Forklift Tires
There are two types of tires that could be used on forklifts: standard and press on. Usually, press on tires are used on electric forklifts and those kinds of forklifts operating in indoor applications like warehouses. The press on tires can also be used in light industrial operation too.
Surfaces that are uneven or rough need more traction and tougher tires. Thus, standard tires are usually utilized. However, they are generally used on forklifts that operate in outdoor settings.
Since there are lots of different kinds of forklifts, there are also lots of various kinds of forklift tires. The most commonly used tires are pneumatic, solid and polyurethane. The kind of tires are dictated by where and what the forklift is utilized for. It is vital to acquire the correct tires for the job and ensuring the correct choice will have a huge impact on both performance and safety.
For outdoor forklifts that have to function in an all-terrain atmosphere such as on a construction site, the best alternative will be pneumatic tires. These are constructed out 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 considerably 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.
For light industrial use, both outdoors and indoors, solid tires are suitable. They are fabricated out of tough, constructed solid 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 could not provide the cushion effect. This fact makes them unsuitable for use on rough terrain. Some solid tires are constructed with holes in the sidewalls to provide a somewhat softer ride. The only issue is that this kind of construction makes the load carrying capacity of the forklift less.
The polyurethane forklift tires would 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 because of the additional weight of the batteries of the equipment. Because of the tire's lower rolling resistance, one more benefit of this particular kind of tire is the extended battery life.