The aim of this study was to evaluate the tire/ground contact areas, tire elastic deformation, cone index and foot printed on the ground of tire models. The experiment was done in 12 treatments and four repetitions with three tire models: bias ply, radial and bias belt. The tires were inflated with right inflation pressures and four radial loads were applied on the wheels: 5; 10; 15 and 20 kN, simulating what happens in the field. The agricultural tire tests were carried out at Sao Paulo State University, Botucatu - SP, Brazil, using a hydraulic press over the soil bin. The contact area and elastic deformation results showed highest values for bias belt tire. The soil sinkage of bias belt tire was smaller than other pneumatic tires. The radial and bias belt tires exercised smaller cone index than bias ply tire.
radial load; cone index; sinkage
