Used Cushion Tire Forklift Illinois - Forklift trucks are commonly classified by the kind of work they complete as well as the kind of tire they use. The two types of tire classification for forklifts are:
1. Cushion; and
2. Pneumatic.
There are drawbacks and benefits to both pneumatic and cushion forklift tire options. The benefits and potential drawbacks of the cushion tire models can only be compared when the pneumatic benefits and drawbacks are equally discussed.
Forklift Tire Classifications
Cushion Tires
Cushion tires are made up of either smooth or treaded solid rubber and are designed around a metal ring or baseband. These types of forklift tires are easier to maintain and less expensive to manufacture. This type of tire is made to work on smooth surfaces such as indoor concrete floors and loading docks. These tires are designed to maneuver well within tight locations, due to their specific turning radius. Cushion tires also allow the forklift to sit closer to the ground. The advantage of a lower forklift is the increased vertical clearance when compared to forklifts with pneumatic tires. However, cushion tires do not provide as much traction as pneumatic tires. This is especially true for outdoor areas and wet surfaces.
Cushion tires forklifts are commonly used for organizing inventory, moving items to and from different loading docks, unloading shipments and similar applications.
Pneumatic Tires
Pneumatic tires, on the other hand, are primarily designed to operate in rougher terrain, with uneven surfaces. These tires have two categorizations:
The solid resilient pneumatic tires are comprised entirely of rubber and the standard air pneumatic tires feature a layered rubber design filled with air.
Pneumatic tire forklifts are good options for work that takes place outdoors on unpaved ground. Solid resilient pneumatic forklifts are a better option in areas that may have objects which could puncture a standard air pneumatic, such as junkyards, lumber yards and the like which may have sharp metal objects.
Benefits of Cushion Tire Forklifts
Forklifts that use cushion tires are a wise option for interior and exterior locations that feature smooth surfaces. The majority of forklifts that rely on cushion tires are used mostly indoors with limited outdoor use. Warehousing applications and manufacturing facilities often rely on cushion tire forklifts. Cushion tire models excel in tight locations including narrow aisles and accessing high shelves.
Some benefits of using a cushion tire forklift over a pneumatic tire forklift are:
1) Maneuverability
Most cushion tire forklifts intended for indoor use are electric, which means they are usually smaller and more maneuverable because they do not required the extra room needed to accommodate the larger internal combustion engine.
2) Lower Clearance
Forklifts built for indoor use with cushion tires generally have a lower clearance than pneumatic tire equipment, allowing the forklift to more easily navigate doorways and other obstacles such as lights and sprinkler systems.
3) Durability
With little to no risk of a tire puncture, cushion forklift models are easy to maintain and ultra-durable.
4) Quiet
Because the majority of cushion tire forklifts are powered by battery or fuel cell, instead of an internal combustion engine, they are much less noisy than propane or diesel powered forklifts.
5) Environmentally Friendly
Powered by electricity instead of relying on an internal combustion engine enables cushion tire forklifts to make zero dangerous emissions.
Forklift Tire Choice
Most forklift frames only allow for either a cushion tire or a pneumatic tire. The forklifts’ lifting capacity and frame are specific to the axles and tires in the design. Forklift manufacturers create models that safely operate with certain tires and wheels, typically pneumatic tires or cushion tires. Because of this, it is more useful to choose the best forklift type, considering the type of tires the forklift will require and how it fits the job application, rather than attempting to modify the forklift by choosing the right tire for the application.
Workplace Applications
Suitable Work Applications for Cushion Tires
Cushion tire forklifts are popular for a variety of job sites. If most of the transporting, lifting loads and placement happens inside or with limited outdoor use on smooth surfaces, cushion tire forklifts are your best choice.
Cushion tire forklifts typically feature a smaller frame and sit much lower to the ground compared to pneumatic tire models. This gives them better clearance for fitting through doorways and avoiding overhead obstacles. Although, cushion tire forklifts offer less ground clearance, this can cause damage to outdoor obstacles when the surface is uneven or unclear. One solution to this problem is to fit the cushion tire forklift with traction tires on the front of their forklifts. Traction style tires will give better traction on rough terrains like asphalt or packed gravel or wet surfaces. However, it is still not recommended to drive on dirt or grass and it must be noted that the same type of tire must be used on the opposite sides, drive and steer axles.
One of the largest advantages of using a forklift with cushion tires is the smaller turning radius. This makes cushion tire forklifts ideal for warehouses and manufacturing facilities that have less space. Warehouses that utilize a narrow aisle layout will especially benefit from the smaller turning radius of cushion tire forklifts. Pneumatic tire forklifts are more expensive and less available compared to cushion tire forklifts.
Suitable Work Applications for Pneumatic Tire Forklifts
Pneumatic tires forklifts have air in them and are better for outdoor use such as in yard work or on gravel. Interior applications may use pneumatic tire forklift models although they will not provide the maneuverability, lower clearance or tighter turning radius. Of course, they are often powered by internal combustion engine so do produce harmful emissions which are not recommended for normal indoor use. Pneumatic tire forklifts are longer and wider than cushion tire forklifts which is why they are primarily used outdoors.
There are two kinds of pneumatic tires; the air-filled pneumatic tire is less expensive than the solid pneumatic tire. This is because a solid pneumatic tire is not susceptible to punctures or gouges because they are made of solid rubber and do not have air in them. Solid pneumatic tires are commonly used in lumber and scrap yards where there are tons of sharp, metal debris including nails. Air-filled pneumatic tires work well on gravel and asphalt exterior surfaces. However, air pneumatic tires are susceptible to being punctured or gouged. Because of this, it is necessary to make sure the work area is free of any sharp objects before using forklift fitted with air pneumatic tires at that site. Air tires are also known to give a bouncy ride, contributing to operator discomfort and fatigue. Due to this, numerous air pneumatic forklift users fill foam in their tires. Much less bouncy than air-filled pneumatic tires, the solid pneumatic forklift tires provide the operator with a smoother ride. Foam filling is commonly used for flat tire prevention. It takes roughly three days to fill and cure an air pneumatic tire with foam.
Difference in Load Capacity
The load capacity on for pneumatic tire forklifts and cushion tire forklifts are fairly equal. Some electric powered cushion tire forklifts do have lift limits. There are numerous forklifts available and a variety of pneumatic and cushion tire models can be found in a variety of load capacities. Load capacities come in a wide range - from less than 2,000 pounds to more than 200,000 pounds.
Cushion Tire Forklift PDF
