Blown away by inflation

Quite often the manufacturers will bask in the glory of an award, but often as not it's likely the development comes from one of the ancillary suppliers: take tractor tyres for instance.

Take a look at the new VarioGrip Pro tyre inflation system from tractor maker Fendt. This technology was developed with Czech tyre company Mitas which calls it Air Cell technology.

The system will be of interest to farmers and contractors who face the need to change tyre pressures, for example, when moving from cultivation work requiring low pressure to road or transport operations which require higher values. The concept saves time, but also has other benefits including reduced soil damage and fuel consumption.

The Air Cell takes the form of a 'tyre' within the main tyre, taking up around 30% of the original volume. In use the Air Cell is continuously inflated to 8 bar pressure, which can then be released into the original tyre to achieve a rapid increase in pressure.

In practice, this means pressure can be pushed from 0.8bar (11psi) to 1.8bar (24psi) in around 30 seconds, which is about 10 times quicker than normal methods. As well as allowing rapid increases, it can also be used in reverse for rapid deflation, since it has already reduced the original volume by 30%.

Made from a sturdy rubberised compound that retains its original shape – even at high pressures – it has no effect with regards to volume by distortion. It is not connected to the original tyre and does not create any heat or additional friction.

And you thought all tyres were the same.

www.tyreline.co.nz