Hand cut tread on Trelleborg tyre
their range, Andy suggests that there is more choice from specialist suppliers including Trelleborg, Nokian and Titan. “The most popular tyres we sell are
from Titan, and many of the turf tyres supplied as standard with new machinery are sourced from this company,” says Andy. “They offer two basic types of turf tyre. The Torc Trac for the rear is based on the old diamond tread pattern, but is more of a block pattern these days, putting an increased percentage of the tyre’s surface area on the turf. At the front is the Multi Trac which is, essentially, an overgrown garden tractor tyre. They are simple designs but have been successful for football, golf and a range of other sports.” Fieldens works closely with the end user and, in some cases, will even customise tyres to meet their needs - see the image of a Trelleborg grass tyre with the tread hand cut by the company!
New Holland tractor on torc trac and multi trac tyres
Tyre sourcing and care – case studies
John Deere’s Henry Bredin suggests that, while the company offers a choice of turf tyres on its groundcare tractors, the local dealer is often able to help with more specialist requests. “We have ongoing agreements with some of the leading racehorse trainers and racecourses, and dealers work closely with them to source the ideal tyre for their needs,” he explains. Ben Burgess Ltd at Newmarket supplies John Deere tractors to Jockey Club Estates, which owns Newmarket Racecourse, and to Godolphin Racing, the massive training set-up which produces thoroughbreds for Sheikh Mohammed. Groundcare specialist Mike Taylor
Amerityrepuncture proof tyres on zero turn mower
“Polyurethane can be landfilled, or
reground and re-used in other products, avoiding the disposal issues associated with rubber tyres”
126 James Bowett, Puncture Proof Tyres
explains: “These customers use larger tractors to cover the extensive areas of grass involved - including Deere’s 80- 155hp 6030 series at Godolphin, so they need good tyres to avoid scuffing and compaction. Both Michelin and Trelleborg tyres have proved themselves on larger tractors in the turf growing industry, so I can be confident that they are suitable for this application. It is best to avoid tyres with too chunky a tread for this type of work as they can damage the turf. “Although the tyres need to carry loads, the temptation to use wider and wider tyres should be avoided as that just flattens a larger area of grass. The tyres also need to be versatile too, as the tractors are used for a range of jobs, from verti-draining and mowing to towing irrigators,” he adds. At John O’ Gaunt Golf Club in Bedfordshire, workshop manager Stuart Hall mainly relies on tyre specialist,
Totrax, or his main machinery supplier, Toro, to meet his tyre needs. “Totrax offers a range of tyres if we need anything different from the standard models fitted to the machines, but for the larger tractors and trailers we go to ATS,” he explains. “Due to the volumes of tyres that they handle, they are able to be very competitive on price – we had been quoted £800 for a particular large tyre, and their price was £300.” Most repairs can be handled in house in the club’s well equipped workshop, but Stuart points out that larger tyres need to be inflated in a safety cage, and for this, truck and agricultural mobile tyre service On Site Tyres of Eaton Socon provides an efficient service. “There is a safety issue with larger
tyres, and I am not trained as a tyre fitter, so I prefer to leave repairs to the experts,” he says. Telford and Wrekin Council contracts out its tyre management to local company, Chris Hardy Tyres. Workshop manager Dave Robinson explains: “We have such a range of vehicles, from refuse lorries to sweepers and grounds maintenance machines, that it would be too time consuming to manage our tyre requirements in house. Chris looks after tyre sourcing, repairs and replacement all for a fixed fee.”
This includes a guaranteed response time for puncture repairs, either in the workshop or out on site. “We cannot afford to have machines and drivers stood down for two or three hours, as we would be unable to fulfil the terms of our own contracts,” Dave says. “Using a local company means a quick response; fitters also come into the workshop when shifts finish in the afternoon to check tyre condition and replace any worn units.”
Any new machines added to the fleet
are notified to Chris Hardy, and their tyre specification recorded to allow re- cutting or replacement to be rescheduled.
Contractors, Agripower, specialise in construction and renovation of natural and synthetic tyres, and Grant Holmes explains that large tyres capable of carrying substantial weight without damaging the turf are essential. “Most of our 25-strong fleet of tractors
are 80-110hp, and we specify Alliance tyres at the time of purchase. They offer
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