| ATV
Don’t neglect the tyres....
Honda ATV
Special flotation tyres, capable of operating at very low
inflation pressures, are key to an ATV’s ability to carry loads
at speed over almost any farm terrain while causing less
ground damage than any other farm vehicle, but they do
need looking after.
o spread the load
over a large
contact area, the
sidewalls flex to a
greater extent than
conventional tyres
and, although the tyres appear
wide for their height, the length of
tread on the ground is just as
important, producing a ‘footprint’,
which is almost square.
With increased inflation
pressure, the sidewalls straighten,
reducing the amount of tread in
contact with the ground but, if
pressures are reduced the sidewall
bulge increases, spreading the
weight over a larger surface area
and reducing compaction and
rutting.
During everyday farm use there
are many potential hazards to the
thin-walled tyres making regular
condition checks essential. Every
new Honda ATV comes with free
operator training through the
European ATV Safety Initiative
(EASI), and the courses stress the
importance of checking tyres as
part of regular pre-ride
inspections.
Adequate tread depth is needed
for grip, essential for effective
braking and steering, and for
traction in tricky conditions. Also
T
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check for damage such as nails or
fence staples which have
penetrated, or cuts caused by
stones. Sidewalls should be
checked for bulges or cuts, which
might have been caused by
impact or overloading and, at the
same time, check that no grass,
mud or twigs have become
trapped between the rim edge and
tyre, which could cause a leak.
Correct tyre pressures are
essential to get the best from the
machine but there is often a
tendency for users to over-inflate,
removing the characteristic
sidewall bulge, so that they ‘look
right’, rather than setting them to
the pressure recommended.
The Honda operator’s manual
lists the correct pressures and, for
quick reference, they are also
displayed on decals on the
machine. The special gauge
needed to check the tyre
pressures accurately is supplied in
the Honda’s toolkit.
If pressures are too low, tyre
damage can occur, and handling
and performance will be
compromised, including higher
fuel consumption to overcome the
extra rolling resistance.
Pressures too high result in a
harder, less comfortable ride, and
the reduced ground contact area
provides less grip plus increased
ground marking. Another
consequence is uneven tyre wear,
and a sure sign of over-inflation
over an extended period is a lack
of rubber in a band around the
centre of the tread.
Tyres should be replaced in
pairs, but where this isn’t possible
the new tyre should be of the
same make, type and size as the
one opposite, and it is especially
important to maintain correct sizes
all around on 4wd models. If
different types are fitted on the
same axle, or if tyres are inflated to
different pressures, the ATV can
pull constantly to one side, which
is tiring for the operator and could
be dangerous.
Market leader Honda entered a
partnership with the National
Federation of Young Farmers’
Clubs in July 2015, designed to
boost its farm safety initiative. This
aims to promote ATV safety to the
Federation’s 25,000 members and
to put every Young Farmers Club
in contact with its local Honda
main dealer, encouraging
interaction between users and the
specialists. ATV reliability tends to
be so good that it can be taken for
granted, resulting in neglected
maintenance. However, a few
minutes spent on checks each
day, including tyre pressures,
could help prevent accidents and
if users are in need of any advice,
the local main dealer will be
delighted to assist.
www.stalhameng.co.uk
September 2016 | Farming Monthly | 49