When Forklift Tires Need To Be Replaced
Replacing forklift tires often gets put off much longer than it should. If your forklift tires are in less than ideal condition, this can pose significant risks to your operators and equipment. Continuing to run your equipment on tires that need to be replaced can cause costly damage to your forklift, forks, chains or mast; create stability and safety risks.
When replacing forklift tires, it is not safe to replace just one tire. Due to the imbalance between tire heights, having various tire ages it can contribute to stability issues, skidding, and tip-overs. Similar to cars, both tires on one wheel axel should be replaced at the same time to maximize stability.
Here are 3 ways to tell when your forklift tires need replaced:
1. Tires worn to the wear line
Many pneumatic forklift tires have a wear line or a safety line marked on the tire. Over time, with normal use, the rubber on the tires will wear down. When you notice your forklift tires are getting close to this line, it’s a good idea to contact Norlift to order new tires. For cushion tires, the general rule is to replace your tires when they reach the top of the numbers (see above for an example).
2. Chunking, tearing, or cracking
Any chunking, tearing, or cracking discovered during your visual inspection indicates an immediate need for replacement. Tires showing this type of damage are unsafe to use and the lift truck should not be operated until the affected tire or tires have been replaced.
3. Flat spots or uneven wear
Flat spots or uneven wear on your forklift tires often indicate that sharp turns have repeatedly been taken under heavy load or aggressive braking. Forklift tires with flat spots or uneven wear should be replaced and the operators should receive operator safety training.
