To be able to help you choose the right Forklift Tire and Compound, we will ask you to think about the following things: type of fuel used; typical weight of load; length of your standard run; kinds of issues you are having; kind of surfaces the forklift runs on; whether or not your forklift operates over dock plates; number of shifts and percentage of time the forklift is loaded; and the top speed and the normal speed of your forklift
There are certain terms which describe various attributes of tires. It could help to know what exactly they mean. The term Durometer refers to the hardness of forklift tires. The range is normally from 83 to 95, the number increasing with the hardness of the tire. Most of the tires made nowadays fall within a couple of standard industry classifications.
The driver can have a more comfortable ride if the tires are softer. They are recommended for operations which require regular maneuvering as they provide better traction. They are better able to tolerate driving over floor debris. For applications that need long runs and maximum speed, soft tires are not suggested. They are made of softer compounds that tend to heat up and wear faster than hard tires.
For use that require multiple shifts, high speed and long runs, it is best to have harder tires. They are better than soft tires for maximum loads, and they would last longer and wear better. Hard tires are less forgiving of floor debris and give a less comfortable ride. They tend to be more energy efficient as they offer less resistance.
For general applications, it is suggested to utilize Universal Compound tires. These are all-around tires that combine various advantages.