Tire(d) Tyres.
Yes, tired tyres can have an impact on your forklift’s performance. In South Africa we typically make use of solid tyres for our forklifts for several reasons:
- They are puncture resistant which is quite useful when operating in a less than perfect environment.
- Solid tyres are able to handle heavy loads due to their construction which typically consists of three layers i.e. the first layer that fits over the wheel rim and usually has steel bands which prevents the tyre from slipping on the rim on the front drive wheels. The second is usually a cushion layer made of more pliable rubber and the third outer layer is the wear layer which needs to be long lasting and therefore slightly harder.
- They are robust and therefore able to withstand the day to day knocks in an industrial environment.
Alternatively, one can make use of pneumatic (air filled) tyres which have some advantages and disadvantages:
- They offer a softer ride for the operator and cargo which can be useful when the cargo is fragile i.e. glass bottles.
- They can be unstable at high lift heights due to their very nature.
- They are prone to punctures in “dirty” environments.
Worn tyres pose serious risks such as the forklift sliding on a smooth surface when braking and potentially colliding with someone or something which could have catastrophic consequences. They can also lead to reduced traction which could cause problems when driving on inclines. Furthermore, unevenly worn tyres may cause the forklift to shake which could result in the load shifting or dropping off.
Make sure your forklift tyres are correct for the application needed and in good running order. Click here for more information on our Forklift Tyres.
