IMT 588 or Steyr Plus 50?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the Steyr Plus 50: hydraulic flow and three-point lift. It is also ahead on forward gears, top speed, PTO speeds and drive.
- The Steyr Plus 50 suits PTO-driven implements (mowers, balers, pumps) better on this data: offers 1000 rpm.
- The Steyr Plus 50 suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 117% (17.7 L/min / 4.7 gpm) more hydraulic flow and 74% (830 kg / 1,830 lb) more three-point lift.
- The Steyr Plus 50 suits heavy draft work (ploughing, cultivating) better on this data: four-wheel drive.
- The Steyr Plus 50 suits road haulage better on this data: 23% (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) more top speed.
Generated by rule set compare@4 from the figures on the side-by-side table, allowed by route “the same stated configuration”. Measured figures are compared only with measured, claimed only with claimed, at the same test condition; differences within each figure’s tolerance are not called.
What decides it, question by question?
| Question | 588 | Plus 50 | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 32.2 kW (43.2 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 558” | 32.4 kW (43 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 50” | EvenEven on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call. |
| Which turns a litre of fuel into more work at the shaft? | — | — | No figureNo call on fuel efficiency at the shaft: no figure on record for the 588 and the Plus 50. |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 588 and the Plus 50. |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 15.1 L/min (4.0 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 558” | 32.8 L/min (8.7 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 50” | AheadThe Steyr Plus 50 has 117% more hydraulic flow (17.7 L/min / 4.7 gpm) than the IMT 588 (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 1,120 kg (2,469 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 558” | 1,950 kg (4,299 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 50” | AheadThe Steyr Plus 50 has 74% more lift (830 kg / 1,830 lb) than the IMT 588 (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 2,300 kg (5,071 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 558” | 2,165 kg (4,773 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 50” | EvenEven on weight (both unladen weight, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | 4,000 kg (8,818 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 50” | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 588. |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 6Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 558” | 8Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 50” | AheadThe Steyr Plus 50 has 33% more forward gears (2 gears) than the IMT 588 (both forward gears, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 588 and the Plus 50. |
| Which is faster on the road? | 22 km/h (13.7 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 558” | 27 km/h (16.8 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 50” | AheadThe Steyr Plus 50 has 23% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the IMT 588 (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “IMT 558” | 540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 50” | AheadThe Steyr Plus 50 offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the IMT 588 does not (as stated by the sources). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | — | liveTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 50” | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 588. |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “IMT 558” | 2WD / 4WDTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 50” | AheadThe Steyr Plus 50 is available with four-wheel drive; the IMT 588 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1970–1980 | 1967–1977 | EvenSame era: production began within 5 years of each other. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The Steyr Plus 50 has 117% more hydraulic flow (17.7 L/min / 4.7 gpm) than the IMT 588 (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr Plus 50 has 74% more lift (830 kg / 1,830 lb) than the IMT 588 (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr Plus 50 has 33% more forward gears (2 gears) than the IMT 588 (both forward gears, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr Plus 50 has 23% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the IMT 588 (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr Plus 50 offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the IMT 588 does not (as stated by the sources).
- The Steyr Plus 50 is available with four-wheel drive; the IMT 588 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- Even on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call.
- Even on weight (both unladen weight, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call.
- Same era: production began within 5 years of each other. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- No figure on record for every machine, so no call on: fuel efficiency at the shaft, drawbar power, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources