RIDE, TRACTION & PERFORMANCE
Gross Vehicle Weight
Maximum gross weight - A tractor’s maximum gross weight is referred to as the combined static weight of the tractor and any added ballast. This value must not exceed the rating of the ROPS structure or the maximum gross vehicle weight as specified in the Operator’s Manual. When adding ballast to a tractor, the tractor should be ballasted as light as possible to minimize soil compaction and still maintain performance.
Many tire manufacturers recommend using cast iron weights. If liquid ballast must be used, New Holland requires it be placed in the inside duals only if the wheels are spacer band type. Flange style duals or hub style duals may be lightly filled. Spacer band duals should never have liquid ballast installed in the outside dual wheel.
Matching the tractor to the load
Your tractor has been designed for continuous field operation at the rated horsepower while traveling at a speed of 5 mph or faster. If the engine lugs continuously at slow speeds you can be sure that the load is not correctly matched to the tractor. This could result in damage to the tractor drive train as well as wasted fuel, increased tire wear, and soil compaction.
Tire Inflation
Radial tires achieve their high level of tractive performance as a result of the high contact area between the rubber and the soil.
Proper adjustment of radial tire pressure means using the correct tire inflation pressure to support the static load carried by the tire and still maintain the high contact area between the tire and soil.
A tire can be inflated to safely support a wide range of loads.
•An 18.4R42 tire used as a dual, supports approximately 3200 lbs. of static load when inflated to 8 PSI
•An 18.4R42 tire will support 6950 lbs. when inflated to 24 PSI
In both instances, the tire deflects approximately the same amount. This is known as “Rated Deflection” of the tire. When the Rated Deflection is correct, the tire achieves its best performance.
The correct tire pressure for a given tractor is found by weighing the unit and then dividing the weight per axle by the number of tires. This weight is then compared to the values on the Tire Inflation vs. Weight Table to find the correct tire pressure. Tire Inflation vs. Weight Tables should be used for proper inflation pressures.
Top 10 Ways to Reduce Soil
Compaction With Tires
1.Use radial tires. They can operate at lower psi than bias ply tires, have a larger footprint and reduce soil disturbance.
2.Use the widest and largest diameter tires possible for the application that allows the minimum air pressure (example 6 PSI).
3.Use the proper tire pressure for the load, speed, and application.
4.Check tire pressures regularly.
5.Add duals or triples to help distribute the load and optimize the air pressure.
6.Add large tires to the implement being used. (Many times the implement actually causes more compaction than the tractor!)
7.Run the tractor at the lightest ballasted weight possible.
8.Always ballast with iron, not fluid in the tires.
9.Utilize precision traffic. (For example, drive in the same tire tracks and keep major traffic on the headlands.)
10.Use the correct tires to improve fuel efficiency.
Less slip over lots of acres can add up to big savings in fuel usage.
