John Deere 8R 440-540

In spring 2026, John Deere unveiled larger 8R and 8RX tractors than before, with deliveries in Europe starting in spring 2027. Among the models, the 8R was the largest conventional wheeled tractor on the market, and its sibling, the 8RX, was equipped with four tracks.

The new models featured 13.6-liter engines with rated outputs of 440, 490, and 540 horsepower. In the most powerful 8R 540, the engine produced a maximum power of 634 horsepower with intelligent power. The engine’s maximum speed was 1900 rpm.

The transmission was always the stepless eAutoPowr, where the hydrostatic unit in a traditional stepless transmission is replaced by an electric motor and generator. This solution improves energy efficiency by up to 8% compared to traditional hydrostatic stepless transmissions. Depending on the country, the 8R wheeled tractors could reach a maximum speed of 60 km/h, achieved at 1440 rpm.

Hydraulic flow was always 418 l/min. The lifting capacity of 11 tons was slightly less than that of smaller models. The hydraulic oil change interval was extended to 2000 hours. The power take-off could provide up to 548 hp output at best.

New technology included automatically axle-load adaptive front axle suspension, a 300 kW engine brake, and automatic centering Reactive Command steering. The 8RX models featured updated track systems. Their low-voltage design reduced track stress and extended their service life. The maximum track ground contact area was 4.87 m², which lowered ground pressure to as little as 0.4 kg/cm². Wheeled tractors were equipped with a single-line Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS) that could automatically adjust tire pressures regardless of speed and temperature.

In the large 9R models previously introduced, the CommandView 4 Plus cab was 15% larger in floor area and 20% larger in window area than in 8R models. The controls were reported to be fully digital. All models came standard with a StarFire 7500 receiver, G5Plus CommandCenter display, and JDLink connectivity. Driver-specific settings could be saved, wireless charging was available for phones, and doors featured a SoftClose system.