To help you choose the best Forklift Tire and Compound, we would ask you to consider the following things: kind of fuel utilized; weight of your standard load; length of your standard run; types of issues you are having; kind of surfaces the forklift runs on; whether or not your forklift operates over dock plates; number of shifts and percentage of time the forklift is loaded; and the top speed and the normal speed of your forklift
To be able to describe different attributes of tires, there are some specific terms which are utilized. It could help to know what they mean. The term Durometer refers to the hardness of forklift tires. The range is normally from 83 to 95, the number increasing with the hardness of the tire. The majority of the tires made these days fall within a couple of standard industry classifications.
The operator can have a more comfortable ride if the tires are softer. They are recommended for applications that need regular maneuvering as they provide better traction. They are better able to tolerate driving over floor debris. For uses requiring maximum speed and long runs, soft tires are not suggested. They are constructed of softer compounds that have the tendency to heat up and wear more quickly compared to hard tires.
Harder tires are recommended for use needing multiple shifts, long runs and high speeds. They are better than soft tires for maximum loads, and they will wear better and last longer. Hard tires are less forgiving of floor debris and give a less comfortable ride. They tend to be more energy efficient as they offer less resistance.
Universal Compound tires combine advantages and are suggested as all-around tires for general applications.