When it comes to maintaining the lift truck, it can really be easy to neglect the simple yet essential tire. If you select the wrong tire, you could end up accidentally with a huge increase in fleet operating costs, or increased safety risks, which is worse yet. If on the other hand, you choose correct type of tire you can enjoy improved safety, significant cost-savings and an overall more efficient operation. A properly chosen tire could really reduce the downtime for replacement and probably last 40 percent longer.
Tires are actually quite complex parts on the machine; therefore, it is easy to choose the wrong type accidentally. There are numerous different brands of tires and kinds, with various treads and compounds. This means you must be completely prepared with the correct data when you are buying tires so that you could select some safe and durable options to help extend the life of your lift truck.
Your business should choose the specific tire for their equipment according to the kind of surface the machine would be operated on. Indoor applications and smoother surfaces for instance, will normally utilize tires that are smaller in size and made from rubber. On the contrary, outdoor operations need pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires have a rubber tread and are filled with compressed air. These characteristics give them a great grip on surfaces which are uneven and rough.
Lift Truck Tire Safety
Every year, 200 individuals are killed in lift truck or forklift related accidents each year. Ensuring forklift safety, such as correct inspection practices, could all contribute in to preventing these dangerous and horrible mishaps from happening.
Pre-Work Inspection
Prior to each shift, the lift truck's tires have to be inspected. Ideally, they should have the right air pressure, as set forth by the manufacturer. This is very vital because if the tire pressure is too low, the equipment could accidentally tip over when a load is being lifted.
Types
The tires used on indoor forklifts would be made out of solid rubber.
Other factors
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration or OSHA require that lift trucks used on a continual basis have to be checked at the completion of each and every shift. The driver must inspect the equipment for any mechanical issues and the tires should be inspected for excessive wear, cuts or apparent tire damage. Any issues which are detected should be addressed as soon as possible to maintain safety.