Increase your farm’s productivity

PTG Reifendruckregelsysteme GmbH, based in Neuss, Germany. (We just call them ‘PTG’ around here.) Engineer Martin Tigges founded PTG in 1991 and has worked on CTIS since he designed his first system in 1985 for a Massey Ferguson tractor. PTG has sold CTIS in the European market for 30 years. In 2017 Michelin acquired PTG.

The PTG central tire inflation systems that are sold in the U.S. are manufactured in Germany.

Yes. However, we often recommend that you upgrade to VF-rated radials if your machine isn’t equipped with them already. This way, you can drop your tire pressures as low as possible in the field for maximum flotation and traction. NTS Tire Supply will buy your current tires as trades (if they have decent tread left).

Technically, yes. (And it doesn’t matter if your machine is green, red, blue, or another color.) However, most systems are installed on center-fill planters, tractors, sprayers, and large tankers and spreaders. Why? This is where you will see the greatest benefits from being able to optimize your tire pressures for the road and field.

PTG does not offer inflation systems for trucks in the United States. (The company does supply them in Europe.)

Your best answer is to call (888) 787-3559 and speak with a CTIS specialist. For example, planter kits start at around $7,500, but there are many factors that will influence the final cost of the system you need. For example, you might be able to use your machine’s existing air compressor. We encourage anyone interested in CTIS to think about the ROI of a system instead of the initial costs. Ask a CTIS specialist to review the many ways in which a system will pay you back: higher yields, higher fuel economy, longer lasting tires, faster working speeds, and more.

CTIS is generally much less expensive than tracks. And for reducing soil compaction, properly inflated radial tires can beat the performance of tracks. A new track tractor is tens of thousands (if not $100K) more expensive than a wheeled version. Plus, with a tracked machine you’ll have the constant headaches of undercarriage maintenance. On a wheeled machine, you do have to worry about your tire pressures. But with an inflation system, adjusting your pressures for different loads and speeds throughout the day is as simple as pressing a couple of  buttons. We’ve covered the tires vs. tracks debate on our Practical Traction Knowledge blog before.
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Read More: Tires, not tracks, win the compaction battle.

PTG designs its systems to provide fast and accurate tire pressure adjustments for approximately 10,000 hours. The key to this is the systems’ 2-line design (see below).

And you can expect to spend less than an hour per year on system maintenance, mainly to change the air compressor’s oil and filters.

A guarantee that you’re not going to be left with a flat tire if an air line would break! PTG systems operate through 2 types of air lines: supply lines and control lines. The supply lines provide air to each tire. The control lines operate the wheel valves. In effect, this means that the system is depressurized—there is no air in the lines—when the system is not adjusting tire pressures. So if a line breaks, your tires stay inflated and you can keep working.

With push/pull connectors between the air lines and wheel valves, you could remove the lines and clip them to the fenders, for example, if you were worried about tearing a line while powering through a real sticky situation. Once you’re free from the mud, you would simply push the lines back in the valves and continue on as normal. Because of PTG’s system design, you can disconnect the air lines without losing pressure in the tires.

If an air line would break, the tire it supplies will not go flat. True, you won’t be able to adjust the tire’s pressure with the system until you fix the air line, but you’ll be able to keep working—or get your machine to a more convenient spot for a repair.

We generally spec systems to inflate the tires from field to road pressure in 3 to 5 minutes. Inflating and deflating can be done while driving. You can press the field pressure button when leaving the field and your tires will be inflated to road pressure within a mile or so. There’s no need to sit and wait.

Maybe. It’s best to chat with a CTIS specialist (888) 787-3559 as we’ll need more information about your current setup to know for sure. For example, on center-fill planters, some hydraulic factory compressors could power an inflation system.

Yes. A tractor-mounted system is able to power three “zones”—the tractor’s front axle, rear axle, and an implement. PTG systems use quick-connect air lines, so a tractor’s compressor (and control box) could control multiple implements as well (as long as they’re equipped with a PTG system).

Yes! We’ve had customers install their own systems. Feel free to chat with a CTIS specialist to learn what’s involved. If you do begin your own installation and run into a question, we’re always happy to help. (And if you'd rather go the simpler route, NTS Tire Supply offers professional installation at your farm.)

PTG's central tire inflation systems are sold as kits. If you choose to install the system yourself, you may have to supply a few items, such as hydraulic connectors or hoses for hooking up the air compressor to your machine. And, you may need some other minor shop supplies.