A ‘new generation’ of agricultural tyre – the RoadBib – has been launched by tyre manufacturer Michelin. It, says the company, was co-designed with agricultural contractors and is claimed to “define a brand new segment of the tyre market”.
Expected to be available early in 2018, Michelin says it will become the first tyre for 200hp+ agricultural tractors designed specifically to give high performance, traction and longevity on machines driven intensively on roads.
According to the tyre giant, high-powered tractor fleets of agricultural and construction contractors usually spend more than 50% of their time on the road – equating to 80% of their total distance covered. In addition, they are often coupled to big, heavy trailers, which adds to the stress on the tyres.
According to engineers in the research and development department at Michelin, the objective was to create a solution that would work predominantly on tarmac and hard soil roads, providing high traction and longevity, in addition to performing well in fields on soft soil.
Martyn Pointer, Commercial Director of Agriculture at Michelin, with responsibility for the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, commented on the new tyre, noting: “The new Michelin RoadBib is packed full of innovations, and is set to change the way contractors specify tyres in the future.
Whereas a traditional agricultural tyre might have an average life of 4,000 hours, a Michelin RoadBib will deliver 5,000 hours in service.
“That’s a significant increase in tyre life, coupled with the benefits of increased comfort, reduced costs and high traction in the field,” Pointer concluded.
