Protect Your Soil: Tyres That Minimise Compaction on African Farms

Healthy soil is the backbone of African agriculture. Yet every pass of a tractor or trailer puts that soil under stress. Over time, that pressure leads to compaction — a hidden but serious threat to your yields.

The good news? The right tyres — selected and maintained wisely — can dramatically reduce the damage. In this guide, we explain how tyre choice, inflation, and operating practices can protect your soil, your crops, and your bottom line.

How to Reduce Soil Compaction Using Smarter Tyre Selection

Step 1: Understand the Impact of Soil Compaction

Soil compaction:

• Restricts root growth

• Reduces oxygen and water movement

• Makes fields harder to work, increasing fuel use

• Lowers yields over time — often without obvious warning signs

Compaction is especially damaging on clay-rich or poorly drained soils, common across many African regions. Once compacted, these soils take years to recover.

Step 2: Choose Tyre Construction Wisely

Not all tyres put equal pressure on the soil. Here's how to choose:

• Radial tyres have more flexible sidewalls. They spread the load over a wider area and exert less ground pressure.

• Bias-ply tyres are stiffer and transfer more weight directly downward — increasing compaction.

• Flotation tyres are extra wide and designed to “float” on the surface. They're ideal for soft or wet fields.

For farming applications, radial and flotation tyres are your best allies.

Step 3: Prioritise Tyre Width and Volume

A wider tyre equals a larger contact area — and lower pressure per square inch.

• Use the widest tyre your equipment can safely fit

• Larger tyre volumes also allow for lower pressure settings

• For trailers, wide single tyres often outperform narrow duals when it comes to compaction

Ask your tyre supplier for models designed to operate efficiently at lower pressures.

Step 4: Adjust Tyre Pressure Based on Task and Field

Under-inflated tyres on the road wear faster. Over-inflated tyres in the field compact soil.

• Lower pressure for fieldwork (within tyre limits)

• Re-inflate for road travel or transport

• Use inflation systems or gauges before each operation

A 1 bar (14 psi) pressure difference can have a major impact on soil, so calibrate carefully.

Step 5: Practice Controlled Traffic and Smart Timing

Compaction gets worse when heavy loads drive across random paths or wet fields.

• Use fixed field lanes where possible — confining compaction to small zones

• Avoid entering fields when the soil is wet and soft

• Schedule planting or harvesting when the soil is driest and firmest

• Minimise axle loads where possible

Less traffic + better timing = healthier soil.

FAQ: Tyres and Soil Compaction on African Farms

1. Can tyre selection really impact crop yield?

Yes. Multiple studies show that managing compaction through tyre choice and pressure improves root development, nutrient uptake, and harvest outcomes.

2. Should I use the same tyres year-round?

Not necessarily. If your operation includes heavy tillage, wet-season planting, and dry-season harvesting, you may benefit from switching between standard and flotation tyres.

3. How do I know if my soil is compacted?

Common signs include poor water drainage, shallow root systems, slow emergence, and surface crusting. Penetrometer tests can measure resistance.

4. What’s the ideal pressure for reducing compaction?

It depends on your load and tyre, but in general:

• Field pressures between 0.6 – 1.2 bar (9–18 psi) reduce compaction

• Stay within the tyre’s load-pressure rating at all times

5. Can Tyres Without Borders help recommend low-compaction tyres?

Yes. We offer a range of BKT flotation and radial tyres built for African soil conditions — and we’ll help you spec the right model, size, and pressure.

Protect Your Soil, Protect Your Profit

Soil compaction is like a hidden tax on your farm. Every unnecessary pass, every poorly inflated tyre chips away at your productivity — quietly, year after year.

But with the right tyres and a few simple practice changes, you can turn that around. Better root growth. More resilient fields. Higher yields. And less strain on your equipment.

Get in touch with Tyres Without Borders for expert tyre selection and pressure setup across African soil types.