Forklift Tires
There are two kinds of tires which can be utilized on forklifts: standard and press on. Usually, press on tires are utilized on electric forklifts and those kinds of forklifts operating in indoor applications such as warehouses. The press on tires may also be utilized in light industrial application too.
Surfaces which are rough or uneven require more traction and tougher tires. Therefore, standard tires are normally used. However, they are generally utilized on forklifts which operate in outdoor environment.
As there are lots of different kinds of forklifts, there are also many different types of forklift tires. The most frequently used tires are polyurethane, pneumatic and solid. The kind of tires are dictated by where and what the forklift is utilized for. It is really essential to get the correct tires for the job and ensuring the proper choice would have a huge impact on both safety and performance.
It is better to use pneumatic tires on outdoor forklifts which function in an all-terrain environment like on construction sites. These are made of durable rubber and then filled with air, like a truck or tractor tire. Pneumatic tires create an air cushion between the forklift and the terrain. This design significantly lessens the wear and tear on the machine and creates a really comfortable ride for the operator. The deep, thick treads on the tires provide the necessary traction required for use on surfaces that are rough and uneven.
Solid tires are best suited for both light industrial indoor and outdoor use. They are fabricated out of constructed solid, tough rubber. This helps them to stay safer from blowouts, popping like pneumatic tires or damage due to puncture wounds. Since these tires are not filled with air, they are unable to provide the cushion effect. This fact makes them not suitable for use on rough terrain. Some solid tires are constructed with holes in the sidewalls to provide a rather softer ride. The only problem is that this kind of construction makes the forklift's load carrying capacity less.
The polyurethane forklift tires will normally outlast both of the rubber tire designs but are intended for indoor warehouse use only. The load capacity of polyurethane is much higher than that of a rubber tire. These tires work great with well with electric forklifts due to the added weight of the equipment's batteries. Due to the less rolling resistance of the tires, another benefit of this type of tire is the extended battery life.