Joanna James
As a tyre variety that must contend with heavy loads and great pressure on a daily basis, the upkeep and maintenance of forklift tyres is anything but straightforward. Here are some safety and best practices tips to get the most out of your tyres.
Those who are using forklifts on a daily basis should perform routine checks on the air pressure of each tyre of the vehicle. Air pressure must always be at the optimal level as various types of operations can increase and reduce the tyre pressure and cause avoidable damage to the tyre while making the driving experience unnecessarily hazardous. Heat can build up in the tyres due to extensive hours of operation and this can cause tyre pressure to increase and thus make the possibility of ruptures more likely. Ensuring that the valves and caps are well-concealed is one way to ensure the tyre pressure remains steady. Lower air pressure can also be caused by the bleeding of air, and in turn, cause heat to build up inside of the tyre.
Although those who are adept at driving heavy machinery and utility vehicles such as forklifts may not pay too much attention to how often they break or how often they start the vehicles, certain driving practices can damage the tyres if one is not careful when implementing certain manoeuvres. This includes cornering the vehicle at high speed, hitting the breaks suddenly, or locking a wheel for a narrow turn. These types of manoeuvres greatly impact both the vehicle and the tyres, as forklifts nor their tyres are built to withstand quick movements similar to a normal automobile. This is why all driving procedures must be carried out slowly and diligently on a forklift as sudden movements can cause irreparable damage to tyres.
How well one stores forklift tyres also have a direct impact on how long a pair of tyres will last. Forklift tyres and other large tyres should ideally be stored in a dark and cool area, away from any heat sources. The ground in which the tyres are kept should also be free from oil or oily substances while keeping forklift tyres near electric engines is also a bad idea. Tyres should also be used frequently as keeping them in storage for too long can make the rubber of the tyres decay faster.
One of the main reasons why forklift tyres wear out so easily is that the wrong type of tyres has been selected for the vehicle. The tyre size is one aspect that must be carefully calculated before making a purchase while elements such as buying standard forklift tyres vs. press-on tyres will also influence how much use one can get from a new pair of tyres. Regardless of whether they are solid forklift tires from manufacturers such as GRI Tires or a lesser-known brand, the thickness of the tyre must also be factored in when looking to make the most of your forklift tyres.
Forklift tyres that have been used for a longer period tend to experience cracking due to wear and tear. It can be tempting to modify these by yourself. However, this isn't encouraged as it can lead to the deformation of the structure of your forklift tyres.
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