| Since the benefits of Central Tire Inflation Systems (CTIS) were demonstrated in World War II, CTIS became standard equipment on most wheeled military vehicles. CTIS allowed the tires to be operated at lower inflation pressures as the vehicle speed decreased in rough terrain. The reduced pressure allowed the tire to be more compliant, thereby maintaining better ground contact, as well as giving the operator a more comfortable ride. The military demonstrated that CTIS leaded to improved traction, ride, and mobility for tactical vehicles, particularly in off-highway conditions. Agricultural vehicles have similar mobility requirements as military vehicles. In addition, compaction from agricultural vehicles has been a sensitive issue since it can have a substantial economic impact on producers.; The research presented here showed the theoretical benefits that CTIS would have on ride quality, traction, and compaction. In addition to the theory, a central tire inflation system and instrumentation to measure performance were installed on a tractor and used to evaluate the vehicle performance on several hard surfaced test courses and in the field. The results showed a 99% improvement in ride, a 2% improvement in traction, a 10% decrease in rut depth, and an improvement in cone index in the top 15 cm (6 in) of soil. |
