Ag Tire Talk: IF/VF vs. Standard Tire Technology

Mar 07, 2024

MAXAM:“The development of IF (increased flexion) and VF (very increased flexion) technology is allowing working air pressures to be lowered significantly delivering improved performance and better crop yields.”

BKT:“There are definite advantages in using IF/VF tires and applications where they work and perform much better than standard tires.”

YOKOHAMA OFF HIGHWAY TIRES AMERICA: “That’s because IF and VF Tires can help farmers reduce compaction force on their soils by 20 to 40%, or carry higher loads than conventional radials without increasing compaction.”

MICHELIN: “Independent studies conducted by Harper Adams University and University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, both concluded using Michelin (IF/VF) tires, at properly recommended field air pressures, will produce up to an additional 4.31% yield.

YOKOHAMA TWS:“How can tires with IF/VF Technology carry the same load with less air pressure? The answer is because the sidewalls have been redesigned to carry some of the load, whereas standard radial tires use the air pressure to carry the entire load.”

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Video: Kubota Narrow Tractors Compared | B2401, L3520 & L4802 Side by Side

Kubota is one of the only manufacturers in the U.S. market offering a purpose-built lineup of narrow specialty tractors, and all three models are worth understanding before choosing one for a tight-row application. The B2401 comes in just over 35 inches wide at 24 horsepower, making it the entry point for nurseries, greenhouses, and Christmas tree farms where row width is the primary buying criteria. The L3520 steps up to 35 horsepower and 39 inches wide, bringing a fully synchronized transmission exclusive to this model, a more refined operator platform, and significantly more three-point hitch capacity at roughly double the price. The L4802 tops the lineup at 48 horsepower and 53 inches wide but uses a non-synchronized transmission and comes in $300 less than the L3520, making the mid-range machine the most compelling option for many buyers who can work within its capacity limits.