PRODUCT INFORMATION
compactors in road construction and earthmoving. Apollo says the tyres are reliable and robust, offering a good pricequality ratio. The specific user requirements Apollo sought to meet in the tyres’ development included grip on muddy and loose soils, protection against impacts on stony surfaces and driver comfort on paved roads. Three tread patterns are available. The AIT 416 and AIT 426 tyres feature Apollo’s R4 tread design for use on a wide range of construction equipment. The ARC 317 tyre has an R3 tread with cleats in a diamond-shaped pattern with a deep tread. It is designed for soil compactors.
Mitas showcases SFT Mitas debuted its Super Flexion Tyre (SFT) at SIMA. Mitas SFT tyres are made for high-horsepower tractors (>180 hp). While Mitas has been selling Americanmade SFT tyres in North America since summer 2012, The SFT tyre on display at SIMA was manufactured in Europe. “Mitas’ Super Flexion Tyres compete with the Improved Flexion concept,” said Andrew Mabin, marketing and sales director. “The SFT enables the flexibility of variable inflation pressure and optimal performance according to application. SFT is Mitas’ response to the compromi-
The Mitas SFT
TYRES & ACCESSORIES 3/2013
sed performance of one-pressure-for-all Improved Flexion tyres. Original equipment manufacturers require each element of farm machinery to contribute to the overall performance, including tyres. “Mitas SFT draws on the performance of Continental SVT farm tyres,” added Mabin. “Mitas has been successfully manufacturing Continental agricultural tyres since 2004, under licence. The SFT concept will appeal to European original equipment manufacturers and farmers alike.” “The hallmark of SFT is gentle ground-handling,” Mabin said. The SFT tyre on display is 900/60 R42. This tyre exerts a ground pressure reduced by 33 per cent when compared with an IF tyre of the same size. The tyre on display has a contact area (flat plate) of 4,800 cm2 and nominal load of 8 tonnes. The 900/60 R42 tyre is currently the largest and heaviest Mitas farm tyre. It weighs 426 kilogrammes and has a diameter of 2.15 metres. Its recommended inflation pressure spans from 0.8 to 2.8 bars depending on speed and load.
TM3000 – ranges designed according to Trelleborg’s BlueTire Technology. Providing additional details about these new releases, Paolo Pompei, president of Trelleborg Wheel Systems’ Agricultural & Forestry Tires business unit, commented that the “TM3000 is Trelleborg’s answer to the latest generation of harvesters and combine machines.” He added: “By the end of the year, we plan to phase in three more TM3000 sizes, the IF 800/65R32 CFO, the IF 800/70R38 CFO and the IF 1050/50R32 CFO.” As for the TM1000, Pompei described them as “the next generation of IF tyres which are capable of carrying more load at a lower pressure.” He said the TM1000 High Power, a product Trelleborg co-designed with leading tractor manufacturers, has reportedly been “extremely well received so far.”
Firestone agricultural sprayer tyre launched
Bridgestone Europe has announced details of its first Firestone tyre for the agricultural sprayer market, the Performer Row Crop. Displayed for the first time at SIMA 2013 in size 270/95R48, Firestone Trelleborg TM1000 and TM3000 expands the Performer Row Crop tyre Trelleborg’s SIMA stand featured two size line up to include 85, 90 and 95 new products, the IF 900/60R42 TM1000 series in the near future. “Firestone conHigh Power and IF 800/70R32 CFO centrates on solutions that give farmers a more efficient and sustainable way of working, through savings in fuel consumption and working time,” said Harald Van Ooteghem, senior manager marketing planning, Bridgestone Europe. The Performer Row Crop is designed to provide maximum efficiency in the field and on the road through their high load-carrying capacity and high speed index, Firestone says, enabling farmers to use large tanks and save time in spraying operations. On the road, the tyre is also designed for increased efficiency with a high speed index. The tyre has a dual angle lug drive pattern to allow greater speed over all ground conditions. Firestone also claims the tyre demonstrates excellent accuracy, providing good ride comfort and steering response, even at these higher speeds. akb/cja/sg
WWW.TYREPRESS.COM
61