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By Barry Hawn, Tirecraft
As a Supporting Partner, Tirecraft has been provided the opportunity to include the following article
in this issue of The Innovator. Want to know more about becoming a Supporting Partner?
Contact: supportingpartner@ontariosoilcrop.org
PTG has been designing and building ag specific Central Tire Inflation Systems (CTIS) since the 1990’s and is one of the world market leaders and preferred outfitter for agriculture vehicles. Treadright is the exclusive Canadian distributor of PTG’s patented Dual Line Systems. These systems are available for High Clearance Sprayers, Planters, Tankers, Combines, and Bar Axle or Flange Axle Tractors. The Canadian market is prime for these systems due to the large shifts in both weights and roading speeds of today’s modern farm equipment, as well as the growing emphasis to reduce soil compaction. CTIS will allow you to adjust and maintain the correct tire pressure quickly and easily with the touch of a button.
Other benefits of CTIS include:
– Reduced fuel consumption of the towing tractor in the field and on the road (10-15%)
– Reduced rolling resistance in the field and on the road
– Higher ride stability on the road at higher speeds
– Reduction of the track depth due to the bigger footprint of the tire
– Strong increase of towing force due to better interlocking of the tire profile with the ground
– Reduced soil compaction, and higher yields
Below are air pressure and rutting comparisons:
Without CTIS Tractor @35 PSI, Planter @ 70 PSI
With CTIS, Tractor @ 9 PSI, Planter @ 24 PSI
Additionally, benefits of PTG-equipped farm equipment includes 6% better crop yield, 10% higher fuel economy, 20% more traction power to the ground and 20% increased life of tires with optimal footprint on road and in the fields. For every half inch that tires sink into the soil, the equipment will use an additional 10% in fuel consumption.
The tires for tractors and implements are usually set at a higher air pressure which is required when traveling to and from the fields. However, tires set for road pressure use are devastating to fields. PTG CTIS systems offer the ability to set both air pressures using ISOBUS integrated controls in the cab. Inflate tires, for example, to 23 PSI required for roading, then dropping down to 9 PSI for field work.
Thanks to CTIS, the tire pressure can be easily and efficiently adjusted from the comfort of the driver’s seat. In the field, it is ideal to have a lower tire pressure to help spread the weight of the machine out over a greater tire footprint. This will also help reduce the soil compaction, rolling resistance, and fuel consumption. The low pressure also helps prevent wheel slips and maximizes the grips of the tire. In comparison, when the machine transitions to the road, the higher pressure in the tire gives stability, increases fuel efficiency, and minimizes tire wear.
This can all be achieved thanks to the unique PTG- patented CTIS dual line design features. These lines are pneumatically controlled check valves located on the wheel rims, that are only activated and opened when the lines are pressurized during active tire adjustments and monitoring. Once the correct pressures are reached, the system shuts off air, and the check valves close. Check valves on the wheel rims are beneficial to help minimize component wear as it has zero air pressure in the circuit, and they also act as a safety measure, should a line fail.
Field pressure and road pressure presets can be created in accordance with tire manufacture recommendations. This means it takes just a few minutes to inflate or deflate tires, and is suitable for all tractors, trailers, and agricultural machinery with tires.
 Tire pressure at 23 PSI in the field |
 Tire pressure at 9 PSI in the field |