Can Road Tires be Applied in Agriculture?

Abstract

The mechanization of crops causes problems in soil structure as it causes compaction. Compaction can be severe depending on the type of tire adopted in the field. Producers are concerned with selecting wheelsets that harm the soil less and remembering to save resources when buying agricultural tires. Agricultural tires are more expensive than road tires, and truck tires can be an alternative for producers to save money. The present study evaluated the interaction between wheelset and ground in a fixed tire testing unit, comparing the impact of different tire models on bare ground. The 6 treatments performed consisted of 3 tire models (p1: road radial, composed of double wheelset - 2×275/80r22.5; p2: agricultural radial - 600/50r22.5; and p3: agricultural diagonal - 600/50-22.5) versus two contact surfaces, one rigid and the other with bare agricultural soil. Seven response variables were used to apply Regression analysis and descriptive statistics. Agricultural tires applied less pressure to the soil, and the most significant resistance to soil penetration was obtained with the road tire, reaching severe compaction levels. We verified an increase in the contact area of the tires on a hard surface of 473% for p1, 417% for p2, and 625% for p3. Road tires must be applied in crops cautiously, as these models can cause more significant stress on the soil, especially in high humidity conditions.