Used Cushion Tire Forklift Inglewood - While forklift trucks are often classified by the type of work they perform under most circumstances, forklift trucks can also be classified by the type of tire they are fitted with. The two types of tire classification for forklifts are:
1. Cushion; and
2. Pneumatic.
It is vital to note that there are benefits and drawbacks to both types of forklift tires; cushion and pneumatic. The drawbacks and benefits of cushion tire models can be only compared when the drawbacks and benefits of the pneumatic tires are also 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 kinds of forklift tires are cheaper to make and easier to maintain. Cushion tires are designed for smooth surface applications such as work that takes place mostly indoors or around 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 tire forklifts are used for a wide range of applications, including order picking, unloading shipments, organizing inventory, transporting to and from a loading dock and other similar applications.
Pneumatic Tires
Pneumatic tires have two categorizations as either solid resilient pneumatic or standard air pneumatic. They are popular for rough terrain applications and uneven surfaces.
The solid resilient pneumatic tires are comprised entirely of rubber and the standard air pneumatic tires feature a layered rubber design filled with air.
For locations with uneven surfaces and unpaved ground, pneumatic tire forklifts are prime choices. 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 fitted with cushion tires are a good option for operation on smooth surfaces, both indoor and outdoor. The type of forklift that utilizes cushion tires are for mainly inside applications with some limited outside use. Warehousing applications and manufacturing facilities often rely on cushion tire forklifts. Warehousing and narrow aisles and tight locations all rely on the benefits of cushion tire forklifts.
Some benefits of using a cushion tire forklift over a pneumatic tire forklift are:
1) Maneuverability
Maneuverability is one of the key pneumatic tire forklift benefits since these models do not require a larger frame to facilitate a bigger 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
Durability is a key feature with cushion tire forklift models as they are simple to maintain and offer zero to little risk of being punctured.
4) Quiet
Cushion tire forklifts do not use an internal combustion engine and instead rely on a battery or fuel cell, making them significantly quieter than their propane or diesel cousins.
5) Environmentally Friendly
Again, because most cushion tire forklifts are powered by electricity, rather than an internal combustion engine, cushion tire forklifts produce no harmful emissions.
Forklift Tire Choice
The forklift frame typically depicts whether a cushion tire or a pneumatic tire will be utilized. The forklifts’ lifting capacity and frame are specific to the axles and tires in the design. Most forklift manufacturers design forklifts to operate safely with specific wheels and tires, namely cushion tires or pneumatic tires. Instead of trying to modify the forklift by picking the correct tire for a particular application, it is wiser to choose the forklift that will best suit the job at hand.
Workplace Applications
Suitable Work Applications for Cushion Tires
Cushion tire forklifts are usually the best option for many workplace applications. 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.
Forklifts fitted with cushion tires often have a smaller frame and sit much lower to the ground than forklifts fitted with pneumatic tires. This compact design facilitates easier clearance through doorways and overhead obstacle avoidance. It is important to note that cushion tire forklifts showcase less ground clearance and the machine may get caught up on exterior obstacles if the ground is uneven. To combat this issue, the cushion tire forklift can be fitted with traction tires on the front. Traction based tires will function in rough terrain environments that have wet surfaces, packed gravel and asphalt. Traction tires are not used on dirt or grass locations and need to be installed on opposite sides, the drive and steer axles.
One of the top advantages of the cushion forklifts is their tight turning radius. This makes cushion tire forklifts ideal for warehouses and manufacturing facilities that have less space. Areas that are designed with narrow aisles such as warehouse facilities will enjoy the tighter turning radius offered with cushion tire forklift models. Cushion tire forklifts are more cost-effective and available compared to pneumatic tire models.
Suitable Work Applications for Pneumatic Tire Forklifts
Since pneumatic tires contain air, these forklifts are better suited for exterior applications. 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. With a wider base and longer frame in comparison to cushion tire models, pneumatic tire forklifts are for use mainly outdoors.
Of the two types of pneumatic tires, the solid pneumatic tire is more expensive than the air pneumatic tire. The solid pneumatic tire is comprised of solid rubber without any air inside, making this type more resilient against gouges or punctures. Outdoor areas including lumber yards and scrap yards that feature copious amounts of metal debris and nails often rely on solid pneumatic tires. Air pneumatic tires work great outside on gravel and asphalt applications. 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. Since air-filled tires deliver a bouncy sensation, they contribute to operator fatigue and discomfort. Due to this, numerous air pneumatic forklift users fill foam in their tires. The foam filling option creates a more even ride compared to the solid pneumatic tires or the bounciness of the air-filled pneumatic tires. Flat tires can be filled with foam to keep them more durable and prevent flats. Filling an air pneumatic tire with foam usually takes approximately 3 days to fill and cure.
Difference in Load Capacity
The load capacity of cushion tire forklifts and pneumatic tire forklifts are about equal. There may be lift limits on certain electric-powered cushion tire models. Pneumatic tire and cushion tire forklifts are available in practically any load capacity. There are numerous load capacities ranging from less than 2000 pounds to more than 200,000 pounds.
Cushion Tire Forklift PDF
