"For more than 100 years, the curved bar lug has been the shape of agricultural tires, but today's farm machinery has a very different life than tractors 100 years ago," says James Crouch, National Segment Manager—Agriculture and Forestry for Yokohama Off-Hightway Tires America, Inc., which manufactures the Alliance brand. "Today's tractors and sprayers deliver more torque and spend more time on gravel and pavement than Grandpa's tractor ever did. That's why we need more than Grandpa's tires."
Stepped Blocks
The Alliance Agriflex+ 373 tread features sturdy blocks arrayed in curves like traditional agricultural lugs, optimizing traction with more biting edges arrayed at optimal angles, while enhancing self-cleaning with stepped block design and mud breakers. In fact, the stepped lug design delivers excellent traction for a full 80% of the tread life.
The blocks intersect along the centerline of the tire. Centerline blocks on the Alliance Agriflex+ 373 are closely packed, increasing the rubber-to-void ratio for smoother roading, steadier handling and longer wear.
"If you spend a lot of your time on the road moving between fields, the Agriflex+ 373 is your tire," says Crouch.
Beneath the surface, sturdy tie bars reduce block movement and minimize the buildup of heat and stress. Shoulder-to-shoulder steel radial belts protect against puncture from stubble and debris, and also dissipate heat for longer service life.
Benchmarked Against the Best
In addition to the innovative design and engineering, Crouch points out that the Alliance Agriflex+ 373 radial has been performance-tested against Tier 1 farm tires.
"We benchmarked the Alliance Agriflex+ 373 up against the best tires in the industry to ensure that we deliver top-tier performance, longevity and reliability while also delivering great value," he says. "We're providing more tire for the money."
Special Version for Olives
In addition to sizes for MFWD tractors and self-propelled sprayers, Yokohama OHT is also launching a special Alliance Agriflex+ 373 Vibrofarm radial specifically for olive harvesters.
"The steel-belted construction is especially helpful for reducing punctures from cut limbs, and the tread pattern and flexible VF sidewalls help reduce vibration transmitted to the operator for greater comfort and productivity," says Crouch. "The 373 design turns out to be ideal for olive harvest."
Crouch adds that the Alliance Agriflex+ 373 radial will be easy to spot not only because of its unique tread pattern, but also by the distinctive sidewall design introduced with the popular Alliance Agri Star II radial.
"We use our sidewall design to make the Alliance Agriflex+ 373 eye-catching, but also as a reminder that there's a lot of innovation and attention to detail both inside and outside this tire," he notes. "The Agriflex+ 373 radial is what the future of farm tires looks like."
About Yokohama-ATG:
Yokohama-ATG (Y-ATG) is a global leader in the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of commercial tires for a diverse range of applications which include agriculture, forestry, construction, industrial, earthmoving, mining, and port operations. With an extensive portfolio of well established brands such as Alliance, Galaxy and Primex, Y-ATG provides customers the highest quality tires, the lowest cost of ownership and the utmost convenience. The diverse range of offerings from Y- ATG comprises over 3500 SKUs, ensuring that customers can find the ideal tires to meet their unique requirements for both aftermarket replacements and OEM solutions. With a robust distribution network, Y-ATG ensures timely distribution and service support in more than 120 countries globally.
About Alliance:
With a rich legacy spanning over 75 years, Alliance is a leading name in the commercial tire sector. Through continuous innovation and advanced research, Alliance has been consistently offering top-tier products engineered to optimize productivity across applications. With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and robust research capabilities, Alliance has earned the reputation of offering a comprehensive value-driven portfolio of agricultural tires catering to diverse needs, making it the preferred choice of customers worldwide.
