New from Needham Ag is a 3-inch urethane tire designed for Carlisle spoked, narrow-gauge wheel assemblies. These urethane tires have been proven to last many times longer than rubber tires, especially in short soybean or cotton stubble, according to the company.

The assemblies are designed to fit all John Deere single disc openers and most other drills and planters which use 16-inch diameter gauge wheels, mounted with a 5/8 inch or 16 millimeter bolt.

Needham recognizes there are often wet areas of fields that need to be planted at the same time as the majority of the field which is dry and ready to plant. Within these higher moisture areas, the large, open area in the wheel allows wet soil to escape without plugging the gauge wheel. The ductile iron, triple-spoke center is held against the wheel halves with 9 bolts for excellent strength.

The assembly also includes a bearing socket and the 5203 Peer SeedXTreme long-life bearing. This design eliminates the need for a separate hub.