Forklift and Skid Steer Tires: Solid, Pneumatic or Tracks

Before comparing tires, answer three questions:

1. Where does the machine work? Inside a warehouse on smooth concrete, outside on asphalt and gravel, on a construction site, in a scrap yard, or some mix.
2. What does it carry, and how often? A machine lifting near its rated capacity all shift is a different case from one moving light loads occasionally.
3. What does a flat cost you? On some sites a flat tire is a nuisance. On others it stops a production line or a loading dock.

The answers point toward one construction more than any brochure will.

Press-on solid tires, often called cushion tires. A solid rubber band pressed onto a steel wheel. They are compact, puncture proof and give a low, stable machine on smooth floors. They suit indoor warehouse and plant work on even concrete. On rough or broken ground they give a hard ride and can chunk, and they need a press to fit, so they are not changed on a tire machine.

Air-filled pneumatic tires. Built like a vehicle tire, with air inside. They ride more softly, grip better on uneven outdoor surfaces, and protect the machine and load from shock. Their weakness is punctures. On a yard full of nails, scrap or broken pallets, a pneumatic tire can go flat repeatedly.

Solid pneumatic tires. Solid rubber shaped to fit a pneumatic wheel. They resist punctures like a solid tire and fit machines built for pneumatic tires. The ride is firmer than air, and they are heavier. They are a common choice for outdoor forklifts on debris-strewn ground where flats would otherwise be routine.

Non-marking tires. Many of these constructions are available in non-marking compounds for food plants, retail floors and anywhere black scuff marks are a problem. Ask for them specifically if marks matter on your floor.

Skid steers turn by skidding, which scrubs tread hard, especially on pavement and concrete.

Pneumatic tires. The standard fit. They give a comfortable ride and good traction on dirt and gravel, and they are vulnerable to punctures on demolition and scrap work.

Solid or flat-proof tires. Solid tires, or pneumatic tires filled with foam, remove the flat tire problem at the cost of weight and ride comfort. They are common on demolition, recycling and scrap sites where punctures are constant.

Rubber tracks. Compact track loaders run on rubber tracks rather than tires and spread the machine's weight over a much larger area. That suits soft ground, mud, sand, turf and landscaping, where a wheeled machine would sink or tear up the surface. Tracks wear faster on abrasive surfaces like rock and concrete, and they cost more to replace. Purcell carries tracks and notes that they are replaced rather than retreaded.

• Smooth indoor concrete: press-on solid forklift tires; non-marking where floors need it.
• Asphalt and clean outdoor yards: pneumatic or solid pneumatic forklift tires; pneumatic skid steer tires.
• Yards with scrap, nails or broken pallets: solid pneumatic forklift tires; solid or foam-filled skid steer tires.
• Mixed indoor and outdoor work: solid pneumatic tires are often the compromise.
• Mud, soft soil, turf and sand: tracked loaders; wide pneumatic tires on wheeled machines.
• Rock and demolition debris: solid or flat-proof tires on wheeled machines; tracks wear quickly here.

These are starting points. The machine manufacturer's specification comes first, since some machines are built for one construction only.

Industrial and compact equipment accumulates hours rather than miles, and the wear comes from load, turning and surface rather than distance.

• Turning on the spot scrubs rubber, especially on concrete.
• Standing load concentrates weight on a small patch for long periods.
• Chunking, where pieces break out of the tread, usually means the surface is rough or the tire is wrong for it.
• Uneven wear between sides can point to load distribution or a mechanical issue.

Many solid forklift tires carry a wear line on the sidewall. Once the tread reaches it, the tire is due for replacement, since a worn solid tire lowers the machine and reduces its stability.

Check pressure weekly on pneumatic tires, since a soft tire on a loaded forklift affects stability. On skid steers, keep left and right pressures matched or the machine will pull.

Downtime is usually the real cost, not the tire. A forklift out of service stops a process rather than a journey. Plan replacements around shifts, keep records of each machine's tire size and construction, and consider a spare wheel and tire assembly for machines that cannot be spared.

Purcell's industrial tire services page explains how industrial tire work is arranged through the commercial team rather than listed at individual stores. For a site running several machines, the fleet tire program guide sets out how to put the whole fleet on one schedule.

• The machine: make, model and rated capacity.
• The tire size and construction currently fitted, from the sidewall.
• The surface it works on, indoors and out.
• Hours per day and shifts.
• Whether marks on the floor matter.
• What is failing: flats, chunking, cuts or wear.

Industrial tires are carried at 52 Purcell locations, so call with the details before you plan a change.