Welsh agricultural machinery specialist Emyr Evans has celebrated 40 years in business by restoring the first new tractor it ever sold — a Massey Ferguson 3065 that has spent its entire working life on Anglesey. The restored machine now wears the latest MICHELIN AgriBib 2 tyres, fitted by Michelin Quality Centre member Saracens.
Founded in 1985 by Emyr Evans and his wife Gwenda, the business initially traded in used tractors before becoming a Massey Ferguson dealership for the Isle of Anglesey and Gwynedd in 1996. Its base is in Gaerwen, and in 2002 the dealership extended its territory to cover the whole of North Wales up to the Cheshire border, opening a second depot at Denbigh. Today, the Evans' sons (Gwynedd and Berwyn) run the respective depots, and the business has grown to represent additional major franchises including JCB, Fendt, McHale, Pöttinger and Bailey.
To mark the 40th anniversary and three decades as a Massey Ferguson dealer, the team set about tracking down the first new tractor the business ever sold: a Massey Ferguson 3065 delivered to a farmer in Anglesey in early 1996.
"The tractor was sold to a farmer in Anglesey and has been working there ever since," said Berwyn Evans, Director at the business. "Due to the location by the Irish Sea, it needed some TLC but was still in working order. As the tractor is now 30 years old, it has been a challenge tracking down replacement parts, but a worthwhile one."
The Massey Ferguson 3065 represented the final iteration of the manufacturer's 3000 series, a range of mid-size, multi-use tractors that became a stalwart of British and Irish farming during the 1990s.
When it came to fitting tyres to the restored machine, the team turned to Saracens, a member of the Michelin Quality Centre network led by Owain Roberts, and its trusted service provider. The specification chosen was 340/85 R24 on the front axle and 420/85 R34 on the rear, both in the MICHELIN AgriBib 2 range.
"When it came to fitting new tyres to this special tractor, the only choice was Michelin, which is king in the agricultural world," said Berwyn Evans.
The AgriBib 2 is the second generation of a product that has been a cornerstone of Michelin's agricultural range since its introduction in 2012. The updated design features 45-degree lugs for improved traction, an enhanced tread pattern for greater longevity and robustness, and a high load index to accommodate the increasing weight of modern tractors. An additional 4mm of rubber on the central rib further aids self-cleaning performance, helping to reduce soil carry-off in the field.
The choice of tyre also invites a striking comparison with what was available when the original tractor was first sold. In the mid-1990s, Michelin's equivalent agricultural offering was the Bib'X M18. Comparing the two products at an equivalent size tells the story of how dramatically tractor tyre technology has advanced.
At size 16.9 R34, the Bib'X M18 was rated to carry a maximum load of 2,060kg per tyre at 40km/h (load index 133A8). The equivalent AgriBib 2 is now rated to carry 3,075kg per tyre at the same speed (load index 147A8). That represents an increase in carrying capacity of 1,015kg per tyre over three decades, a figure that reflects not only advances in compound and construction technology, but also the relentless increase in the weight and power output of modern agricultural machinery.
The restored Massey Ferguson 3065 took pride of place at Emyr Evans' 40th Anniversary Open Days, held on 11 and 12 March at the company's Denbigh depot on Colomendy Industrial Estate, where it was displayed alongside a collection of vintage tractors from the manufacturer.
Tagged with: Michelin AgriBib 2, agricultural tyres, tractor tyres, Massey Ferguson, Welsh tyre dealer, Michelin Quality Centre, tyre load capacity, farm tyre technology, tread pattern innovation, tyre fitting North Wales, agri tyre performance, Emyr Evans
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