Forklift Tires
There are two types of tires which can be utilized on forklifts: press on and standard. Normally, press on tires are used on electric forklifts and those models operating in indoor applications such as warehouses. The press on tires could also be used in light industrial operation too.
Surfaces which are rough or uneven need tougher tires and more traction. Hence, standard tires are usually used. However, they are mostly utilized on forklifts which operate in outdoor environment.
There are a lot of different kinds of forklift tires just as there are a lot of different types of forklifts. The kinds of tires which are most commonly used are solid, polyurethane and pneumatic. The type of tires are dictated by what and where the forklift is used for. It is vital to acquire the correct kind of tires for the job and ensuring the correct choice will have a big effect on both safety and performance.
It is suitable to use pneumatic tires on outdoor forklifts which operate in an all-terrain environment such as on construction sites. 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 forklift and the terrain. This particular design considerably lessens the wear and tear on the machine and creates a really comfortable ride for the operator. The tire's thick, deep treads give the necessary traction required for use on rough and uneven surfaces.
For light industrial applications, both indoors and outdoors, 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. 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. Several solid tires are constructed with holes in the sidewalls to provide a somewhat softer ride. The only problem is that this kind of construction makes the load carrying capacity of the forklift less.
The polyurethane forklift tires will typically outlast both of the rubber tire designs but are intended for indoor warehouse applications 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 due to the added weight of the batteries of the equipment. Because of the lower rolling resistance of the tires, another benefit of this particular type of tire is the extended battery life.