It can really be simple to overlook the important tire, when it comes to the maintenance of the forklift. When you select the wrong tire for your forklift, you could put huge increases on your operating costs, and more significantly increase your safety risks. If on the other hand, you select right tire you can enjoy significant cost-savings, improved safety and an overall more efficient operation. A properly selected tire could really decrease the downtime for replacement and potentially last 40 percent longer.
Tires are really somewhat complex parts on the equipment; thus, it is easy to select the wrong kind accidentally. There are lots of different brands of tires and types, with various treads and compounds. This means you should be totally prepared with the correct information when you are going shopping for tires so that you can decide on some tough and safe options to help prolong the life of your lift truck.
Your business must select the particular tire for their equipment based on the type of surface the machine will be operated on. Indoor applications and smoother surfaces for example, will generally utilize tires that are smaller in size and made from rubber. On the other hand, outdoor operations need pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires are filled with compressed air and have a rubber tread. These characteristics give them a great grip on uneven and rough surfaces.
Forklift Tire Safety
Each year, there are about 200 individuals killed in accidents related for forklift use. Ensuring forklift safety, such as correct inspection practices, could all contribute in to avoiding these dangerous and terrible accidents from happening.
Pre-Work Check
The tires of the lift truck needs to be checked before every shift. Tires should ideally have the proper air pressure, that is set by the manufacturer of the tire. This is extremely vital because if the tire pressure is very low, the machinery can accidentally tip over when a load is being lifted.
Types
The tires used on indoor lift trucks will be made out of solid rubber.
Other Considerations
OSHA or the Occupational Health and Safety Administration places a requirement on the continual use of lift trucks. These forklifts are required to be checked at the end of each and every shift. The driver should inspect the machine for any type of mechanical problems and the tires should be looked over for cuts, excessive wear or apparent tire damage. Any problems that are detected should be addressed as soon as possible to maintain safety.