Users on the Galileo CupWheel: More traction and an even footprint

The first users of the Galileo CupWheel are unanimously positive about the traction properties of these tires. In particular, they provide exceptional grip on slippery and wet surfaces, which users attribute to the tire’s ultra-flat deformation, even at low pressures of 0.4 bar .- Photos: Mark Pasveer

Fans have waited a long time for this unique tire, but 2024 marks its arrival. Five sets of large tires have been delivered for first users, including the 710/70 R38 CW rear tire and the 600/65 R28 CW front tire. The ‘CW’ stands for CupWheel. The Galileo CupWheel is also known as the track tire or harmonic tire.

Early users unanimously praise its traction, claiming it outperforms VF tires, especially on slippery and wet surfaces. They attribute this to the tire’s ultra-flat deformation, which can operate at pressures as low as 0.4 bar, even under extreme conditions.

The Galileo CupWheel is an innovative tire design that combines the benefits of traditional tires and tracks. This unique structure allows for high radial flexibility, ensuring a uniformly distributed, extended footprint even under extreme loads.

The PneuTrac, developed under a Galileo license by Trelleborg, applies the same CupWheel concept but is specifically designed for narrow, smaller sizes suitable for specialty tractors with rim sizes ranging from 16 to 28 inches. In recent developments, tire giant Yokohama has invested in Galileo Wheel, the company behind the CupWheel technology, facilitating further advancements and broader applications of this innovative design.

Optimized with a pressure control system

There are downsides. When cold, the tire is stiffer during transport tasks and takes about twice as long as a radial tire to lose its “out-of-round” state when hitting the road. However, once warmed up, it performs better and provides greater stability than radial tires. Users report that a pressure control system further enhances its performance.

Field experiences

Sierk-Jan van Lingen: ‘Unparalleled Traction at 0.5 Bar’

At Loonbedrijf Van Lingen in Warfstermolen (Friesland), a set of Galileo CupWheels has been installed on a New Holland TVT 190 since the spring of 2024.

The setup has clocked roughly 200 hours on these tires, mostly for leveling work with a land plane and partly for a large square baler. Van Lingen first saw the tires at Agritechnica in 2019. After discussing them with Heuver, the tires were ordered, contingent on their satisfactory performance.

It took five years for the tires to be delivered. Sierk-Jan van Lingen shared his experience:

“We have a lot of experience with VF tires, but the CupWheels intrigued us. During leveling, with a Bos dozer blade behind the tractor, we run at a pressure of 0.5 bar. The way these tires flatten lengthwise is remarkable, as is the traction and stability they provide. We don’t use a pressure control system on our tractors, which might have been better for transport and when stationary. As it is, it takes a while for the tires to regain their round shape. That bouncing isn’t ideal, and the tractor steers a bit heavier when driving on the road with low pressure.”

Van Lingen has little criticism overall. However, the folds in the tires showed small hairline cracks, which were reported to the supplier. Other than that, the tires exhibited no defects, leaks, or unusual wear patterns.

Arable Farmer Roel Hellinga: ‘The tires are stiff when cold, but flatten amazingly well’

Photo: Heuver

A Valtra T235 is equipped with a set of CupWheels, owned by arable farmers and brothers Roel and Arnold Hellinga.

Initially, they considered oversized Michelin Axiobib-2 VF tires (650/85 R38) for the Valtra. However, this would have required raising the cab and modifying the fuel tank. Their Valtra supplier, Bemu, suggested the CupWheel tires instead. The Valtra has since logged around 350 hours on these tires, performing tasks such as transport, deep tillage, and seedbed preparation.

Roel Hellinga shared his first impressions:

“The first look? Well, it’s a unique sight. We were especially curious about how the tires would perform during transport at 1.5 bar, with a fully loaded trailer. They did just fine. The downside is that the tires aren’t perfectly round in the morning. Where a radial tire regains its shape after 2 kilometers, these tires take about 4 kilometers. In terms of driving characteristics, including cornering, they’re just as good as VF tires.”

Hellinga described spring work with these tires as “simply fantastic. We lower the pressure to 0.4 bar, which increases the contact surface by around 20% compared to VF tires. Like in transport, we’ve noticed the tires are temperature-sensitive. As they warm, the rubber becomes more flexible, and the tires flatten better. Sometimes we need to add a bit of air to prevent the tire from flattening too much and touching the rim. The recommendation we received was to keep a hand’s width between the rim and the tread.Another advantage is the relatively small air chamber, allowing us to inflate them with our standard compressor. For the VF tires, we would have needed a larger compressor.”

The true test is yet to come – winter plowing on elevated ridges with the CupWheels. Hellinga plans to integrate their Isobus-controlled pressure system into headland management to preserve the tires:

Driver Arjan Hendriksen: ‘The CupWheel doesn’t clog and keeps pulling in wet clay’

In early 2024, the first set of large Galileo CupWheels was delivered to the WUR Open Field Research facility in Lelystad (Flevoland). The tires were specifically fitted to a Fendt 820 tractor.

The set was exclusively used for plowing with a five-furrow on-land Lemken plow. Tire pressures were set at 0.5 bar for the rear and 0.4 bar for the front. Since the tractor lacks a pressure control system, the team opted to drive slowly to and from the fields.

Arjan Hendriksen (42), the primary operator, shared his insights:

“The most remarkable thing was that we could keep plowing in the wet, slippery clay, where I’m certain ordinary radial tires would have given up much earlier. I attribute this to the excellent self-cleaning ability of these tires. They just keep pulling, even outperforming what we could achieve with much wider radial tires. It’s almost as if the clay falls off naturally, right at the moment the tread separates from the ground. Or perhaps it’s because the tire isn’t perfectly round.”

To preserve the tires, the set was not used for transport work. Hendriksen expressed some regret about this: “We didn’t try them for transport, as I’ve heard they’re very stable on the road. I have experience with Michelin Evobib tires, but this feels like a step beyond that.”