TIRES ARE IMPORTANT.
Tires have a major impact on the overall performance and operation of a forklift. Proper tires reduce long-term costs, increase productivity, and reduce safety risks.
TIRES SAVE MONEY.
Operating a forklift with poorly maintained tires increases damaging vibrations and reduces the shock absorption resulting in unexpected repairs, and ultimately reducing the lifespan of the machine.
TIRES INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY.
Forklifts operating with faulty tires exhibit reduced fuel efficiency (or battery life) and require adjustments to operators' typical driving habits to compensate for the reduced shock absorption and stop time.
TIRES KEEP YOU SAFE.
Improved traction and stability provided from well maintained tires reduces the risk of injury or even death of operators and other employees throughout your operation.
Types of forklift tires
Proper tire selection is critical to determining how well a truck will perform. Many forklift frames only accept a specific tire type, so be aware of your forklifts' requirements before searching for new tires.
AIR PNEUMATIC
Uneven Or Rough Surfaces
Great for uneven surfaces. These tires are filled with air, which act as shock absorbers on uneven surfaces. These tires provide excellent tread depth for increased traction and stability.
SOLID PNEUMATIC
Will Never go Flat
Solid pneumatic tires never go flat. These tires work on uneven surfaces like concrete and gravel, but lack the shock-absorber effect of air-filled pneumatics, while providing the same ground clearance and traction.
SOLID CUSHION
Indoor or Smooth Surfaces
Cushion tires are solid tires meant for indoor or light outdoor usage. These tires sit much lower to the ground than pneumatics, provide great traction on smooth surfaces, and have a longer life. Cushion tires have a smaller turning radius, which is great for facilities with less space.
NON-MARKING CUSHION
Keeps Smooth Floors Clean
If the appearance of a nice, shiny, smooth warehouse floor matters to you, you’ll want to consider non-marking tires. These tires are used on to eliminate skid marks on the floor, and are often required in food processing. They’re softer and wear faster than standard cushion tires.
WHEN TO REPLACE FORKLIFT TIRES
When tires have worn to the wear line.
Most forklift tires display a designated wear indicator line, which represents about 20% of the original tire size. Operating a forklift with tires that have reached this point will add more stress to the forklift and its components, lower the fuel economy, and increase safety risks.
When a substantial amount of tread is lost.
Many forklift tires have tread wear indicators which will help to signify when the reccommended amount of tread is lost. These indicators which appear between the treads, may differ slightly on each tire, but serve as helpful tool for monitoring tread loss.
CHUNKING
TEARING
FLAT SPOTS
Severe visible chunking, tearing, or flat spots
Any of these signs require immediate attention. Often times, these types of defects can be repaired without having to replace the tire completely, but without proper attention, this type of damage could lead to a major blowout.
OPTIMIZING FORKLIFT PERFORMANCE: TIRES
Watch this 1-minute video to learn what to look for when inspecting the tires on your forklifts, and why having the right tires is so important.
AT YOUR DOORSTEP
Making sure your tire is mounted correctly is crucial. Improper mounting of tires can lead to premature tire wear and pose safety hazards. Our mobile tire service will give you the peace of mind to know your new tires will last to their full potential usage.
TALK TO A FORKLIFT EXPERT
At Hodge, our team of experts are as knowledgeable as anyone in the industry. Give us a call today and we’ll come right to your door to solve any of your forklift challenges, including of course, your tires.
Contact Us