A SURVEY OF AG TRACTOR BALLASTING AND TIRE CONFIGURATIONS - PART II

Forty tractor owners representing 15,000 ha (37,200 ac) from Lancaster County, Nebraska, were interviewed during “on-farm” visits to identify the tractor tire inflation pressures, tire condition, tire sizes, and amount of ballast used. The owners also supplied information concerning tractor model, chassis type, and implements used. Seventy percent of the primary tractors were equipped with dualed tires at all times. Inflation pressures ranged from 34 to 207 kPa (5 to 30 psi). Most owners mounted newer tires as inside duals and mounted “used” tires on the outside. Only one-half of the two-wheel-drive tractors were in the optimum weight distribution range as specified by Bashford (1975).