Performance of Dyna-Bite Traction System

The Dyna-Bite®* traction system, developed by the Omitrac corporation, consists of a series of retractable spades which can be placed over a conventional tractor drive tires to improve traction under varying soil conditions.

An initial model of the traction system was tested in 1986 (1)**. The performance of this model was compared with a 2WD tractor equipped with single drive tires and a front wheel assist (FWA) tractor. More recently, an improved model DB3-RM was evaluated at the University of Saskatchewan. The results were compared with an equally ballasted IH 1086 2WD tractor equipped with single and dual drive wheels (2). Tests for both studies were conducted on a wide range of soil moisture conditions under a variety of drawbar pull levels.

Both models of the traction system provided significant traction improvements. Initial model of the traction system performed nearly as good as FWA while the later model proved superior to both single and dual wheels.