Assessing non-pneumatic tires for agricultural tractors: A study on soil compaction and tractive performance

• Non-pneumatic tires significantly reduce soil compaction compared to pneumatic tires • A 3D tire footprint–based model was used to predict soil bulk density accurately • NPTs maintain competitive tractive performance while preserving soil structure • NPT-2 showed the best balance between traction efficiency and soil protection • Results support NPTs as sustainable alternatives for modern agricultural machinery Soil compaction and tractive performance are crucial parameters for evaluating the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural tires. Pneumatic tires are commonly used in agricultural machinery. Although a decrease in inflation pressure can benefit soil health, punctures or damage are frequent occurrences that directly lead to operational downtime. Non-pneumatic tires (NPTs) offer a promising alternative to address these challenges. This study evaluates the performance of tractor tires by comparing two NPT designs with three conventional pneumatic tires on sandy clay loam soil, a prevalent substrate for sugarcane cultivation in Thailand. The 3D tire footprint models were analyzed using a mathematical soil bulk density prediction model to quantify soil compaction. The results demonstrate that NPTs induce significantly less soil compaction than pneumatic tires. Among the tested designs, NPT-2 emerged as the most suitable option, striking a balance between tractive efficiency and soil health preservation. These findings highlight the potential of NPTs to support sustainable agricultural practices and provide a framework for designing advanced NPTs tailored to modern agricultural needs.