Field tests with the Mitas PneuTrac reveal the footprint and traction force is superior to that of a traditional tyre. Carried out in the Czech Republic by the Research Institute of Agricultural Engineering (PRI), the tests were conducted using 480/65 R28 PneuTracs at the front and 600/65 R38 PneuTracs at the rear. The results show traction force at the rear is almost 25% higher than a standard tyre and, compared with an IF-rated tyre, the PneuTrac delivers around 15% better traction. At the front, the 480/65 R28 PneuTrac provides a 10% improvement in traction over a standard tyre and approx. 7% over the IF tyre. Sales and marketing director Andrew Mabin of Mitas says the field tests clearly highlight the advantages of the concept over conventional tyre designs. “The most important benefits are a larger footprint, greater tractive force and also higher lateral stability at a lower inflation pressure.” Encouraged by the results of this year’s field tests, next year the aim is to measure and compare PneuTrac and rubber tracks ahead of a market launch by the end of 2017. The result of joint work between Mitas and Galileo Wheel Ltd, it has taken the two partners four years to develop the concept. Premiered at the 2013 Agritechnica, where two sizes were on display – 280/70 R18 and 600/65 R38, a third size (480/65 R28) was on show at SIMA earlier this year.  By Steven Vale