2018 Martin-Till Gauge Wheel Tires RID-01

2018 Martin-Till Gauge Wheel Tires RID-01

Reduced Inner Diameter Gauge Wheel Tires are an important addition to a notill planting system, especially if the soils are wet at planting time. The benefits of reduced inner diameter gauge wheel tires can be seen in the images to the left where a standard gauge wheel tire, and a reduced inner diameter tire, are both installed on the same row unit. Notice how the standard tire (left) compressed the sidewall, increasing the risk of sidewall compaction and reduced yields. The reduced inner diameter gauge wheel tire (right) allows the sidewall to flex upwards, reducing soil compression within the seed zone.

A second and perhaps more significant benefit of the reduced inner diameter gauge wheel tires is their ability to leave the soil either side of the row looser. This helps improve the closing action of both factory and Martin-Till closing systems.

Many different reduced diameter gauge wheel tires are available on the market. However, our research has concluded that the most effective tire is one which includes a softer, more flexible compound. Softer compounds enable tires to better shed wet soil plus offer greater terrain following ability by absorbing more shock through the softer tire. Our tire has a weight of 7.4 lbs. Other tires on the market have a harder and less flexible compound and they can be identified by their increased weight, as much as 9.2 lbs.

Martin Spading Closing wheels move soil toward the seed at planting depth, while lifting and fracturing the surface layer to achieve compaction free closing of the seed trench in wet, hard, or sod conditions. With soil firmed around the seed from each side and the surface layer loosened, crops emerge sooner and planting can be done at the proper depth, even in wetter conditions, without fear of crushed soil above the seed preventing emergence.

Our Spading Closing Wheels do not attempt to close the seed trench by a crushing action from the top down. The soil is wedged toward the seed from either side at seeding depth by a pair of Martin Row Cleaner wheels. The ends of the teeth have full bevels cut on them. The beveled sides of the teeth on each wheel are placed toward the row and the narrow edge enters the soil first producing a wedging action. As the teeth on the wheels rotate up out of the soil, a slight lifting and crumbling occurs in the surface layer. The area on either side of the seed and immediately above it is not fractured. Because of the shape and spacing of the teeth on these wheels, wet soil does not bind to them.