Matching tyre size to weight, speed and power available for maximising pulling ability of agricultural tractors

The desirable weight-to-axle power ratio for agricultural tractors is determined by the necessity for the optimum utilisation of the available axle power to produce the required drawbar pull at a preselected slip. For a vehicle designed to operate in a given speed range, the weight-to-axle power ratio should be within a particular limit, so that a specific level of conversion efficiency can be maintained. In this paper attempts have been made to select suitable tyres for Indian two-wheel drive tractors operating in sandy clay loam soils on the basis of weight-to-power utiisation and maximum pull-to-optimum weight ratio at a preselected slip using the developed traction prediction equations. A comparison has also been made between the desired and actual weight on a single traction wheel and suitable tyre and tyre normally fitted in Indian two wheel drive tractors up to 35 kW. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of ISTVS. All rights reserved.