It could really be simple to neglect the essential tire, when it comes to the maintenance of the lift truck. When you select the wrong tire for your forklift, you could put large increases on your operating costs, and more importantly increase your safety risks. If on the other hand, you pick right kind of tire you could enjoy improved safety, substantial cost-savings and an overall more efficient operation. A correctly chosen tire can really reduce the downtime for replacement and probably last 40 percent longer.
The lift truck tire is a somewhat complex component of the equipment. It is therefore, easy to select the wrong type accidentally. There are lots of different kinds of tires and brands, with a wide array of compounds and treads. This means you should be fully prepared with the right information when you are going shopping for tires so that you can select some safe and tough options to help extend the life of your lift truck.
The specific kind of tire selected for a forklift depends on the type of surface you will be using the equipment on. For example, indoor applications and smooth surfaces normally utilize tires which are made from rubber and that are smaller in size. On the contrary, outdoor operations require pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires have a rubber tread and are filled with compressed air. These features give them a good grip on rough and uneven surfaces.
Forklift Tire Safety
Each year, there are roughly 200 people killed in accidents related for forklift use. Ensuring lift truck safety, like for example correct inspection practices, can all contribute in to avoiding these dangerous and horrible accidents from taking place.
Pre-Work Check
Prior to each and every shift, the lift truck's tires have to be inspected. Ideally, they must have the proper air pressure, as set forth by the manufacturer. This is very vital because if the tire pressure is too low, the equipment can inadvertently tip over when a load is being lifted.
Types
The tires used on indoor forklifts will be made out of solid rubber.
Other Considerations
Occupational Health and Safety Administration or OSHA places a requirement on the continual utilization of forklifts. These lift trucks should be checked at the end of each and every shift. The driver should inspect the equipment for any kind of mechanical issues and the tires must be looked over for excessive wear, cuts or apparent tire damage. Any issues that are detected must be dealt with as soon as possible to maintain safety.