Farmers have been trying to protect their tractor and harvester tires from in-field “road hazards” ever since pneumatic tires began replacing steel wheels in the 1930s. The struggle continues today with no-tillers and tire manufacturers allied in a pitched battle every season against increasingly tough standing crop residue that many describe as a field of rebar.

“If you consider metal as 100%, you can easily rate modern field stubble as 90+%,” says Firestone Ag’s Dusty Hininger. “Each year we experience tougher standing stalks as plant science gives us higher-yielding traited corn and soybeans selections. Even wheat stubble is becoming a problem.”

While new tire technology featuring hybrid tire compounds that place harder rubber in the tread wedded to softer materials in the sidewall and the inclusion of tough aramids like Kevlar in rubber compounds, stubble damage still seems an elusive foe. No-tillers find erosion of rubber at the base of ag tire lugs and outright tire penetration in some cases where stalks have speared the tire carcass.

We’ve compiled the following 9 tips to help growers live with stubble damage hazards in their fields:

1. Use stubble deflectors

Many tire manufacturers offer stubble damage protection on certain tires, but to qualify for warranty coverage, they require no-tillers to do their part in the field by using some form of mechanical stalk stompers or devices to fold over standing stubble ahead of combines and tractors.

2. Choose stubble-resistant tires

Study product guides for tire models specifically marketed with stubble-resistance qualities. Many higher-end tire models for large harvesters and tractors use advanced lug geometry to help guide stubble away from the tire’s center.

3. Stay off the row

When possible, size and space tires to run between rows, instead of riding on top of them. Some larger, wider tires naturally will ride on the row, especially with increasing use of 22-inch rows, but the less tires directly encounter stubble the better.

4. Don't run combine tires backwards

As tempting as it is to reverse rotation direction on a combine’s rear tires for ride quality, remember the tire lugs are designed to guide obstacles away from the tire’s center. Extremely wet field conditions at harvest may preclude this suggestion.

5. Work for taller stubble

The shorter the stalk, the tougher it is on tires. Longer stalks can be pushed over or deflected better by tires compared to short, angle-cut stalks that don’t bend or yield. Also, shorter stalks meet the tire an acute angle, which increases the possibility of puncture.

6. Plant non-traited corn

Modern genetics have made stalks tougher, while conventional corn hybrids tend to have less sturdy stalks that are easier on tires in the field. While not popular with many growers, increased yield potentials must be weighed against the cost of tires and downtime.

7. Avoid driving on frozen stubble

Late fall harvest can mean frozen ground and stubble, both of which can increase the likelihood of tire damage. Frozen stalks are harder than ever, and frozen ground provides no cushion for the tire.

8. Bias vs. Radial

Radial tires tend to envelop and roll over objects and provide more give under pressure than bias-ply tires, which are more rigid and less forgiving.

9. Older is better

Because newly minted tires are softer than aged tires, try to avoid placing new tires at the front line of the stubble battle. As tires age, their rubber compounds become harder and more able to resist tire wear. If new tires are needed, place older tires ahead of them to take the brunt of stubble hazards. When purchasing new tires, check the build date and opt for the oldest new tire available.