In The New Sustainable Agriculture The Choice Of Tires Makes A Difference

With the AGRIMAX range of radial tires, using the most sophisticated technology, BKT is responding to the demand from modern agriculture, where respecting the land is one of the key parameters of Sustainability.

“Guaranteeing sustainable consumption and production models”, this is one of the 17 goals that are part of Agenda 2030, the action program for people, planet and prosperity signed in September 2015 by the governments of the 193 members of the UN (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). A particular goal focuses on food waste: a phenomenon which depends on a lack of culture, but also on inefficient transport systems, or incoherent trade rules between countries. But a lot can be attributed unfortunately to unsuitable agricultural practices which absolutely must change.

This led to the creation of “Precision Agriculture”, where GPS satellite systems mounted on the tractor help to map the land, to understand the geographical layout in order to organize crops. Today, however, the agricultural system must expand its goals, come to terms with unexpected and unforeseeable climate chaos, but above all it cannot have the yield per hectare as its sole objective. The watchword for the survival of agriculture, indeed the planet, is the “sustainable” yield.

And so Agriculture 4.0 is the most sustainable agriculture possible. From better controlled organic seeds, to the use of recycled water, renewable energy, up to the storage of products in hypogeal environments. So work in the field will be entrusted to the smartest tractor, no longer just a simple machine, but a vehicle to work intelligently and without damaging the land, so that it can regenerate and enter into that virtuous circle that sustainable agriculture learns from Nature.

But how to avoid damaging land which must yield as much as possible while respecting the parameters of sustainability? It needs specific tires, which have different characteristics depending on the land and the work carried out by the machines, tires which contribute to reducing soil compaction.

Given this growing demand, BKT has for some years embraced new Flexion (IF) and Very High Flexion (VF) technologies. A VF tire is designed to transport 40% more weight at the same air pressure as a standard tire; the air pressure could be reduced by 40% and have the same weight as a standard tire.

An IF tire is instead designed to transport 20% more weight at the same air pressure as a standard tire. In this case the air pressure can be reduced by 20%, albeit continuing to support the weight requested, but would significantly reduce the impact on the soil.

The range of BKT AGRIMAX radial tires has been created to meet the needs of new agriculture. In some models in particular, IF and VF technologies have been applied:

AGRIMAX V-FLECTO, the latest arrival, a winning technological mix which improves the performance of new generation tractors thanks to reduced soil compaction, and higher load capacity (+40%) at the same pressure as a standard tire of the same size. It is a product which guarantees a life cycle that is prolonged by at least 10% compared to its standard equivalent, guaranteeing a marked reduction in operating and maintenance costs.

AGRIMAX FORCE is specifically designed for high-power tractors (over 250 CV). Thanks to IF technology which has been revisited by BKT, this tire boasts greater load capacity at lower inflation pressures compared to standard tires of the same size, to the benefit of the land which undergoes markedly lower compaction.

AGRIMAX TERIS is designed for high-power combine harvesters and spreaders, it has excellent flotation capacity which guarantees the best possible protection of the land and excellent harvesting performance as it can take very high loads. In addition, AGRIMAX TERIS is exceptionally resistant to cuts and impacts due, for example, to the presence of stubble on the ground, thus guaranteeing a long life cycle and reducing machine stoppage.

AGRIMAX SPARGO stands out among the products for row crops. It is a range equipped with VF technology, thanks to which it is possible to transport heavy loads at reduced tire pressure, for row-crop applications.

The agricultural future depends on coordinated efforts which imply culture, dialogue and international cooperation, and this must be accompanied by technological development of machines and components. The future of agriculture means concerted collaboration. BKT is part of it.