How Long Will Your Forklift Tires Last?

To date, no exact science or formula exists for determining how long a set of forklift tires will last. Rather, maintenance staff, mechanics and technicians must examine a number of factors to determine when it’s time to change your lift truck tires. Several factors must be taken into consideration here, including the total number of operating hours and intensity of use, driving habits or operator style, application type (i.e., long runs without a load, excessive speed or rotation with a load), operating conditions, the tire type and compound, as well as the vehicle’s average load weight.

Note: these figures should only be used as estimations only. Determining the exact amount of acceptable wear for a given tire depends upon the size of the tires and the conditions in which it is operated. To avoid accidents, injury or damage, regular tire inspections should be included in each vehicle's monthly maintenance schedule.

With pneumatic forklift tires, a tire needs to be replaced after the outside diameter has worn approximately 2” to 3". Conversely, press on cushion tires need to be replaced after the outside diameter is worn by 1 1/2" or when 30-40% of the tire’s rubber is gone. Beyond tread wear, other signs that indicate a tire should be replaced include: undercutting, chunking and chipping.

• Undercutting occurs as a result of overloading and sharp or aggressive steering. This causes the rubber to begin receding from the metal band at the center of the tire.
• Chunking, as the name suggests, is when large pieces or chunks of rubber detach from the surface of the tire. Common causes include collisions with objects, repetitive contact with debris or refuse, and driving over coarse/jagged terrain.
• Chipping refers to damage to the surface of the tire such as incisions, slashes, nicks, punctures, and divots. Like chunking, this is often caused when cushion tires are regularly operated on coarse or irregular surfaces. 

While your forklift tires can still be “operational” with significant wear, there are a number of benefits to be gained by replacing worn out or deteriorating forklift or lift truck tires. Beyond the immediate safety concerns, there are also financial, operational and productivity risks to take into consideration.  By avoiding the costs associated with replacing worn out forklift tires, owners can incur far greater maintenance fees down the road as the additional vibration, strain and shock placed upon forklift components can result in equipment failures, downtime and have to prematurely replace essential parts and components. 

Worn tires can also have an impact on your operation’s productivity and efficiency as the increased vibration, instability and stress can result in above average operator strain, thereby reducing the operator’s ability to control the vehicle. This, in turn, limits the vehicle’s fuel efficiency, speed, turning capacity, and stopping power.

For inspections, repairs and replacements in the Niagara Region, contact Lucas Liftruck Services Ltd.

Phone: (905) 227-3291 
Email at info@lucasliftruck.com 

Be Prepared with a Dealer who Stocks Forklift Parts

Forklifts, regardless of the brand, all feature similar parts. Wear-and-tear issues, carelessness, and the lack of a preventative maintenance program can all contribute to the replacement of these components. Sometimes, forklift manufacturers will provide all the forklift spare parts you need. Every manufacturer will have a list of recommended spare parts for all of their products. These lists offer parts which receive the most wear over time, have historically been abused by the operator, or require occasional maintenance. 

Having these additional spare parts in stock will assist in keeping your forklifts functional at all times. The less down-time in any facility, the more efficiently it will run. 

Lucas Liftruck in the Niagara region is prepared for the rigors of the industry - including a well-stocked recommended spare parts inventory.

Lucas - Stocking the Most Forklift Parts in the Niagara Region

Picking your Forklift and materials handling parts has never been easier than it is today. With the advent of the internet, countless online shops have sprung up claiming to be the next best thing. The trouble has always been that the vast majority of these parts shops didn’t keep an inventory! They still don’t!

It’s not only the convenience of accessing and ordering your forklift parts online that should lure you to the website, but whether they have a physical, brick and mortar store where they actually house the parts you’re looking for.  Too many of these fly-by-night online shops have made a bad name for the respectable ones by not stocking the parts they show online, thus leaving the customer with a late delivery and a bitter taste in their mouth.

Institutions like Lucas Liftruck, serving the Niagara region for over 75 years, is maintained by material handling industry professionals with one of the most substantial lists of oversea and domestic forklift brand parts stocked and ready to be shipped or picked-up from our Thorold location. You can count on Lucas to have the lowest prices on the parts equipment you need - when you need it.

Brands like EP, Stärke, Hyster, Heli, Hecha, Hangcha, Liftstar, Hytsu, xilin, JAC, Tailift, TEU and many more are represented and stocked for quick shipping throughout the Golden Horseshoe.

Whether you’re a local dealer or an end-user who requires the parts in a timely fashion to reduce or avoid downtime, Lucas Liftruck is your go-to source for the very best brand name forklift parts.

Call us or contact us today via email or online form for a professional quote. 905-227-3291