The Cerexbib2 VF remains Michelin鈥檚 flagship harvester tyre, but the two new range-topping sizes are unlikely to make it UK shores, due to UK road width restrictions.
Fundamental goals of reducing soil compaction and reducing energy consumption remain at the core of Michelin's principles as they continue to push the boundaries of tyre manufacture.听听
The continued听consolidation of the听agricultural听sector around the world pushes manufacturers to听ever greater size and scale of machinery.听听
As we see advancements in digital innovation, we still require听tangible material听development听to create听the听latest product developments, not least the听latest听architecture听in CNH's听range-topping听combines.听听New Hollands听CR10听and听CR11听formed听what the听manufacturer听is calling,听a听next-generation听of听combines.听听
These听ground-up听machines听first saw conception back in 2014. Geert听Nerinckx,听global听听product听manager听for听CNH听combines听said: "We wanted to make a machine that was as听manoeuvrable听as the听current market options and reduce ground pressure听with a higher capacity machine than previous models."听
"Yes, the combine is听longer听but it turns in a smaller听circumference听than the current听CR10.90 thanks to a specially designed rear听axle.听听
Although a听fully wheeled version听of the machine is not听available in the UK听due to听its听overall听widths听of 3.99m听and听3.79m,听the track derivative听was听also听developed in conjunction with Michelin's sister company听Camso,听which听the French tyre giant听acquired听back in 2018.听听听
Mr听Nerinckx听said: "Even when听operating听with听a听15.2m (50ft)听header, the CR11听offers a ground pressure reduction of 7% compared to the听CR10.90听听
Michelin's听Cerexbib听2 already听serves the UK harvester market providing a VF听low-ground听pressure听variant for听high-load听machines.听听
Launched in 2011,听the听Cerexbib听was the first VF harvester tyre on the market,听with听the听latest听version听adding听two further sizes to the range.听听
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In conjunction with the CR10 and CrR11,听Michelin launched two new sizes within that range听with听the听VF800/70/R46 CFO and VF900/65R46 CFO.听
These two new sizes听represent听an听exclusive听deal听for Michelin,听to听only supply听CNH products听with these combine听tyre听sizes for the next two years.听
But with the听CR10 and CR11听the only two machines in the听marketplace听capable of taking these tyre听sizes, other听manufacturers听will have to step up to the plate with new machines听that have the capacity to听accommodate听such a tyre in the future.听听
Mr听Nerinckx听said "We recently launched a 18m听(60ft)听header,听for the Australian market in听developed in conjunction with Macdon.听听
Mathieu听Tuffery, Technical Account Manager at Michelin said:听"The larger听diameter听tyre, extends the air听volume听so we can听take greater load pressure."听听
"This is important听with a combine's cyclic听field听operation听(CFO),听dealing with听variable load points听as the grain tank fills,听and empties alongside听changing pressures from the header,听听
"Granted this size of tyre already exists for the tractor market,听but not a combine, and they have very different working characteristics," he adds.听听
"We have years of听experience听in tyre development听at Michelin," says Mr听Tuffery.听
"We had to prepare a prototype tyre with different casting than the final product, just to meet the time scales for such a project.听
"This meant treads on the prototype had to be filed down听to the听final size," he adds.听听
"Most combine tyres last the听lifetime of the vehicle, but we听do not听have that length of time to test a new product in the field," said Mr Turrey.听
Using听a听cyclic testing process听to accelerate tyre wear听and听replicate听forces, Michelin could extrapolate data on the听tyre听viability听at the听manufacturer's听technology听centre,听Ladoux, France.听
But why听is all this time money and听resources听being听put into the development of VF tyre technology and what听positives听does it bring to the sector?听听
Ultimately听machinery听has progressed听upwards in size,听weight听and potential听operating speeds, and to follow manufacturer trends tyre design has been led by market demands.听听
Soil compaction has become a major听industry-wide听issue听with Cranfield University claiming听a听1.2听billion Euro cost to the UK economy back in 2011.听
Headway听may have been made听since this study, with wider industry uptake of听controlled traffic farming and no-till systems offering reduced field听compaction.听
Michelin听claims听tyre听contact patch听area can be increased by 60% just听by reducing听tyre听pressure on VF听tyres.听听
To听demonstrate听this Michelin听carried out听a working听demonstration听with two New Holland T7's running on听the听brand's听Axiobib听2听VF600/70 R30 front and听VF710/70 R42 rear.听听
Set at 1.1听bar pressure听front and 1.0听bar pressure rear, the听T7听consumed听18.8 litres/ha听of fuel听with a听five-tonne draught听load听听
In comparison听operating听the听Axiobib听2 at a lower听0.6 bar听at the听front and rear,听the T7听consumed听15.9 litres/ha听of听fuel听whilst a achieving听a听5.3-tonne听draught load.听
Mr听Tuffery听said听" Fuel听savings are听achievable with the right tyre pressure for the job,听with VF tyres we can听achieve听a 60% greater contact patch, reducing听wheel slip, and saving fuel while听helping soil preservation."听
Anne-Laure Fraenkel,听Project coordinator for agricultural tyres at Michelin said; "Achieving听tyres that can听operate听below atmospheric pressure of 1.0听bar is听a听real technical听challenge.听
"When a tyre is听operating听at 1.8听bar听air听pressure within the tyre carries the load.听
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"But when you are operating below 1.0听bar听the tyre itself carries the load," she adds.听
Much of听Michelin's听technical development goes into听tyre听carcass听design to听ensure听VF听tyres听can perform听both in the field and on the road at high loads.听听
Looking to the future,听Michelin听aims听to continue听innovating听with tyre design in the sector.听听
Mrs Fraenkel听said,听"The听industry has to meet the challenges of听estimated听population growth of听24%, with 69% greater food demand听with听5%听greater听land mass."听
"We are on our way to making tyres of the future听to help meet these demands with听eco-friendly听designs and full life cycle听assessments, to听evaluate听the environmental impact of the tyre."听
"So听far听we have found the biggest impact on听the听usage cycle is working energy efficiency.听
"Improving tractive tyre efficiency听with the correct tyre pressures,听reduces engine load, and fuel听usage," she adds.听听
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