Choosing Between Cushion & Pneumatic Tires
Forklift tires contribute significantly to your machine's safety and handling characteristics, as well as affecting maintenance costs. The type of forklift determines to a large extent the kind of tire since nearly all forklifts are made with a specific frame which accepts just a particular kind 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 concerning tires. Most likely your forklift runs either on cushion tires or pneumatic tires. This would limit your options to the type of tire wherein the forklift frame is constructed.
2 Make certain you know the particular kind of forklift you are using. Electric forklift trucks and electric pallet jack trucks generally are built to use cushion tires which do not need much friction. Pneumatic tires are normally utilized 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 constructed for even terrain whereas pneumatic tires are best for rough grounds. Cushion tires, if utilized on surfaces that are not even, can cause the forklift to get stuck because they are set lower. Pneumatic tires perform well on gravel, packed stones and crushed concrete but not on potholed surfaces and really rough grounds.
4 Check space limitations. Forklifts utilized mainly for indoor applications have to be able to pivot in tight areas. Cushion tires really work better than pneumatic tires in those types of situations.
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