A research on determining of the effects of the tire types and their different arrangements on tractor traction performance

A RESEARCH ON DETERMINING OF THE EFFECTSOF THE TIRE TYPES AND THEIR DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTSON TRACTOR TRACTION PERFORMANCEABSTRACTIn this study, the effects of radial-ply, diagonal-ply tires and singles-dualsapplications on the rear axle on tractor?s performance were examined and evaluatedby experimental data. The experiments were conducted on two field types, namelyclay, sandy-loam, covered with stubble and concrete surface. In the fieldexperiments, effects of three factors (Gear levels, bias-radial ply tire and singles-duals tire arrangements on the rear axle) on the specific fuel consumption, overallefficiency and slip were examined, while in the concrete experiments, effects ofthese factors on max drawbar pull max tractive power, specific fuel consumption andoverall efficiency at 15 percent slip were examined. The tractor (New Holland 80-66FWA), which was used on experiments, was loaded with a three-furrow half-turnplough in the field experiments. For loading of tractor on concrete surface, the testvehicle was used. Variance analysis and Duncan tests were performed and evaluatedto determine statistical importance of effects on performance of the factors and theirinteractions. Besides, the payback periods, those are an expression of whether theadvantages of best applications in terms of tractor?s performance will offset theadditions in cost, were determined for different annual hours of tractor use.In summary, the best results in this study were obtained in the interaction ofradial-duals-highest ground speed (approximately 6 km/h) chosen in study on thewheat stubble and concrete surfaces. The best results in terms of fuel and timesavings were obtained in duals applications. Therefore, although the additional costsof duals were more than those of radial-ply tire use instead of bias-ply tire, it wasfound that the payback periods for duals arrangements were shorter than those ofradial-ply use.Keywords: Tire configuration, Radial and bias-ply tires, tractor performance.