Considerations for Wheels on Agricultural Planters

The agricultural industry relies on high-quality seed planter wheels to create grooves in the soil for proper seeding techniques. Crops such as sunflowers and corn demand precise conditions to thrive, highlighting the importance of consistent row spacing, plant spacing, and seed depth.

The most critical elements of planting machinery are the opening and closing wheels, the gauge, and the seed meter. The planter gauge wheels and seed opener work together to dig a furrow at the desired depth, leaving the proper amount of soil in place for the closing wheel to pass back over the seed. The seed planter wheel specifications depend on the type of planter, along with factors such as the tillage system, crop type, and soil moisture.

Here, you’ll learn the primary factors to consider when choosing planter gauge wheels, including the wheel material and size.

Wheel Material

Rubber Tires

Planter gauge wheel tires are typically made of rubber, which has adequate flexibility for shedding mud and debris as the tire moves across a field. However, rubber tires often have difficulty withstanding the extreme wear associated with conservation tillage systems, particularly in no-till situations where corn stalks can cause significant tire damage. Because of the shorter lifespan of rubber tires, polyurethane tires are starting to become a more popular option for gauge wheels.

Polyurethane Wheels

Polyurethane wheels can retain their lips much longer than rubber tires, resulting in a better furrow. However, polyurethane wheels can also be hard and heavy, leading to the following issues:

• Increased soil compaction
• Risk of tires bouncing over uneven surfaces
• Inconsistent depths when plowing
• Inability to easily shed mud, causing plugging

Rubber Semi-Hollow Tires

Rubber semi-hollow tires consist of rubber and are hollow like traditional tires, but their proportions are optimized to provide exceptional performance. The puncture-proof rubber is thick enough to create a semi-rigid, long-wearing lip, and the center void is big enough to provide the tire with the flex it needs in agricultural conditions.

This type of planter gauge wheel tire can conform to various soil types and conditions without sacrificing long-term durability.

Wheel Gauge Size

A planter gauge wheel typically has a width of 4.5″, but 2.5″ and 3″ tire sizes are also available. The tire width correlates with the ability of the wheel to compact the soil and the depth it can achieve. For instance, a narrow wheel can dig deeper than a larger wheel since it is less likely to get obstructed by clumps of soil or trash.

Twin-row seed planter wheels are usually 2.5″ since there is not enough space for a wider tire on the equipment. Ridge or strip till systems typically use 3″ wheels to achieve a desirable balance between soil compaction and depth. However, there is a growing movement towards using 3″ wheels in no-till systems due to their ability to operate smoothly, particularly when maneuvering through trash.

Conventional tillage systems generally use planter gauge wheels with a 4.5″ diameter. In no-till situations, this size wheel is an optimal choice for conditions where plugging is a concern, such as heavy soils. Wheel sizes over 4” maintain consistent depth and help keep the row unit out of the ground.

Trust Associated Fastening for Machined Agricultural Components

For over 30 years, Associated Fastening Products, Inc. has provided customers with a vast range of machined products, including hard-to-find or specialty items. As an industry-leading full line supplier of fasteners, we provide agricultural original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with the quality, service, and assortment of products they need to satisfy the specific demands of their applications, such as agricultural planter gauge wheels. In addition, our multiple distribution points located throughout the country grant us the flexibility to service our customers wherever they are.

Contact us or request a quote today to partner with Associated Fastening Products, Inc. for your next project.