Forklift Tires
There are two kinds of tires which can be used on forklifts: standard and press on. Typically, press on tires are utilized on electric forklifts and those kinds of forklifts operating in indoor applications like for instance warehouses. The press on tires may be used also in light industrial application too.
Standard tires are mostly used on forklifts that operate in outdoor environment or where uneven or rough surfaces require tougher tires and more traction.
As there are a lot of various kinds of forklifts, there are also lots of different types of forklift tires. The most commonly used tires are polyurethane, pneumatic and solid. The kind of tires are dictated by where and what the forklift is utilized for. It is very crucial to obtain the correct tires for the task and ensuring the correct pick will have a huge effect on both performance and safety.
For outdoor forklifts which have to function in an all-terrain atmosphere such as on a construction site, the best alternative would be pneumatic tires. 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 considerably lessens the wear and tear on the equipment and creates a very comfortable ride for the operator. The tire's deep, thick treads give the necessary traction required for use on surfaces which are uneven and rough.
For light industrial use, both outdoors and indoors, solid tires are best. 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. Because 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 made with holes in the sidewalls to provide a somewhat softer ride. The only issue is that this type of construction makes the forklift's load carrying capacity 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 much higher than that of a rubber tire. These tires work great with well with electric forklifts due to the additional weight of the machine's batteries. Due to the lower rolling resistance of the tires, another advantage of this kind of tire is the longer battery life.