Forklift Tires
There are two types of tires which could be used on forklifts: press on and standard. Typically, press on tires are used on electric forklifts and those models used indoors such as warehouses. The press on tires can be utilized also in light industrial operation as well.
Standard tires are generally utilized on forklifts that operate in outdoor environment or where uneven or rough surfaces need tougher tires and more traction.
As there are many various kinds of forklifts, there are also lots of various kinds of forklift tires. The types of tires that are most commonly utilized are pneumatic, solid and polyurethane. The kind of tires are dictated by what and where the forklift is utilized for. It is crucial to obtain the correct type of tires for the task and ensuring the proper pick would have a huge impact on both performance and safety.
For outdoor forklifts that need to function in an all-terrain environment such as on a construction site, the best alternative would be pneumatic tires. These are constructed out of tough 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 design significantly 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 needed for use on uneven and rough surfaces.
For light industrial applications, both outdoors and indoors, solid tires are best. 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 are unable to 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 somewhat 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 intended for indoor warehouse applications only. The load capacity of polyurethane is much higher compared to a rubber tire. These tires work great with well with electric forklifts because of the extra weight of the machine's batteries. Because of the less rolling resistance of the tires, another advantage of this particular type of tire is the longer battery life.