Michelin's XeoBib Agri tyres can save fuel even at 10psi

ERJ staff report (DS)

Guildford, UK -- A team from Michelin's research and development facility in Ladoux, France, have completed a UK trial to demonstrate how fitting tractors with tyres which can operate at very low pressures can save over 20 per cent in fuel costs.

The team performed the trial using a pair of Fendt tractors at Merrist Wood College in Guildford, Surrey. The trial saw a Fendt 724 make two passes in the field; first on Michelin XeoBib tyres inflated to conventional pressures (around 22 psi or 1.5 bar), and a second run at less than half that: 10 psi / 0.7 bar. Michelin said it's Ultraflex technology used in Its XeoBib tyres permits the same load bearing capacity on lower inflation pressures

The lower pressure allowed the flexible sidewalls to spread the XeoBibs' contact patch, reducing wheel slippage and giving the tractor greater speed for the same effort, whilst leaving shallower ruts and causing less damage to the soil.

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Press release from Michelin

Video of trials from Michelin