Flotation tyres: steel belted or nylon

One of the most important decisions when selecting flotation tyres, involves selecting an appropriate casing. The choice between steel belted and nylon casings is more important than deciding whether to opt for radial or diagonal tyres.
Flotation tyres: steel belted or nylon

Flotation tyres offer large volume, at the lowest possible ground pressure, as well as high bearing capacity. They are suitable for a variety of machines and purposes. However, they must minimise damage caused to sub-soil (ground compaction) and crops, thus leading to maximum harvest results.

Type of use

Flotation tyres are available for a variety of purposes, ranging from light to heavy-duty use. In general, they are divided into tyres for rough terrain (off-road) and tyres for hardened surfaces (‘high speed’). When the latter is involved, it is best to select the steel belted option because heavier loads are encountered during use. Tyres with a nylon casing are still often used for less intensive applications, like balers, grain trailers and grassland vehicles. These days, many machines are fitted with standard radial tyres upon delivery.
 

Benefits

In ´steel belted´ tyres, the casing is reinforced using steels belts and steel mats. The benefits of these tyres, depending on the number of implemented steel mats, compared to nylon-reinforced tyres:

  • higher bearing capacity 
  • greater stability 
  • better protection against collisions 
  • better protection against punctures by nails and other sharp objects. 

Another important factor when selecting steel belted tyres involves the need to quickly transport harvested crops. Speed is becoming a factor of ever increasing importance in the agricultural sector due to greater demand for food, better utilisation of soil (improve planting density) and the need for greater transport volumes. And high speed flotation tyres are an important solution on this front.

Changing requirements

One of the latest requirements, for example, is that producers should be supplied directly from the field, without unloading and reloading. And this must take place without placing excessive loads on the soil; while maintaining transport speeds realised by normal road vehicles; and while offering the same loading capacity, comfort, handling and safety.

Due to the aforementioned need for increased harvesting and transport speeds, more specialised vehicles will start appearing in the agricultural sector. This will specifically involve trucks which have been modified to be equally effective off the road as they are on it. 

Flotation tyres will help to reduce soil compaction as loading capacities continue to increase. These tyres also combine low rolling resistance, a long life-span and maximum traction with minimum maintenance and comfortable and safe road handling. A wide range of profiles, possibly based on direction, are available depending on the specific use. Due to greater emphasis on road-based use at increasing speeds, safety (stability and reduced likelihood of punctures) is now a more important factor than ever before. And steel belted flotation tyres are more effective on this front.
 

Like to know more?

Do you need advice? Please contact us, our experts will be pleased to assist you. Contact our experts at +31 (0)523 - 850 850 or by e-mail to info@heuver.com. You can also read all about agriculture on the agricultural knowledge-page.