Choosing Between Pneumatic and Cushion Tires
Considerably contributing to the handling and safety of the machinery are forklift tires. They also impact the maintenance costs. The type of forklift will determine to a large extent the type of tire since most forklifts are made with a specific frame which accepts only a particular kind of tire. It helps to know the properties of both pneumatic and cushion tires before selecting a tire.
Instructions
1 Check your forklift owner guidebook for specifications regarding tires. Most likely your forklift would run either on pneumatic tires or cushion tires. This would limit your choice to the kind of tire for which the forklift frame is constructed.
2 Make sure you know the specific type of forklift you are utilizing. Electric forklift trucks and electric pallet jack trucks are usually made to use cushion tires which do not require a lot of friction. Pneumatic tires are generally used for forklifts which function on liquid propane gas or diesel.
3 Check the type of terrain. Soft cushion tires are constructed for even grounds whilst pneumatic tires are suitable for rough grounds. Cushion tires, if used on grounds which are not even, could cause the forklift to get stuck because they are set lower. Pneumatic tires perform well on crushed concrete, gravel and packed stones but not on very rough terrain and potholed surfaces.
4 Check space limitations. Forklifts utilized mainly for indoor applications should be able to pivot in limited spaces. Cushion tires really work better than pneumatic tires in those types of situations.
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