Tips On Saving Money On Your Forklift Tires

For the last several weeks we have been developing a series of articles about forklift tires. So far, we have published six articles in the series.

Part I discusses the types of forklift tires that are available.

In Part II we cover what forklift tires are made of and how to read tire sizes from the side of the tires.

In Part III we discussed how to select the right forklift tire.

In Part IV we focused on the longevity of forklift tires.

Part V focused on how to get the most out of your forklift tires.

In Part VI we discussed when you should replace your forklift tires.

In this article, the seventh and last in the series, we will discuss ways you can save money on your forklift tires.

Everything appears to be costly these days. That’s also true for forklift tires. It is a necessary expense, but there are a few things you can do to save money. Some of those things include:

• Choose smooth over traction
• Select high rubber resilience tires
• Upsize tires
• Replace pneumatics with solid pneumatics

Chose Smooth Over Traction

It’s suggested that you select smooth cushion tires instead of traction tires. Smooth cushion tires feature 7 percent to 12 percent more consumable rubber and yet you’ll enjoy enhanced traction as long as water or other liquid is not present on the floor.

Select High Rubber Resilience Tires

You probably don’t realize that tires with high rubber resilience gain in low-rolling resistance. This will help reduce fuel consumption by as much as 15 percent when using propane gas and will extend the time between charging when energized by electricity.

Upsize Tires

It may sound contrary to logic, but many people in the know encourage that you increase the tire size by one inch. As a result, the forklift will offer 800 pounds more in load carrying capacity because the weight is spread out along the tires.

This will assist in tire cost effectiveness due to:

• Longer tire life
• Increased traction
• Increased stability
• Increased shock absorption
• Cooler running tires

Replace Pneumatics With Solid Pneumatics

It is suggested that using solid pneumatic tires rather than pneumatic tires can lead to:

• Enhanced tire life by two to three times
• Enhanced stability
• Reduced downtime due to no flat tires.

Of course, all of this depends on the forklift you’re using. It is suggested that you consult with your tire dealer concerning the equipment you are using, the condition of the facility where the forklift is operated and the application in which the forklift is being used.

(Source: conger.com)