The structure of forklift tires is complex and it is a consumable that requires regular attention. Forklift tires are also an important part of forklift maintenance costs. Therefore, knowing how to manage forklift tires is essential.
Whether it is a solid tire, a filled tire or a pneumatic tire, or a tire made of rubber or polyurethane, the danger zone of all tires includes a large amount of heat generation, wear, overuse and improper use. A reliable maintenance plan is the best way to monitor tire wear and ensure a good balance between tire performance and service life.
Start with the choice of tires
Interestingly, the maintenance of tires actually begins with the selection of tires. Ultimately, tire maintenance is all about its performance. First of all, in terms of materials and design, there are several options for tires.
“The best way to choose tires is to buy the tires that are most suitable for the working conditions, regardless of the upfront cost.
Jim Caruso, Business Development Manager, Global excel tyres
“Using high-quality tires suitable for the application conditions is usually more cost-effective.” Caruso added.
There are two types of materials: rubber and polyurethane. However, the material is not all-or-nothing. Tire manufacturers provide a variety of different compounds, including those customized for specific applications. For example, standard rubber tires are sufficient to meet the needs of most general warehouses. But in the rubber tires used in refrigerators, a special compound is usually added to improve traction.
At the same time, industries such as food and pharmaceuticals need non-marking environmentally friendly tires. So standard carbon black rubber tires will not work here. In this case, you can choose tires without carbon black traceless environmentally friendly compound formula or standard polyurethane tires.
Design can be divided into two categories. Rubber tires can be designed as solid/filled or pneumatic. Polyurethane tires are solid. Rubber tires are mainly used for internal combustion (IC) forklifts. Polyurethane tires are mainly used for electric forklifts in narrow roadways and electric hand push forklifts.
Another issue of design concerns the traction requirements. Glossy tires and treaded tires are available. Tire suppliers and forklift dealers are experts in making the right choice in this regard.
It is also worth noting that the tires do provide another function that is often overlooked—for damping and improving the load on the forklift, even though it is a series of trade-offs.
Pneumatic tires have excellent shock absorption capabilities, but are easily pierced by foreign objects on the floor of the workshop or warehouse. On the other hand, solid/filled tires can allow heat to accumulate, especially during long-term operation, while the relative shock absorption capacity is reduced.
The properties of rubber and polyurethane tires are different. The specific situation always depends on the application conditions and the tire compound used. In addition, performance will vary due to changes in tire material and design.
