It could be simple to neglect the important tire, when it comes to the maintenance of the lift truck. When you pick the wrong tire for your forklift, you can put huge increases on your operating expenses, and more importantly increase your safety risks. If on the other hand, you select right kind of tire you could enjoy improved safety, substantial cost-savings and an overall more effective operation. A correctly chosen tire can actually reduce the downtime for replacement and probably last 40% longer.
Tires are actually quite complex components on the machinery; therefore, it is easy to select the wrong one accidentally. There are numerous different brands of tires and kinds, with different compounds and treads. This means you have to be fully prepared with the correct information when you are going shopping for tires so that you can decide on some tough and safe options to help prolong the life of your lift truck.
The specific kind of tire chosen for a lift truck depends on the type of surface you would be using the machinery on. For example, smoother surfaces and indoor applications generally use tires that are made from rubber and that are smaller in size. On the other hand, outdoor operations need pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires are filled with compressed air and have a rubber tread. These characteristics give them a great grip on rough and uneven surfaces.
Lift Truck Tire Safety
Each year, there are about 200 individuals killed in accidents related for forklift use. Ensuring lift truck safety, such as correct inspection practices, can all contribute in to avoiding these terrible and dangerous mishaps from occurring.
Pre-Work Check
Prior to every shift, the lift truck's tires need to be checked. Ideally, they should have the proper air pressure, as set forth by the maker. This is really important because if the tire pressure is too low, the machinery could accidentally tip over when a load is being lifted.
Kinds
For indoor work, forklifts that have solid tires made out of rubber are the most suitable option.
Other Considerations
The OHSA or Occupational Health and Safety Administration require that lift trucks used on a continual basis need to be inspected at the completion of every shift. The operator must inspect the machine for any mechanical issues and the tires must be looked over for cuts, excessive wear or obvious tire damage. Any problems which are detected must be addressed as soon as possible to maintain safety.