How Tires Save Soil Alliance Demo Day in France visualises the impact of tire setup beneath the surface
Live demonstrations highlighted how tire footprint, inflation pressure and VF technology influence soil compaction, traction and field efficiency
Vermelles, France, 21 May 2026: Soil compaction is widely recognised as one of the long-term challenges in modern agriculture, yet the effects taking place beneath agricultural machinery are rarely visible in everyday field operations.
During the recent Alliance Demo Day in Northern France, farmers, dealers and agricultural professionals were given the opportunity to see these effects firsthand through a series of live demonstrations. These focused on tire footprint, inflation pressure and soil interaction under real working conditions.
Visualising compaction below ground level
One of the central demonstrations focused on how tire pressure affects the transfer of load into the soil. Using a Fendt 700 series tractor equipped with Alliance Agriflex+ 363 VF tires, side-by-side passes were carried out at different inflation pressures to visualise changes in footprint and soil deformation.
A specially prepared soil profile allowed participants to observe how the contact area created by lower inflation pressures distributes machine load more evenly across the ground surface. In contrast, higher inflation pressures concentrated force over a smaller contact patch, increasing visible deformation within the soil layers below.
The demonstrations highlighted how VF (Very High Flexion) tire technology reduces soil compaction by operating at lower inflation pressures while maintaining load capacity. By enlarging the tire footprint, ground pressure is reduced, helping to support soil structure, water permeability and root development, generating more yield from the field without more inputs.
From traction to energy transfer
A second live demonstration focused on traction and wheel slip during pulling operations. A Fendt 718 Vario fitted with Alliance Agri Star II tires, together with a trailer equipped with Alliance Agriflex+ 389 tires, was used to illustrate how tire pressure influences grip and energy transfer under load.
By comparing different inflation pressure settings in loose soil conditions, attendees could observe how a larger footprint improves traction while reducing wheel slip. The demonstrations showed how optimised tire setup allows more of the tractor’s energy to be converted into forward movement rather than being lost through wheel spin.
The Agri Star II tires on the tractor come with Alliance’s Stratified Layer Technology (SLT), a system that maintains traction automatically even when the tires are worn.
Also displayed during the Demo Day was the Alliance Agri Nova, the company’s latest R-1 bias tire developed for light-to-medium duty tractors. Designed with a high-density lug pattern and wide footprint, the tire supports traction, driving comfort and reduced soil compaction across field and transport applications.
Practical focus on tire pressure management
A dedicated technical station focused on one of the most overlooked aspects of tire performance: correct inflation pressure in relation to machine load and field application.
Through practical demonstrations, participants explored how adapting tire pressure to axle load and working conditions can help improve traction, reduce unnecessary soil stress and support tire longevity. The sessions also highlighted that inflation pressure should not be treated as a fixed setting, but adjusted according to the specific task and operating conditions.
Demonstrating tire technology in real farming conditions
Hosted at the farm of French farmer and content creator Thierry Bailliet (@thierry.agriculteurdaujourdhui), the Demo Day provided a practical environment for demonstrating how agricultural tire technology performs under real operating conditions.
Ole Baek, VP Head of Sales North & West Europe at Alliance Tire Europe, commented:
“Soil protection is becoming an increasingly important topic for modern agriculture, but the impact of tire setup is often underestimated because it happens below the surface. Demonstrations like these help make those effects visible and show how tire technology can contribute to preserving soil structure while maintaining efficient field operations.”
The event also reflected Alliance’s continued commitment to supporting the French agricultural market through practical demonstrations, technical education and solutions designed for modern farming conditions.
About Alliance tires
With a rich legacy spanning over 70 years, Alliance is a leading name in the off-highway tire sector. Through continuous innovation and advanced research, Alliance has been consistently offering top-tier products engineered to optimize productivity across applications. With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and robust research capabilities, Alliance has earned the reputation of offering a comprehensive portfolio of agricultural tires catering to diverse needs, making it the preferred choice of customers worldwide. Visit the website here
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