From steel to rubber: The path through farm tire innovations
by Bill Durivage, Bridgestone Americas, and Greg Jones and Dusty Hininger, Firestone Ag.
Farm tire innovations through the decades are presented, including the switch from steel to rubber tires, tread designs and materials within the tires.
Tire innovation tends to be an overlooked segment of the U.S. agricultural innovation story; but the durability, efficiencies and rideability of rubber based tires are central to the success of today’s farmer.
Early farm tires were made of steel. For tractors, tires were fit with lugs to help improve field traction, but were detrimental to farmer spinal health and the tractor’s fuel economy. Additionally, automobiles began to fill Americans with the traveler’s spirit, transforming roadways from dusty paths to paved vessels of freedom, and the steel lugged tires crushed these new thoroughfares.