Selecting Between Cushion & Pneumatic Tires
Forklift tires contribute a lot to your machine's handling and safety characteristics, as well as affecting maintenance costs. The type of forklift would determine to a large extent the type of tire since the majority of forklifts are constructed with a specific frame which accepts only a specific type of tire. It helps to know the properties of both cushion and pneumatic tires before choosing a tire.
Instructions
1 Check your forklift owner guidebook for specifications regarding tires. Most likely your forklift runs either on cushion tires or pneumatic tires. This would limit your options to the type of tire for which the forklift frame is built.
2 Check the kind of forklift. Electric forklift trucks and electric pallet jack trucks usually are made to use cushion tires that do not require a lot of friction. Pneumatic tires are normally for forklifts that function on diesel or liquid propane gas.
3 Make certain you know what kind of ground you will be using the forklift on. Soft cushion tires are made for even terrain whilst pneumatic tires are suitable for rough grounds. Cushion tires, if utilized on uneven surface, could cause the forklift to get stuck as they are set lower. Pneumatic tires perform well on packed stones, crushed concrete and gravel but not on potholed surfaces and very rough grounds.
4 Inspect space limitations. Forklifts utilized mainly for indoor applications must be able to pivot in limited spaces. Cushion tires work better than pneumatic tires in those kinds of situations.
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