Jan 2012: Michelin Launches New Dimension of CerexBib Tyres
LAMMA, the popular UK Farm Machinery Show provided the perfect platform for Michelin to launch the newest addition to its popular CerexBib range of tyres.
The CerexBib tyres launched in 2010 exclusively serve the farm machinery sector for vehicles like combine harvesters. At LAMMA this year, Michelin announced that these tyres would now be available in an additional size, apart from the current size.
The Details of the New Product
The CerexBib’s new tyre dimension is the IF 800/70 R 38 CFO. IF and CFO stand for Improved Flexion and Cycling Field Operation respectively.
As always, the new product development has been in response to the emerging customer requirements. Michelin took cognisance of the current trends amongst equipment manufacturers to produce heavier vehicles.
This new set of Michelin CerexBib tyres is perfectly suited for these vehicles.
Need for the IF 800/70 R38 CFO
The need to ensure greater efficiency in the harvesting operations has prompted manufacturers of these machines to produce more powerful and heavier combine harvesters.
However, as the weight of the machinery increases, it enhances soil compaction, which is undesirable. Also tyres with increased load bearing capacity are necessary to handle such heavy equipment.
The IF800/70 R38 CFO is designed with features to effectively address both these concerns.
Features of the IF 800/70 R38 CFO
Mike Lawton. Director, Michelin Agricultural and Construction Division UK, shared that as compared to the conventional 900/60 R38 tyres, the new tyres have increased load bearing capacity, allowing the manufacturers to increase the weight of the machinery as per the requirements of their customers within the EU specified width of 3.5 meters.
He further added that the new tyre design incorporates a higher rate of deflection.
This causes a foot print, almost 20% more than the earlier tyres, which counters the soil compaction caused by the heavy machinery. Also the larger footprint improves traction and delivers an enhanced front grip, particularly on sloping ground.
The new CerexBib tyres have a diameter of 2.05 meters. This change in diameter is responsible for offering a high ground clearance - an important requirement for conducting harvesting operations under difficult soil conditions.
About the Michelin CerexBib Range
Michelin’s CerexBib range has been designed specifically to meet the requirements of farm vehicles like combine harvesters used by farmers, farming contractors and farm cooperatives.
The tyres incorporate innovative architectural design and materials to make them best suited for their purpose of use. Michelin has paid particular attention to the tread design in the CerexBib range, so that despite having a narrow width (necessary to protect the fields), they have high load bearing capacity to support the heavy machinery they work with. Mr. Lawton reminded that the CerexBib range has been designed to work at a pressure below two bar, resulting in reduction of soil compaction levels.
The new IF800/70 R38 CFO tyres may be considered the next generation range, enabling equipment manufacturers to take their equipment to the next level so as to offer maximum value to their own customers.
The IF800/70 38R CPO will be available for sale in markets by May 2012. Michelin announced that the next new size of the CerexBib range will be launched then.