Getting it right first time
April 1st 2006 The conditions of tyres are one of the most important and often most neglected safety aspects of industrial handling vehicles. However, with a variety of options available on the market, ensuring you obtain the right tyre for the right application can be a minefield. Clive Green, Tyres Manager at Finning Materials Handling, offers some expert advice in making the right selection
Tyres affect the steering, braking and acceleration of forklift trucks, therefore operating with faulty tyres, or fitting incorrect tyres for an application, will affect the operating efficiency of a truck.
With productivity a key issue for gaining an advantage in a competitive marketplace, it is vitally important your equipment is working to its maximum capabilities all the time.
Overlooking these issues, or not being able to recognise them in the first instance, can have devastating effects in the long run, costing a company both time and money. Also, choosing a tyre that is not 'fit for purpose' could potentially result in accident, putting operators at risk.
When selecting tyres for industrial applications, there are a number of key factors that have to be taken into account.
The main issue is, what application will a tyre be needed for?
Many forklift owners fail to understand that a machine used to move stock around on a smooth warehouse floor will require a different tyre to a truck that is loading goods onto a HGV outside, on rough terrain. The length of journey a truck is required to undertake on a daily basis is another factor.
Other considerations are the type and size of the machine being used, the size of the wheel or tyre, if a special compound is required and whether the wheel is one piece, split rim, 3-4 piece or a LOC tyre.
Safety checks
Downtime is very expensive and will usually outweigh the cost of good tyre husbandry, therefore once you have made the right selection, there is no substitute for regular checks to ensure maximum machine safety and tyre life.
The first thing is to look for both cracks and rust on the rims, as these can lead to repeated deflation and damage of the tyre.
Next, look for the tell-tail signs indicating that the wheels are working lose on the axle, such as rusty marks - this can be a major safety risk and can ruin the wheel or badly damage the axle. To prevent this, always tighten to the manufacturer's recommended torque and in the correct sequence.
Another tip is to keep a record of tyre wear and damage by making close visual checks. Such information can be invaluable in detecting recurring problems and tracing the causes of the problem. Running at the correct inflation pressure is also vital to get the right grip, puncture resistance and tread-life out of the casing. The life of a tyre is halved if it runs 30% under-inflated.
When carrying out checks on the tyre, there are a number of health and safety considerations that a maintenance provider must adhere to.
Bending down or kneeling to inspect the tyre can mean you are not visible to the operator, so you must ensure the truck is immobilised before carrying out inspections. The main points are checking that a truck is correctly parked with the handbrake on before removing a wheel.
There are three types of tyre to choose from on the market - resilient, pneumatic and press-on bands.
Making up about 70% of the market, Resilient tyres are a cost effective solution for trucks that suffer from constant punctures and excessive wear. Finning's resilient tyres have a three stage construction - the base compound is high density rubber, the middle layer is premium quality rubber for riding comfort, reliability and to absorb shock, and the final layer is an extra thick, hard wearing tread that yields a longer life span.
For a variety of terrains
The pneumatic tyre gives the best ride over a variety of terrains and offers increased stability for wide loads or high stacking. The Finning T800 provides value and quality performance, while the T900 is a heavy duty premium industrial tyre with extra wide tread and reinforced sidewalls.
The press-on band tyre is used mainly when there is a problem with height restrictions. It is a single piece rubber compound tyre that is moulded directly onto a steel band and pressed onto the wheel. Featuring a strong wearing tread, it ensures maximum uptime.
For those that want more advice on selecting the right tyre for their application, Finning Materials Handling has produced 'Treading Carefully - tyres guide to getting it right', a comprehensive booklet containing information on how to measure a tyre, the different types of tyres available, what rims fit what tyre and torque settings.
For your free copy of 'Treading Carefully' use the enquiry service.
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