Due to the seasonal nature of combines and grain carts, most farmers only think about them at harvest time—and often only think about the tires on this equipment when they fail. However, because of the growing size of harvest equipment, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to tires. According to a study from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, from 2006 to 2015, the average horsepower of combines rose from 230 to 342. Over that same time, the average capacity of grain carts grew from 689 bushels to 883 bushels. Because of the massive weight and power of these machines, they're capable of creating deeper, longer-lasting compaction. Luckily, farmers can take a few measures to reduce the impact of their enormous equipment.

Compare a logging operation of today with those of the not-so-distant past and one thing is obvious—the machines on site have grown considerably in both size and power. While the need to increase operational productivity and efficiency is driving the adoption of larger, more powerful equipment, it is also presenting new challenges. Luckily, there’s a simple step operators can take to overcome these challenges and make the most of their tires (and, subsequently, their machines): check tire air pressure frequently. 

More and more operators are outfitting their equipment with solid tires as industries such as construction, recycling, and mining face increasingly tight margins. Solid tires help minimize downtime caused by flats, can last two to three times longer than a pneumatic tire, and have a reputation for delivering a low total cost of ownership. Also becoming more commonplace is the appearance of small openings, or apertures, on solid tires. But what is an aperture and how does it work?

As a producer of application-specific tires, it’s vital for us at ATG to support our dealers so that our customers get the best possible tires for their machine, application, and needs. We work with our dealers in many ways. For example, we have a packed event calendar and our sales team is always in the field supporting our extensive dealer network. We do a lot of posting about our tires on our blog, our Youtube channel, and through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, which is where today’s Tire Tale starts.

From construction sites to scrap yards, the use of solid tires on skid steers is becoming more and more commonplace. Because solid tires feature a unique set of attributes when compared to pneumatic tires, they’re particularly well-suited for some applications, and are able to deliver everything from longer service time to less downtime. Below are some of the sectors that are driving the interest in solids and some of the reasons why solids are ideal for those industries.