Innovation Through Driving

No more tiresome tractors

Few things are more frustrating than being stuck behind a slow moving tractor, on a narrow country road, when you're in a hurry. Whether commuting to work, or going on holiday, it can make peoples' blood boil.

According to Goodyear research, 15% of us felt getting stuck behind a tractor was their most likely cause of road rage, while a whopping 84% admitted deliberately lengthening journeys to avoid farm traffic. More alarming, almost 20% admitted to performing a dangerous or illegal manoeuvre to pass a tractor because they'd become so annoyed.

But the frustration isn't confined to just the trailing motorists.

Despite what most might think, tractor drivers themselves hate it too - the embarrassment and abuse. But the speeds at which they can go are limited by their tyres, go any faster and they'd be bounced out of their seats. Or they would, until now.

The new OPTITRAC R+ is the tyre that tractor drivers - and following motorists - have been waiting for.

The latest in a long line of Goodyear innovations the OPTITRAC R+ continues the mould breaking legacy of the OPTITRAC R+ agricultural range - enabling modern tractors to travel at up to 40mph (65kmh) on the road.

It is able to do this thanks to a radical new design that allows a greater volume of air to be contained. At the appropriate pressure this allows the tyre to create significantly more traction across a range of surface conditions. In combination with materials and beading techniques borrowed from aircraft tyres, this ensures OPTITRAC R+ performs like no other tractor tyre.

"We think this is a major breakthrough" says Goodyear corporate communication manager, James Bailey.

Independent tests back up James' view. So maybe the next time your view is of the back of a tractor, you won't find it so frustrating.