WAKEFIELD, Mass.—Alliance Tire Americas Inc. has introduced a very high flexion (VF) tire, the Alliance Agriflex+ 354, for the largest class of high-clearance sprayers.
The tire features wide steel radial belts, stubble-resistant rubber compounds, sidewalls engineered for extra flexibility and a large air chamber to support the weight of today's big machinery, the tire maker said.
The Agriflex+ 354 tire in size 420/95R50 can handle loads of more than 15,000 pounds per wheel, the company said, noting that the tire also is available in 380/90R46 and 320/90R50 sizes. A 380/105R50 size will be released soon.
The tire is rated for road speeds up to 40 mph.
VF technology offers operators a choice of two key benefits, according to James Crouch, Alliance Tire's product manager for agriculture:
- VF tires can carry the same load as a conventional radial tire at 40 percent lower inflation pressure, dramatically reducing soil compaction; or
- VF tires also can carry 40 percent more load at the same inflation pressure as a conventional radial tire of the same size.
"At Alliance, we strongly believe in giving customers great choices," Crouch said in a statement. "VF technology is perfect for us because it allows owners to choose the way they want to use the tire to make their machine more productive."