Forklift Tires
There are two types of tires that could be used on forklifts: standard and press on. Normally, press on tires are used on electric forklifts and those kinds of forklifts operating in indoor applications like warehouses. The press on tires can be used also in light industrial application too.
Standard tires are mostly utilized on forklifts which operate in outdoor environment or where rough or uneven surfaces require more traction and tougher tires.
Since there are many various kinds of forklifts, there are also lots of different types of forklift tires. The types of tires that are most commonly used are solid, polyurethane and pneumatic. The type of tires are dictated by where and what the forklift is used for. It is essential to obtain the correct tires for the job and ensuring the correct choice will have a huge impact on both performance and safety.
It is suitable to use pneumatic tires on outdoor forklifts that function in an all-terrain environment such as on construction sites. These are made of tough rubber and then filled with air, like a truck or tractor tire. Pneumatic tires create an air cushion between the terrain and the forklift itself. This particular 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 give the necessary traction needed for use on rough and uneven surfaces.
Solid tires are best suited for both light industrial outdoor and indoor use. They are made 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 can not 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 fairly softer ride. The only issue is that this type of construction makes the load carrying capacity of the forklift less.
The polyurethane forklift tires would typically outlast both of the rubber tire designs but are designed for indoor warehouse use only. The load capacity of polyurethane is a lot higher than that of a rubber tire. These tires work great with well with electric forklifts because of the extra weight of the batteries of the machine. Due to the lower rolling resistance of the tires, one more benefit of this kind of tire is the extended battery life.