ANGUS farmer James Adam recognises that tyres play a vital role in the performance and efficiency of a telehandler. With a new factory and technology to produce longer-lasting tyres, Continental has impressed him with its latest CompactMaster telehandler tyre – and he has noticed the benefits.
Fourth-generation farmer James runs Newhouse of Glamis Farm near Forfar, in Angus, in partnership with his brother Andrew and their parents, Robert and Kay. The farm’s arable area spans 350 acres and is planted with winter wheat and spring barley, with a further 200 acres dedicated to 100 pedigree Charolais, Limousin and Aberdeen Angus cattle, along with 800 Blackface and Cheviot ewes. The family also manages a large poultry unit and hill farm.
“The JCB never stops. It’s the first machine we turn on and the last we turn off,” says James.
The 2021 JCB 538-60 AgriSuper, bought new from dealer Scot Agri, has been a crucial machine on the farm, and has been worked hard and serviced regularly. However, the original tyres were disappointing, wearing out after approximately 3000 hours.
“The JCB came with premium brand radial, tractor-style pattern tyres which were different to the heavy duty tyres we have had on previous models. The tyres didn’t feel the best – the JCB didn’t feel quite so well planted, especially when making tight turns,” he says.
The farm’s trusted tyre dealer, Midnight Tyres, helped find more suitable replacements.
The CompactMaster EM tyre is one of two manufactured by the German giant. Its counterpart, the AG tyre, also has a block pattern, but the EM, or Earthmover version, features a tighter tread pattern specifically designed for hard surfaces.
“It looks similar to the premium brand, harder-wearing tyres we used to get, which lasted much longer than the conventional tractor-style pattern we had on this machine,” James points out.
Like many farms, cost and value are key concerns. The Adams pass machinery down to other family farms as it ages, so longer-lasting consumables help lower operating costs for everyone.
“The big plus for me was that the Continental tyres came with a 10-year warranty. This means that, for the whole time we have the JCB, the tyres will be protected, which is great for peace of mind.”
James was surprised by the price difference between tyre brands and patterns when comparing options from Midnight Tyres.
“The Continentals offered a £200 saving per tyre compared to another premium brand. This represents a 40% saving. We opted for the more expensive of the two Continental tyres, with the EM pattern, but this was only £30 per tyre more than the AG model,” he explains.
The CompactMaster EM shares its construction with the AG version, featuring a steel belt beneath the carcass that reinforces the tyre and helps counteract lateral forces experienced when making static turns on hard surfaces. “We spend 75% of our time on the concrete or gravel and we have found the tread pattern much better on these surfaces. The grip and stability have improved and making tight turns around the buildings feel easier.”
The JCB handles a variety of tasks daily, both in the yard and the field. James has noticed the difference the new tyres make, especially when loading lorries or working with the boom raised high.
“These tyres make the JCB feel more anchored. With the bucket, loading grain, it feels more stable and doesn’t have the same rocking we used to get with the previous tyres,” he adds.
The JCB is rarely idle, used for loading lorries, making silage in the farm’s clamp, and filling a twin-auger Strautmann diet feeder.
“The feeder wagon has a weigh cell so visibility out of the cab is important, but the new JCB windscreen is excellent for this. I’ve also noticed that when moving manure, the forks have a rattle function to help release it,” he adds.
Knowing the 538-60 AgriSuper is popular locally and across the UK, James is mindful of maintaining its condition to ensure a good resale price when it’s eventually sold or traded in. He concludes: “Tyres are always a consideration in the resale process and these Continentals look the part and have barely worn since we fitted them in April 2024. If we don’t wear them out then I expect they will be favoured by anyone looking for this model of JCB.”
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