05/15/2012

TWO NEW SIZES FOR THE MICHELIN CEREXBIB

Michelin is addressing the emerging needs of entrepreneurs, farmers and grain producers by bringing to market two new sizes of the MICHELIN CerexBib tire: IF 800/70 R 38 CFO and IF 900/60 R 38 CFO.

In 2012, combine harvesters delivering up to 600 horsepower can harvest more than six hundredweight (cwt) of grain in one hour.

By 2015-2020, even more powerful machines will be able to harvest up to 800 cwt an hour. In 1965, 80-horsepower machines could harvest only 45 cwt of grain on one hectare of land in an hour.

Entrepreneurs, farmers and large-scale grain producers are pursuing the justifiable goal of increasing their productivity. To accomplish this, they must nonetheless overcome ever-increasing difficulties. A successful harvest requires solving a complex equation. Today’s farmers must:

• Harvest mature grain in working periods that are increasingly short and threatened by a recent increase in unstable weather conditions.
• Travel by road to reach plots of land that are further and further apart.
• Optimize harvesting speed and hourly crop yield.

As a result, the capacity of combine harvesters must be increased if crops are to be secured. Conveyor capacity, which averaged 8,000 liters in 2003, had risen to 11,000 liters by 2010 and today exceeds 14,500 liters.

At the same time, the loads carried by farm equipment have also increased. Front axles must now be able to carry loads of more than 28 tonnes. In response to these greater demands and the growing needs of entrepreneurs, farmers and large grain producers, Michelin has developed new sizes – IF800/70 R 38 CFO and IF 900/60 R 38 CFO – of its MICHELIN CerexBib tire, which was first brought to market in 2011.

The new MICHELIN CerexBib IF 800/70 R 38 CFO and IF 900/60 R 38 CFO deliver in two seemingly contradictory areas of tire performance: they enable more intensive harvesting while also protecting the soil and the environment, thanks to MICHELIN Ultraflex technology .

For equipment manufacturers, the MICHELIN CerexBib tires have considerable potential for today’s harvesters and offer real prospects for the development of the machines of the future. The MICHELIN CerexBib IF 800/70 R 38 CFO and IF 900/60 R 38 CFO have already been approved by leading manufacturers (John Deere, Case, New Holland, Claas and Laverda) and fitted on their harvesters for the new season.

The new MICHELIN CerexBib IF 800/70 R 38 CFO and IF 900/60 R 38 CFO tires push back the limits of harvesting equipment use. This new large-diameter tire range has changed farmers’ investment focus. In some cases, they will no longer have to invest in four-wheel-drive or caterpillar-tread equipment, which are very costly to purchase and maintain.

The significance of the Ultraflex technology used in the new MICHELIN CerexBib tires

Low pressure tires that protect the soil
The exclusive MICHELIN Ultraflex technology combines flexibility and rigidity in tire sidewalls. Delivering optimal performance when operating at low pressure, the tires have a minimal impact on soil, which consequently maintains all of its fertility. The natural circulation of air and water in the earth enables grains to sprout in the best conditions. The footprint of the new-size MICHELIN CerexBib tires is up to 22% greater than that of tires made using conventional technology.

A 20% increase in load capacity when operating at the same pressure
Compared with standard-casing tires inflated to the same pressure, tires made with MICHELIN Ultraflex technology can carry loads that are up to 20% heavier and yet they are longer-lasting. Inflated to 1.6 bar, the new MICHELIN CerexBib can carry up to 24 tonnes per axle. As a result, the new MICHELIN CerexBib IF 900/60 R 38 CFO has a load index of 184 A8. The new MICHELIN CerexBib IF 800/70 R 38 CFO is a compact size tire that enables combine harvesters to remain below the 3.5-meter width threshold. This means they can be driven unaccompanied on public roads provided that they do now exceed the median strip.

Greater traction for greater efficiency
These intrinsic qualities provide the new MICHELIN CerexBib IF 800/70 R 38 CFO and IF 900/60 R 38 CFO tires with superior traction. This allows them to be used safely on slopes or difficult terrains, especially since their 38-inch (2050 mm) diameter gives them greater ground clearance. A guarantee of fuel efficiency, this optimized traction enables more of the harvesters’ power to be used for its hydraulic systems so that the equipment itself can be used for what it was intended to do, namely to harvest grain.

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