Maintenance of Your Tractor Tyres - All You Need to Know

Tyres are essential parts of your tractor, but they often get neglected in the hectic urban life. You may think you maintain your tractor well by doing regular services like oil change, brake check, engine tuning, and performance improvement. However, you may not pay enough attention to the condition and care of your tyres. To keep your tractor running smoothly and safely, you need to follow some tractor tyre maintenance tips that will help you preserve the health of these vital units of your tractor. Be it a Swaraj XM or any other tractor, tyres are an important area that you should keep a constant eye on.

Why is Daily Inspection Important?

You can prevent tyre failure at an early stage by doing a proper visual inspection. Look for any abnormalities on the tyre surface and sidewall, such as bumps, cuts, and cracks. Don’t forget to check the inner surface as well. Cracks caused by stones, glass, or other road debris can widen over time and lead to tyre failure. Additionally, you should also inspect your rims, as they can damage your tyres if they are faulty. Replace them immediately if you find any damage. Finally, if you have a tubeless tyre with a nail stuck in it but the pressure is normal, don’t pull it out. This will cause the air to leak. Instead, get it repaired as soon as possible.

Replacing Tyres

You should also replace your tyres when they are worn out or old. Experts suggest that the best time to get new tyres is between 6-10 years. Six years is ideal, but 10 years is the maximum limit, and only if your tyres are still in good condition. The lifespan of your tyres depends on several factors, such as your driving style, the total number of kilometers driven, the weather conditions in your region, and so on.

Size of Wheel Bolts

Moreover, you should check the size of your wheel bolts. The vehicle manufacturer usually provides them, but make sure they are not too short or too long. Both cases can cause problems. If they are short, the wheel may pop out. If they are long, they may damage the tractor’s suspension. Replace them with the right size ones if needed.

Rotation of Tyres

Another important tip is to rotate your tyres regularly. You should do this after every 5000 kilometers or if you notice any uneven wear of the tyre treads. When you rotate your tyres, make sure you give all of them equal chances of road exposure. This will ensure that they wear evenly and none of them is under or over-worked.

Driving Tips

You should also be smooth while driving your tractor. Don’t stop the tractor abruptly by applying emergency brakes. This puts a lot of stress on your tyres and reduces their life span. It also leads to premature wear of the tyres. Therefore, it is better to drive at a moderate speed that will prevent you from braking frequently. Driving rashly and stopping suddenly (at high speeds) can also cause tyre slippage, which not only increases the risk of accidents but also makes the tyre lose tread much faster than expected. While tractors like the Swaraj XT series are equipped to handle any kind of emergencies, it always falls upon the driver to drive responsibly.

Climate Conditions

You should be careful in the rainy season. This is when your tyres are more exposed and prone to premature wear and tear. It is difficult to drive through heavily waterlogged roads and farmlands in the rain. This causes a lot of slippage of tyres and damages them. The best solution for that is to replace your old tyres with new ones. The new tyre tread will allow more water to drain through the grooves of the tyre, resulting in more grip on the surface and keeping hydroplaning at bay.

Air Pressure

You should also regularly check the air pressure in your tyres. This will not only prevent your tyres from getting punctured frequently but will also help you achieve better fuel efficiency. Maintaining tyre pressures at specific levels as recommended by the manufacturer is vital to ensure the maximum tyre lifespan, safety, cornering at speeds, general performance, and handling. Your vehicle’s daily performance will be adversely affected by overinflated or underinflated tyres.

Storage of Tyres

Additionally, you should store your tyres in a protected area. Before storing them, you should clean them and choose the position (lying or standing) of the tyre. Keep your tyres in a cool and dry place that is away from chemicals and substances like oil and petroleum products. Furthermore, the storage area of the tyres should not have any exposure to sunlight or heat, and should also be away from hotlines and electric motors.

Tyre Replacement

Lastly, you should replace your tyre with the same one. Choose the same size and brand as the previous one. This will ensure that your tyre fits well with your tractor and gives a perfect performance. If you replace your tractor tyre with a smaller one or a bigger one, it may unbalance your work and the position of the tractor.

Conclusion

These are some of the tractor tyre maintenance tips that you should follow to keep your tyres in good condition and extend their lifespan. By doing so, you will also improve your tractor’s performance, safety, and fuel efficiency. Remember to check your tyres regularly, rotate them, store them properly, and replace them when needed. By taking care of your tyres, you will also take care of your tractor and yourself.