Using PT300DW™ Scales to Maximize Equipment Performance

Properly inflated radial tires reduce fuel consumption, soil compaction, and the time it takes to finish field work. Tirecraft Ontario, a leading provider of agricultural tire products and services in Ontario, offers personalized tire recommendations for their customers’ equipment. To make the best possible determination, Tirecraft salespeople are trained to use vehicle weight as part of their sales process.

“Intercomp’s Scales are a crucial part of our business. Many of our Ag tire sales are driven by the economic impact the right tires, tire pressure, and ballast deliver for customers.”

– Kevin Barnim, Salesperson with Tirecraft Ontario

Tirecraft Ontario has experienced great success using vehicle scales to help customers determine proper tire size, ballast, and tire pressure. They had been using a set of 20,000 lb capacity scale pads, which limited the selection of equipment they could weigh. The scale weights had to be viewed directly on the scales’ indicators, causing inefficiencies in the weighing process and leading to potentially unsafe conditions. In addition to these limitations, the scales required a concrete weighing surface.

Intercomp suggested a set of PT300DW™ Wheel Load Scales with pad capacities of 40,000 lb each to handle even the largest agricultural equipment. Built-in wireless technology allows viewing weights on a PC or an HH60™ RFX® Wireless Handheld Indicator. The scale package was further customized for Tirecraft with Intercomp’s RaceWeigh™ software package to calculate corner balance percentages. These rugged aluminum scales perform accurately on dirt and other unimproved surfaces, allowing weighing operations to be completed wherever the customer’s equipment is located.

The immediate benefit of the PT300DW™ scales was realized when a customer had Tirecraft weigh both a four-wheel-drive tractor and a combine. The combine was using tires that required 28 PSI based on equipment weight, but the detailed weight and balance information provided by the new scales and software led to a recommendation for tires that could operate at just 17 PSI. This created a 30% larger tire footprint, significantly reducing soil compaction and fuel consumption while improving traction and making more efficient use of the combine’s horsepower. The larger footprint also allowed the combine to operate in conditions that might otherwise be considered too wet, increasing the harvest window. Reduced soil compaction contributes directly to healthier crops and higher yields. The resulting tire sale would not have happened without the information gathered using the PT300DW™ scale system.

These days, Kevin Barnim always has his PT300DW™ scales in his truck when visiting customers. A significant percentage of Tirecraft’s agricultural tire sales can be attributed to the ability to recommend the correct tire and setup for each application using Intercomp PT300DW™ scales. As active members of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Tirecraft Ontario is proud that their tire recommendations contribute to improved soil health and increased crop yields.

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