Putting Tires To The Test
The Firestone Test Center in Columbiana, Ohio, is one-of-a-kind. This site covers 350 acres of farmland and is the only testing facility in the world to test farm tires exclusively. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year long, Firestone agricultural tires are tested under severe farming conditions. The tractor and implement tires are abused and punished to ensure that Firestone farm tires outlast and outperform other farm tire brands under the most extreme conditions.
The entire Firestone farm tire product line is tested at the Firestone Test Center. Competitors’ agricultural tires undergo experiments as well to show the outstanding quality and durability of Firestone farm tires. The test facility is responsible for: - Developing new tread designs and rubber compounds
- Updating Firestone dealers on new advancements in tire technology and the evolving needs of the farming industry.
- Maximizing performance by working with equipment manufacturers
The Mean Machine
Among the tractors and tires rolling along the farmland at the test facility, there is one machine that stands out. They call it the Mean Machine. It weighs over 25 tons and exerts up to 60,000 pounds of pull, simulating the resistance made by the biggest and heaviest farm equipment. Despite its monstrous exterior, the Mean Machine houses more than $25,000 worth of highly sophisticated computers to monitor the performance of each tire.
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