Forklift Tires
There are two types of tires that can be used on forklifts: standard and press on. Normally, press on tires are utilized 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 application as well.
Standard tires are generally used on forklifts that operate in outdoor environment or where uneven or rough surfaces need tougher tires and more traction.
As there are a lot of different types of forklifts, there are also lots of different kinds of forklift tires. The types of tires which are most frequently used are solid, polyurethane and pneumatic. The type of tires are dictated by what and where the forklift is used for. It is really vital to obtain the correct type of tires for the task and ensuring the correct choice will have a big impact on both safety and performance.
For outdoor forklifts which have to function in an all-terrain environment like on a construction site, the best option would be pneumatic tires. These are made of durable rubber and then filled with air, similar to a truck or tractor tire. Pneumatic tires create an air cushion between the terrain and the forklift itself. This particular design considerably lessens the wear and tear on the machine and creates a really comfortable ride for the operator. The tire's deep, thick treads provide the necessary traction needed for use on uneven and rough surfaces.
For light industrial use, both indoors and outdoors, solid tires are suitable. They are made out of tough, constructed solid rubber. This helps them to stay safer from blowouts, popping like pneumatic tires or damage because of puncture wounds. As these tires are not filled with air, they could 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 problem is that this kind of construction makes the forklift's load carrying capacity less.
Although they are designed for indoor warehouse use only, polyurethane forklift tires will usually outlast both rubber tire designs. 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 machine's batteries. Due to the tire's less rolling resistance, one more benefit of this type of tire is the extended battery life.