Wide Tires, Narrow Tires

Authors

Leonard L. Bashford, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Michael F. Kocher, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Todd S. Tibbetts, Vermeer Industries

Date of this Version

9-1999

Comments

SAE TECHNICAL PAPER SERIES 1999-01-2784
Reprinted From: Agricultural Machinery, Tires, Tracks, and Traction (SP-1474)
Copyright 1999 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. Used by permission.

Abstract

Tractive performance comparisons among five different size tires were made on two different surface conditions, a wheat stubble field and a tilled wheat stubble field. Radial 18.4R46, 20.8R42 and 710/70R38 radial tires; and bias 750/65-38 and 850/55-42 tires were used. Instrumentation to evaluate tractive performance was installed on a two-wheel drive and a mechanical front wheel drive agricultural tractor. Axle torques, drawbar pull, travel speed, and engine rpm were recorded for a series of drawbar pulls on the two soil surfaces. Tractive performance evaluations among the tires were made by comparing the relationships of dynamic traction ratio to slip, tractive efficiency to slip, and tractive efficiency to dynamic traction ratio. In general, narrower tires exhibited performance advantages over wider tires.