An impressive performance of the upgraded tractor tire Alliance 372 VF was confirmed earlier this year by independent research conducted by IRSTEA (Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l’environnement et l’agriculture) in France. The tests on fuel efficiency, traction, slip, and footprint shows that Alliance 372 VF tractor tire outperforms competitors’ premium IF tires and is an about equal match for competitors’ premium VF tires. Given that Alliance tires come at a significantly lower price point, the top performance and the best value for money of Alliance 372 VF make for an unbeatable package.
Alliance 372 VF is a radial steel-belted tire for tractors, combines, harvesters, and some slurry tankers. The tire goes with the 10-year warranty, D speed rating, and is available in 28 sizes – which is the biggest variety of VF tractor sizes in the industry!
Tire upgrade “put to the test”
The Alliance 372 VF received a construction and design upgrade in early 2019. The improved stubble guard compound as well as special tread compounds for wear, cut and chip resistance was used for the new version of the tire. These upgrades ensure high structural stability and reliable heat resistance during the cycling field operations (CFO) even at 0.8 bar inflation pressure. The updated tire has got rounded lug shoulders, a larger footprint, and higher lug angles for better soil protection and self-cleaning.
Gerrit Vinkers, Application Specialist Europe at Alliance Tire Group, says:
“The recent field tests at IRSTEA were conducted on behalf of our R&D department to test the latest improvements to the tire. In the course of transforming the complete Alliance IF tire portfolio to VF, our engineers looked for additional features to further enhance soil protection, improve tire performance and reduce structural strains in these highly flexible tires.”
Four parameters – clear results
IRSTEA performed four field tests under defined conditions: fuel efficiency, traction, slip in soft soil, and footprint width. The Alliance 372 VF and IF tires were tested against 2 similar patterns from the Premium brands in IF and VF construction in the same sizes: 600/70R30 (front) and 710/70R42 (rear). Tire inflation pressure was kept constant at 1.6 bar for the front tires whilst the load was varied between 4375 daN (IF) and 5150 daN (VF). For the rear tires, the load was kept constant at 4875 daN whilst tire inflation pressure varied between 1 bar (IF) and 0.8 bar (VF). While reading the test results, the performance of the Alliance IF tire is used as the reference baseline – or 100%.
Fuel efficiency: With a relative result of 104 and 107 % for both tires, Alliance 372 VF matches the competitor’s premium VF tire fuel efficiency level and clearly outperforms all IF tires.
Traction: Ranking a very close second to the competitor’s premium VF tire in the rear option, the Alliance 372 VF delivered more powerful traction than the competitors’ premium IF tires.
Slip in soft soil: With its excellent test value, the Alliance 372 VF is in the lead in terms of lower slip. In relative figures, the performance of the Alliance 372 VF rear size tire is 118 % of the baseline figure compared to 112 % for the competitor’s premium VF tire, and 63 and 58 %, respectively, for the two competitors’ premium IF tires.
Footprint: Alliance 372 VF scores 110% for the rear size tire in comparison with 112% for a Premium competition tire. The front size tire is slightly narrower than the competition: 104% versus 113 and 123% respectively.
Test results for Alliance 372 VF vs Premium Competition, Size: 710/70R42
The general conclusion of the tests: Alliance 372 VF performs in line with the Premium competition VF tires and better than Premium IF tires. Given that Alliance 372 VF comes at a significantly lower price point than the premium competitors’ IF and VF tires, the overall test results reveal an excellent value for money with Alliance.
“Cutting edge technology, customer benefits, and value for money have always been at the forefront of our thinking. As our flagship tractor tire in VF technology, Alliance 372 VF is a perfect example of how low total cost of ownership translates in terms of Price–Performance ratio in the slogan of Alliance Tire Group: Better Value. Smarter Choice”,
says Angelo Noronha, President EMEA of Alliance Tire Group.
Alliance 372 VF is available with Kirkby Tyres – the exclusive importer of the Alliance products in the UK & Ireland.
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