Contractor reduces combine harvester width with Michelin

Abbey Farm Contractors Limited, a Lincolnshire-based agricultural contractor, has reduced the track width of its John Deere combine harvester by 600mm after retrofitting a set of Michelin CerexBib tyres featuring patented Ultraflex technology.

Director Nick Wade had previously specified a set of Michelin Ultraflex XeoBib tyres as original equipment on a new self-propelled sprayer, and took the decision to replace the existing MegaXBib fitments on his combine with tyres featuring the same unique technology, as the XeoBibs.

Wade says: “The MegaXBibs did an excellent job at stopping the heavy combine sinking into the ground, but the 1050/50 R32 size we needed meant the machine was 4.2m wide on the road. We often have to travel down very narrow country lanes, as well as on busy main roads, so travelling between jobs wasn’t easy.

“Initially we considered purchasing a tracked combine harvester, but then we heard good things about the CerexBib tyres and, coupled with our positive experience with the XeoBibs, we decided to give them a go.”

With the CerexBib tyres fitted Nick Wade has seen a big improvement and they have reduced the overall width of the John Deere by 600mm.


He adds: “The combine now fits inside the lane markings on main roads and that takes 95% of the aggravation and stress out of moving.”

With a diameter of 1.96 metres, CerexBib Improved Flexion (IF) 800/70 R32 tyres offer high ground clearance, thereby enabling farmers to harvest in extreme soil conditions. A longer and larger footprint versus the previous tyres helps to deliver enhanced traction, which is particularly useful when harvesting on sloped ground.

CerexBib tyres are also the only commercially available harvester tyre which can work at a pressure of less than 2 bar (29psi). This is around 30 per cent less than conventional tyres.

The larger contact patch and lower ground pressure helps to reduce rut depth and increases traction on wet and dry soil, saving time and increasing fuel efficiency. The Ultraflex technology gives the tyres extremely flexible sidewalls, which in turn considerably increases ride comfort. Even at low pressures the CerexBib tyres ensure safer driving on road and deliver superior stability. Steering response is also improved, while vibrations and noise are considerably reduced.

In addition to its combine harvester and self-propelled sprayer, Abbey Farm Contractors Ltd operates a crawler tractor, two wheeled tractors, one telehandler and a loader. The fleet operates within a radius of approximately five miles from its base on Abbey Farm near Grantham.