Do you prefer tracks or tires? Many of us have different opinions on that common question depending on the application. Well what if you could have the best of both worlds.
Huh? How is that possible you ask?
Mitas has developed a tire that could possibly provide farmers with the ability to get the best of both worlds which has long eluded them. Midas plans to showcase this tire on a 38 inch rim at the Farm Progress Show this month.
According to the press release:
Mitas’ revolutionary tire concept PneuTrac will be one of the most coveted innovations from the tire industry segment of the Farm Progress Show. Mitas will display PneuTrac mounted on a 38″ rim at booth 16S for the first time ever in the United States. PneuTrac brings together the best of both worlds in traditional pneumatic tires and rubber tracks. Mitas is intensively testing the PneuTrac concept on an 18″ rim and has already started the first tests on a larger 38″ rim tire.
“PneuTrac raised huge interest among farmers and machinery manufacturers after being displayed in Europe. We are determined to bring the concept into commercial production to meet their expectations,” said Andrew Mabin, Mitas’ sales and marketing director. “We still have some ways to go, but we knew that such an innovation, which is unique in the tire industry, needs time for development, testing and monitoring before being made available for sale to worldwide markets.”
Mitas PneuTrac provides better traction efficiency with lower slippage, resulting in lower operational costs higher crop yields and less damage to the soil when compared with standard tires. PneuTrac provides very stable driving at low inflation pressures, ensuring comfort and safety with no need to adjust inflation pressure. Mitas is developing its PneuTrac concept with its partner, Galileo Wheel Ltd.
“We are using the full capacity of our test facilities to bring the concept into commercial production, and the results show us we are on the right track,” said Hans-Ulrich Klose, head of the automotive engineering unit at Mitas.
The footprint of Mitas PneuTrac is 53% larger than that of a standard tire, and it provides higher tractive force. This ensures gentle ground handling with much lower and improved distribution of pressure on the ground with less soil compaction. The lateral stability of Mitas PneuTrac is of a very high level compared with standard tires: 167% higher. PneuTrac is mountable on standard rims.
A tire that provides this kind of versatility would have major demand in the marketplace. With claims of less compaction and better traction Mitas could very well be on to a major innovation in the tire/track space.
RealAgriculture plans to get some shots of this concept at the Farm Progress Show in Boone Iowa this month, so stay tuned.
Here is a Mitas corporate video showcasing the concept.
