Yokohama Off Highway Tires

Best Practices for Safer Winter Ag Tire Inspection In order to ensure everything is ready to roll in the spring, it’s common to inspect the tires of tractors, implements, and other farm equipment in the winter. Farms are filled with potential hazards and winter only ups the ante of something going sideways. Factors like short dark days, bitter cold, slick snow, and treacherous ice all pose additional challenges to farmers, tire dealers, and other ag tire personnel. Ben Franklin famously said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Follow his sage advice and take a few simple steps to improve your safety while working or visiting the farm this winter. Cold-Weather Accidents According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , there were more than 20,000 ice, sleet, and snow-related injuries in 2017 in the U.S. Whether working in the field, yard, or outbuildings, jobs on the farm are more exposed to these types of injuries compared to those in many other occupations. It’s not just...

Corn, Tires, and Old Adages The saying knee-high by the fourth of July was long used by farmers to judge the success of their corn crops—it means that growing conditions have been favorable, the crops are off to a good start, and big yields are expected come fall—and the adage remains popular today, despite being antiquated. Innovation in everything from seeds and treatments to equipment and tires has enabled earlier planting and faster-growing, higher-yielding corn. Origins of the Adage The roots of knee-high by the fourth of July are debatable. The Farmers Almanac is well-known for sharing old-timey wisdom and folklore and is commonly associated with the popularization of the saying. Many who date the adage to colonial times also commonly claim that the phrase is misinterpreted and that it’s not a measure of corn to a person standing in a field, but rather to that of a person on horseback. Some farmers think the idiom is a more modern invention, and date the saying to the turn of t...

From the innovative two-layered lugs of the Alliance Agri Star II R-1W farm radial to the hybrid tread block design of the Alliance 550 Multiuse radial, the Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America Inc. booth at the 2021 Farm Progress Show (Booth 252) will feature a wide range of farm tires that can help producers find the optimal tire for any tire need across the farm or ranch. "We've gone so far beyond the days where the standard R-1 tractor lug tire and the rib implement tire were the only real options on the farm," says Blaine Cox, National Product Manager-Agriculture for Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc. "Today's farm tires are optimized for particular soil types, specific kinds of tasks, whether the machinery spends much time on the road—there's a tire designed to deliver the best way to tackle any challenges. Of course, there are also the all-around utility players because we know farmers need versatility. At our booth, people can see a variety of opt...

New Alliance Agristar II Radial Tire Size Introduced Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc. (YOHTA) announced the release of the new 800/70R38 size of its popular Alliance Agri Star II farm radial tire . The new, larger size features a 173D high-load rating and is rated for speeds of up to 40 mph. The 800/70R38size extends the line to even more 4-wheel-drive tractors, which benefit from the dual-angle lugs, stubble guard compound and high-stability polyester casing of the Agri Star II. "Larger 4WD tractors and combines can really put the performance benefits of the Agri Star II to work," says Blaine Cox, National Product Manager—Agriculture, Golf & Turf for Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America. "Our Stratified Layer Technology lugs combine a single-angle layer on top of a multi-angle layer for more versatility and biting edges, reinforced by dual step-tie bars to minimize lug shuffling. Those lugs create a footprint 13% wider than comparably sized radials and overlap...

Best Practices for Safer Winter Ag Tire Inspection In order to ensure everything is ready to roll in the spring, it’s common to inspect the tires of tractors, implements, and other farm equipment in the winter. Farms are filled with potential hazards and winter only ups the ante of something going sideways. Factors like short dark days, bitter cold, slick snow, and treacherous ice all pose additional challenges to farmers, tire dealers, and other ag tire personnel. Ben Franklin famously said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Follow his sage advice and take a few simple steps to improve your safety while working or visiting the farm this winter. Cold-Weather Accidents According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , there were more than 20,000 ice, sleet, and snow-related injuries in 2017 in the U.S. Whether working in the field, yard, or outbuildings, jobs on the farm are more exposed to these types of injuries compared to those in many other occupations. It’s not just...

Radial Skid Steer Tires Improve Skid Steer Performance Thanks to their versatility, skid steers are employed in a variety of tasks and terrain—and manufacturers have responded by delivering numerous tire styles aimed at improving performance in particular applications. There is no one-size-fits-all tire solution to address the demands of every application, however, so operators must select a tire that meets the particular challenges facing them to maximize their investment—considering factors from tread type to construction. The need to improve skid steer performance is a common concern in industries like demolition, waste management, and ag, but tire dealers can benefit too, as one of our Minnesota-based dealers was recently reminded. They got almost four times longer service life from their tires after making the switch from traditional bias R-4s to steel-belted Alliance 550 MultiUse radials. Switching from R4 Bias to Hybrid-Tread Radial Our Minnesota tire dealer uses its skid stee...

Best Practices for Maintaining Solid Tires in Waste and Recycling Applications Solid tires play an important role in keeping equipment like wheel loaders and skid steers productive and efficient in waste management applications. Learning how to identify the common culprits of sub-par solid tire performance and adopting some simple best practices can pay off significantly, both for your tires and your operation. How Long do Solid Tires Last in Waste Applications? Solid tires are a popular choice for machines working in waste applications thanks to their puncture-proof performance and extended service life— solid tires can last three to five times longer than their pneumatic and foam-filled counterparts. That said, a number of factors contribute to just how long a tire will last in waste management applications, including the surface they’re used on, the duty cycle, the maintenance program, the person operating the equipment, the hazards they face, and tire selection. Although some fact...

  Tips for Properly Storing OTR Tires Whether it’s a farmer replacing the tires on their tractor or a construction company stocking up on skid steer tires, customers should consider a host of factors when selecting tires. For many, one of the most important criteria when buying new tires is the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a tire, or the overall cost of a tire to a customer from the time of purchase through resale or replacement. Maximizing the TCO of tires begins before they’re ever mounted to a machine, as proper storage plays a pivotal role in a tire achieving the lowest possible TCO. The Importance of Proper OTR Storage  OTR tires are designed to work in some of the harshest, least-forgiving terrain imaginable—from stalk-filled far fields to debris-littered construction sites to rock-strewn mines. Tires are built tough, but rubber compounds are sensitive and susceptible to and can be subject to all sorts of physical and chemical damage. Ultimately, the failure to pr...

Maintenance Tips to Improve Winter Tractor Tire Life Tractor tires are designed to take a lot of punishment, but winter dishes out some unique challenges to even the toughest-built tires. Whether your tractor and its tires stay busy all winter long or hibernate in the barn, there are a handful of steps you can take to increase their longevity and maximize your investment in them. For Tractors That Work Through Winter No matter where you’re located, winter presents unique challenges to tractors. Tire Challenges in the Northern U.S. The main challenge facing farm tires that work through winter in the northern U.S. is frozen ground. For example, the rough path from the hay barn to the field can become a minefield for tires when frozen, and the dip or rut that you hardly notice in spring when the ground is soft can cause an impact break in the winter. The same is said for the mounds created by cattle walking through wet pastures, which, when frozen, are not all that different from small, p...

Mizell Development Depends on Primex Tires for Reforestation Applications What happens to a parcel of land after its trees have been collected and processed is an often overlooked aspect of timber harvesting, however, site preparation and replanting can account for as much as a fifth of a timber harvest budget. While timber harvesting and reforestation share similar equipment, site preparation and replanting provide unique challenges, something Adam Mizell, of Mizell Development, knows all about—and is why he chooses Primex tires. Reforestation Benefits Mizell Development is a reforestation contractor working in northern Florida and southern Georgia. Reforestation projects—like those Mizell runs—help make land more sustainable and profitable . In 15 to 20 years, the trees replanted by Mizell and his crew will be ready for the pulp mill. In 30 years, the land owner will have a stand of valuable sawlogs. Studies have shown that slash and loblolly pine planted into prepared sites can gr...

How OTR Tire Personnel Can Safely Inspect and Service Tires Selling and servicing OTR tires presents some unique risks to personnel in the field. From the massive size and weight of mining and construction equipment to the unfavorable conditions they tend to operate in—often at night and in all types of weather—OTR salespeople, field service engineers, and technicians commonly face a complex environment with numerous potential hazards. Prioritizing safety and following a few best practices when inspecting tires in the field are simple steps toward preventing mishaps and ensuring everyone returns home safe and sound at the end of the day. Tips for Inspecting OTR Tires On-Site Checking the air pressure, inspecting wear, and servicing tires on equipment in the field gives dealers a firsthand perspective on the terrain, duty cycles, and other challenges facing their customers. On-site inspections allow dealers to make well-informed tire recommendations and ultimately help their customers ...

Introducing the Galaxy LDSR 510 The Galaxy LDSR 510, a new, all-steel dozer and loader radial for surface mining from Yokohama Off-Highway Tires, combines extra-deep tread blocks and cut-resistant compound to deliver outstanding performance on rock and gravel surfaces. The new, non-directional tread pattern provides outstanding traction in both forward and reverse, enhancing efficiency in digging, loading and carrying operations, notes Dhananjay Bisht, Product Manager—Earthmoving, Construction and Industrial Tires for Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc. The Galaxy LDSR 510 also features high turn-up carcass construction, which increases lateral stiffness in the sidewall without compromising the benefits of the large, even footprint and low rolling resistance from radial design," Bisht adds. "The sidewalls are also reinforced against cuts and damage, which is important in rock mining and quarry operations, and deliver a stable, comfortable ride. Combined with the all-stee...

Application-Specific OTR Tires Application-specific tires are engineered to meet the unique demands imposed by particular jobs, such as the weight of the equipment itself and the load it will carry; the speed and distance it will travel; and the terrain in which it will operate. Outfitting equipment with application-specific tires is an excellent step to take toward controlling costs.   Tires affect the bottom line of a business and influence everything from the performance of equipment to downtime to fuel efficiency. Application-specific tires are also generally the longer-lasting option and provide a lower total cost of ownership. A number of factors go into designing and selecting an application-specific OTR tire, including: Tire construction (solid, radial, or bias) Tread pattern Tread depth Rubber compound The Tire and Rim Association (TRA)  has developed a uniform classification system for OTR tires which is followed by all manufacturers—to assist in understanding a tire...

What is More Fuel-Efficient, Tires or Tracks? Tractors are the engine of a farm, pulling everything from planting implements like seeders in the spring to hauling carts during harvest in the fall. Because tractors are the primary power source on the farm, the expense of keeping them fueled is significant—most years, fuel accounts for about 5% of a farmer’s overall costs . Given the considerable expense of fuel, even small differences can result in large returns—which begs the question, what is more fuel-efficient: tires or tracks? NTTL 2012 Study   The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Tractor Test Lab (NTTL) has made the most notable comparison of the fuel efficiency of wheeled tractors vs. tractors equipped with tracks. In 2012, they studied the fuel consumption of two tractors—a Case Steiger 600 and Case Steiger 600 QuadTrac—in a variety of field conditions and load scenarios.   On the Road  On hard surfaces like asphalt and concrete, tires far surpass tracks i...

  Five Construction Tire Best Practices for Safer Sites    Tires are one of the unsung heroes of a construction site—they often travel at high speeds, carry heavy loads, work non-stop, and operate in challenging terrain. By establishing a few simple tire safety best practices, construction business owners and fleet managers can take a significant step toward improving the safety of their operators and equipment. 5 Construction Tire Safety Best Practices  Establishing the construction tire safety best practices listed below at your operation will not only encourage safer construction sites, but can also help boost productivity, reduce downtime, and ultimately increase profitability. 1. Select an Application-Specific Tire  Construction tires are commonly mounted on huge machinery moving massive loads. One of the best steps a construction business owner or fleet manager can take to improve the safety (and productivity) of their equipment is to outfit it with a...