparent tractor made of
1,500 kg of Plexiglass and fitted
with an extraordinarily innovative
tyre, namely Agrimax V-Flecto. It is
BKT’s first tyre based on
Narrow Rim Option Technology
(NRO), the new experimental
standard by E.T.R.T.O., the
European Tyre and Rim
Technology Organization. This
marking enables to use
recommended rims in standard
size without specific rims that are
necessary for VF tires of the same
size, instead.
Presented as world preview at
SIMA, Paris earlier this year,
Agrimax V-Flecto reduces soil
compaction thanks to an
optimized footprint and a larger
tread. Besides, the tyre is perfect
both in the fields and on the road.
Even at maximum load capacity,
no change in inflation pressure is
needed, since Agrimax V-Flecto
sustains 40% more weight
compared to a standard tyre of the
same size at the same inflation
pressure.
Next to the spectacular crystal-
clear tractor, another surprising
attraction could be admired at the
BKT stand: the breathtaking stunts
of Iya Traoré, the football freestyle
champion from Africa, who
performed four times a day at the
BKT stand. Every show concluded
with the traditional distribution of
thousands of footballs signed BKT.
Yet, BKT’s attention is not
limited to sports. The company is
very sensitive to topics related to
future agriculture including the
training of young operators in the
farming sector. For this reason, the
company decided to sponsor the
Young Farmers Day, a program
that foresees a series of meetings
and appointments dedicated to
young farmers and their future
opportunities.
Wheat success: AxioBib 2 tyres a revelation for
first farmer in Northern Ireland to run on
Michelin’s all new fitment
A farmer from Northern Ireland says his working day has been transformed by
Michelin’s new AxioBib 2 tractor tyres – after becoming the first person in the
country to fit a set.
ichard Lyons – who farms hens
for free-range eggs and 180
acres of wheat and barley with
his father on their 250-acre farm
near Bushmills, County Antrim
– instantly ordered the tyres for
his 2017 John Deere 6155R Ultimate Edition
after being bowled over by an AxioBib 2
demonstration video sent to him by Phillip
Armstrong of local Michelin Exelagri dealer JB
Tyres, showcasing the fitment’s versatility.
Michelin’s latest agricultural tyres boast the
highest load capacity on the VF 650/65 R42
174D/171E market, provide excellent traction
for heavy machinery, and can run at very low
pressures to minimise soil compaction and
crop damage in the field – making them ideal
for ploughing, drilling and cultivation.
Lyons, who specified AxioBib 2 Very High
Flexion (VF) 540/65 R30 front and VF 650/65
R42 rear tyres, reveals: “I’m proud to be the first
farmer in Northern Ireland to be running on
AxioBib 2 tyres and I’m so impressed with their
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48 | Farming Monthly | January 2018
all-round performance, especially given the wet
conditions we’ve had.
“Tractors are getting heavier, so there’s a
growing need for tyres to handle substantial
loads while protecting the land. These AxioBib
2s are designed to do both, so it’s a win-win.
Running at low pressure creates a larger
footprint and spreads the load out, preventing
damage like soil compaction.
“Remarkably, there’s almost no wheel
slippage because the soft pressure allows
incredible grip in the field – even when driving
uphill on soaking wet soil – which improves fuel
efficiency. Whether ploughing or drilling on wet
land or dry, I’ve been massively impressed.”
Designed for 160hp to 320hp tractors,
AxioBib 2 has enabled Michelin to offer a
patented Ultraflex technology tyre for all high-
horsepower tractors – bridging the gap
between the existing XeoBib (120hp – 180hp)
and AxioBib (300+hp) ranges.
Each VF 650/65 R42 AxioBib 2 tyre is also
capable of carrying an extra 2,450kg at 65kph
than the same size Michelin MultiBib tyre,
making it particularly desirable given the
increasing weight of new farm machinery, and
can operate at up to 70kph. The tyres also
stand out for their Narrow Rim Option (NRO)
markings on the sidewall, which confirm their
higher load capacity without the need for
farmers to upgrade to wider wheel rims.
Although the lion’s share of Lyons’ work is in
the fields, the AxioBib 2’s performance on the
road also came as a revelation to him: “Most
tyres driving at speed on the road make a fair
amount of noise. With AxioBib 2s, there’s
nothing. Not so much as a hum.
“Also, when I’m driving off the fields, the mud
and muck gets ejected really fast thanks to the
flex in the tyres. In just the distance of two
lengths of the tractor, 90 per cent of the big
lumps of mud have gone – so by the time I hit
the road my tyres are virtually clean.”
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk