Beat the heat this summer with these Ag Tire Tips from MAXAM Tire
Summer heat affects Ag tire performance in three compounding ways:
- Raises internal tire pressure above the cold-set baseline
- Accelerates rubber compound breakdown in the bead area and sidewall
- Increases rolling resistance during roading and transport
Internal tire temperatures during heavy field work and summer road travel can rise above a tire’s intended operating range when the machine is under sustained load on long transport cycles. In practical terms, the best approach is to schedule the most demanding hauling and roading for cooler morning or early evening hours, when lower ambient temperatures reduce the heat the tire has to absorb and manage.
The bead area and sidewall are the most heat-sensitive structural areas in a radial ag tire. Check both every day during summer use, and treat cracking, surface checking, or unusual bulging in either area as a warning sign of thermal stress that should be inspected before the next shift.
Summer Ag Tire Maintenance
Summer Heat and Soil Compaction
Summer heat does affect soil compaction risk, and the effect is often less visible than people expect. Dry summer soil can compact differently than wet spring soil, but the risk does not go away when the surface looks dry. High-speed transit and field-prep work on dry ground can push stress deeper into the soil profile because dry soil tends to transfer load more efficiently than soil with moisture in its pore spaces.
Compaction created in summer can restrict root growth and reduce water infiltration in the next season, not just the current one. The damage can build over time and may not be obvious at the surface.
VF radial tires are one of the most effective ways to reduce summer compaction risk on high-horsepower equipment. By carrying full axle loads at inflation pressures below 15 PSI, VF tires create a larger, flatter contact patch that spreads weight across more soil surface area. That lowers force per square inch and helps reduce compaction depth even on dry, firm ground.
Summer Heat and Tire Inflation
Why does tire inflation pressure matter more in summer?
Tire pressure and temperature are closely linked. As temperatures rise, tire pressure increases too, so a tire that is set correctly early in the morning can end up several PSI over target by afternoon during hot weather.That matters because both under-inflation and over-inflation become more problematic in summer heat. Under-inflated tires flex too much, creating extra heat that builds faster than the tire can shed it, which can speed up casing wear and shorten service life.
Over-inflated tires reduce the contact patch, concentrating ground pressure, increasing center tread wear and soil compaction, and reducing traction, which can lead to more wheel slip and higher fuel use.
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