7 Questions to Ask When Buying Skid Steer Tires

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Skid steers are the most preferred compact equipment machines because of their unmatched versatility and performance. However, choosing the wrong skid steer tires can compromise this. Since tires are one of the most expensive components of the machine, you should have adequate knowledge before shopping for them. Moreover, the return on your investment depends on your choice of tires.

Whether you want flat-proof or solid tires or pneumatic tires, selecting the right tire for an application is crucial. This will help maximize the equipment&#;s performance and reduce unnecessary breakdowns and maintenance costs. Read on to learn how to ease the selection process and buy the right ones for your machine.

Questions to Ask When Buying Skid Steer Tires

Which Application Do You Plan to Use the Equipment for?

When buying skid steer tires, you need to pick the right ones for different applications. Understand the surface conditions you want to operate on and consider types of loads, usage by the operator, tread patterns, and tire specifications to make the correct choice. This will enhance the overall performance and improve the longevity of the tires.

Which Factors Must You Consider When Buying Skid Steer Tires?

Evaluating these critical aspects will help you make the perfect tire choice and achieve the lowest operating cost:

10 Crucial Factors that Affect the Tire Performance

• Ground conditions
• Road type
• Debris on the job site
• Inflation pressures
• Ambient temperature
• Speed of the machine
• Service cycles and machine maintenance routine
• Types of attachments and their size
• Load density
• Compact equipment and tire&#;s make and model

Do You Need Solid Tires or Pneumatic Tires?

Solid Tires for Skid Steers

These tires are durable, cost-effective in the long run, and offer the lowest operational cost on harsh surfaces. They last long as they are made using the highest quality rubber compounds. Additionally, they have excellent tear strength, which helps to keep their structure intact even on debris-covered ground. They are easy to install because they are mounted on a rim wheel.

Pneumatic Tires

If you want to use skid steers for general construction tasks or agricultural purposes, pneumatic tires are ideal. They have thick sidewalls, provide maximum traction and grip, and ensure a comfortable ride. Moreover, they have lower up-front costs.

Usage of Tires

Here are some examples of usage of pneumatic and solid tires:

ApplicationsType of Tires ConstructionThe right tire for a construction project will depend on the site's ground conditions. You can use pneumatic tires on job sites with smooth pavement. However, flat-proof or solid tires are ideal for harsh terrains. DemolitionThese jobs require durable solid skid steer tires to move over the debris on the ground. RecyclingWith broken metal, glass and other objects present on the site, using solid tires is beneficial. MiningAlthough you can use pneumatic tires with caution, using solid ones will allow better performance on the rugged terrain. Standard UsageFor driving over dirt and sand, pneumatic tires are the perfect option.

What are the Different Tread Patterns Available?

The industry and type of terrain you want to use your skid steer on will help you decide the most suitable tread design. Shallow ones are better if you plan to work on roadways. However, if you need to operate over sand, mud, gravel, dirt, or other loose materials, you should opt for deeper treads that give better traction.

Here are the most preferred options:

• Off-Road Treads &#; are perfect for use in any condition, regardless of snow, mud, gravel, or sand.
• On-Road Treads &#; are ideal for concrete and asphalt grounds. They offer smooth rides for skid steer loaders.
• All-Terrain Treads &#; have deep grooves and are the right choice for all types of surfaces. They offer a better grip on asphalt roads and loose materials such as sand, snow, or gravel.

How Do I Measure a Skid Steer Tire?

Buying the wrong size skid steer tires can increase downtime and maintenance expenses. Here are a few essential things you need to keep in mind to determine the correct tire size:

• Height &#; Ascertain the between the bottom and top of the tire.
• Width &#; Look for the widest part of the tire and measure from one side to the other.
• Rim Diameter &#; At the widest part of the tire, ascertain the distance between one side of the rim to the other.
• Hub Diameter &#; Measure the distance between one side of the tire&#;s hub to the other, at the widest part.
• Stud Center &#; Measure from the center of two opposite studs.
• Bolt Holes &#; Count the number of bolt holes and calculate their diameter.

When Should I Buy Replacement Skid Steer Tires?

If your skid steer tires are showing signs of wear and tear, you need to replace them as soon as possible. Ripped-off tread, torn or missing portions, and cracking indicate that replacement tires are required. If you fail to do so, you may have to deal with expensive downtime. This is why it is better to be proactive and monitor your tires regularly to know when you should replace them.

Should I Ask My Skid Steer Tire Dealer for Help?

Choosing the right dealer is essential when purchasing skid steer tires and other components. Consider working with a reputable company with specialists to recommend the most suitable options for you. Discuss your needs and ask for their opinion to find the right tire for your compact equipment.

Get the Best Range of Skid Steer Tires with Tag Equipment

Tag Equipment offers a wide range of tires for all makes and models of skid steers in Ontario. We provide the highest quality products at the best prices. Our selection includes pneumatic or air-filled tires, solid or flat-proof tires, tire chains and steel wheel rims.

Brands We Carry for Skid Steer Tires

• Camso
• Galaxy
• PrimeX
• Traxter

For more details about our products, you may call us at 416-716-. We will be happy to assist you and help you find the most appropriate tires for your skid steer loaders!

Also Read:

Frequently Asked Questions

Some solid pneumatic tires are now being made in wide profile (WP). There is a noticeable difference in the tread width, as well as the price.

A mobile tire press is a tire press that is mounted on a truck or trailer, which can then come to your location and service your equipment on the spot.

Some tires that are manufactured overseas will have three sets of numbers: (457x152x208), and that can be converted to US standards (18x6x12 1/8).

You can have the tires diamond-siped or have different designs siped into the tire. This will allow water to be pushed out through the sides giving you traction.

Rubber tires will work on electric sit-down units without problems, however we do not recommend using rubber tires on stand-up units. The weight of the battery as well as the forklift put too much strain on the rubber tires causing failure.

Check the height, width, and weight of the tire and don&#;t rely on price to determine the best deal. Cost can be cut dramatically by reducing any of these factors.

The 10-16.5 and 12-16.5 tires do come in non-marking tires. See our Specialty Tires section for pictures.

The x 24 grader tires used on Lulls, Skytrax, and Gradall are made in non-marking pneumatic. At the present, there are very few manufacturers and shortages are an issue.

ITL (Maxmatic) and Trelleborg tire (Monogrip Wide) both make a press-on tire which has a larger footprint than a standard tire. The tire, instead of having an oval design, is completely flat and designed to give maximum traction for wet surfaces. Other options to improve traction are wire impregnated tires and a tire called the nut tire. The nut tire has walnut shells ground and mixed into the rubber for good traction.

For golf carts used in plant operations, you can switch the wheels and tires for solids. The cost is inexpensive since the solid tires will last three times longer than foam fill.

The required air pressure is located on the sidewall of the tire. If it is not there, contact us for further assistance.

The tire size will be on the sidewall of the tire. If the tire size has worn off, you can look on the inside sidewall. Have someone operate the forklift and raise the forks above your head. Drive the forklift slowly and observe the tire on the opposite side and check for the tire size. If this doesn&#;t work, back the forklift slowly, turning the wheels to a 45 degree angle and inspect the inside for the tire size. If all fails, obtain the model, serial, and make of the forklift.

If you have split-wheel or lock-ring type wheels, you should be able to replace the air tire with a solid tire. Any drop center wheel will not accept a solid tire. Drop center is a wheel similar to a car wheel. You can go from air to solid or vice-versa as you like.

Polyurethane tires outlast rubber tires about two to one. The poly tire is designed for warehouse use only. Taking them on the driveway will result in rapid or premature tire failure. The carrying capacity of a poly tire is more than the rubber tire. Most electric lifts require poly because of the additional weight of the batteries used to power the lift. Poly tires will also help the batteries to last longer as they have lower rolling resistance. The biggest disadvantage is that they are made of a harder compound making the ride harsh.

There are very few models of cushion trucks that are able to be changed from press-on tire to pneumatic tire. If you can change to pneumatic, you have will an additional cost for new wheels.

Cushion trucks are made for warehouse and driveway use only. If you use a cushion forklift on rocks, grass, and dirt, chances are likely that you will get stuck. The only option is to go wider on the front tire but the additional cost will not result in additional flotation.

The names associated with the solid tire means that the tire has a lock ring built onto the base of the tire. As you can see by the pictures the tire fits behind the lip of the tire when pressing and you don&#;t see either a single or two piece lock ring. If the unit comes in with the sit style tires and there are none available when the tires need to be replaced, simply buy lock rings and replace with the standard tire.

No, not all solid and press on tires can be mounted in the field. The mobile press has height and width limitations. The larger forklift tires will have to be brought in and mounted on a large stationary press.

No, the shock to the machine plus the wear and tear on the machine will not be offset by trying to save money on tire replacement.

Yes, and again the tires should go on tightly on the wheel. Most damage occurs when pressing the solid tire off of the damaged wheel. An inspection of the base of the tire will determine if it can be pressed again.

Yes, and the majority of the time you will not have any problem. When pressing the old tire, make sure pressure is building on the gauge to assure that the tire is going on the wheel tightly.

The taper allows the tire to start on the wheel without digging into the metal band.

Please note that this is only a wear guideline. Different tire brands, models and tread patterns may have distinct specifications for outside diameter and width. If tires are allowed to wear too far, then performance and safety issues may arise, along with the risk of unnecessary damage to the machine.

The following chart shows the approximate diameters (in inches) at which the tire should be replaced due to tread wear (past its useful service life).

It is not uncommon for a worn tire to begin to do some strange things, in both performance/ride and appearance. This is normal and does not indicate a warrantable defect in materials or workmanship. However, the question remains: how do we know when tires need to be replaced? Or when has a tire finally worn out and now poses either a potential safety hazard or is causing performance problems?

First, please note that any &#;tire&#;s rated load carrying capacity and other physical properties&#; refer to new tires only. As the tire wears, theoretically it can no longer perform as when the tire was new.

Most cushion tires will have a safety bar on the sidewall to show when they will need replacing. A general rule of thumb for all others is to replace when the wear reaches the top of the imprint of the size of the tire. The reason being is that once the tread reaches that point, 50 percent of the carrying capacity is lost. For cushion trucks, the tire is the only shock absorber on the truck. For solid pneumatic tires, that is when all the tread is gone and the tires are completely smooth.

The Prefill tire assembly is an alternative to foam fill. The assembly of tire and core are pressed on like a solid tire but it allows for no downtime like foam fill tires.

Bird Tire guarantees all of our tires against defects in material and workmanship. Bird Tire reserves the right to inspect and investigate any tire considered to be defective. If a tire proves to be defective, Bird Tire has the option to replace the tire or may issue a credit. All freight and service costs will be borne exclusively by the claimant. This guarantee is the the exclusive benefit of the user and is not assignable.

Damage

What causes dents to my forklift wheel?

Contact us to discuss your requirements of electric scooter tires manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

The tire has received a severe impact and and the wheel may be damaged also. The damage is so bad that the tire may have to be cut off in order to save the wheel.

What cause&#;s cracks in the sidewall of tires?

As you can see by the picture cracks have appeared in the sidewall of the tires. These are radial cracks which occur because of overloading of the forklift and the sidewall begins to break down. This is not a defect in the tire and will there is no warranty.

What may cause damage to a tire when pressing?

As you can see by the picture damage has been done to the side of the new tire. When pressing the wheel it should be laid flat on the press and the new tire put on top of the tapered side of the wheel. Once you get the tire down about 40 % of the way you will need to put a flat plate on top of the tire and continue to press. If you decide to use another tire to push the first tire down it may result in damage to the first tire . The damage occurs when the press builds pressure and pops and the two tires are no longer lined up . That is what you see in the picture.

Ramps that cause premature tire failure.

Metal ramps that have metal teeth will result in damage to the tire either going up the ramp are down it. Best to use a smooth tire than a traction tread. With the traction tread it will grab more and rip the lugs off. There will be no warranty from any manufacture on the tire as this is not a defective tire.

What will happen when you cut or slice a foam fill tire?

This is what happens when a foam fill tire either gets cut or impacts something. With the weight of the machine as well as the fill and if the cut is deep enough or cut at the right angle on the ply it will begin to spread and rip farther apart and the fill will begin to bulge out. The material by the picture is fully cured and not in a liquid state. We have seen times when the cut has no effect and will not spread any farther than the original slice and will run until the tire is completely worn out. This is something that can happen and the cut may have been worse than it appeared. The only way to keep this from possibly happening in the future is to go with solid tires.

Why do Press-On tires fail?

Heat build-up
Heat build-up is the most common reason for rubber press-on tire failure and is caused by a variety of environmental factors (alone or in combination). Through friction and other factors, all tires naturally build-up heat during operation. Overheating occurs when the tire has reached a point where the rubber compounds begin to breakdown and/or the bond between the rubber and the steel base band is damaged. A tire&#;s physical properties are only rated for operations under normal conditions and temperatures. An overheated tire simply cannot do the same job as a tire that is operating within acceptable parameters and temperature ranges.
Prior to the introduction of the infrared digital thermometer, we checked the heat buildup of a forklift tire by simply stopping a forklift mid-shift and carefully putting your hand close to/or on the hub(s). Anything more than mildly warm to the touch (over 150 degrees Fahrenheit) indicated an application where heat build-up may be a problem. For every application (including those with a heat build-up problem), it is always useful to establish a benchmark for tire performance (in hours) to make better recommendations and help minimize the customer&#;s overall cost per hour, and to help determine whether or not a tire problem exists. There is a variety of premium, problem solving tire compounds available that could minimize your customer&#;s overall cost per hour.

Heat build-up is the most common reason for rubber press-on tire failure and is caused by a variety of environmental factors (alone or in combination). Through friction and other factors, all tires naturally build-up heat during operation. Overheating occurs when the tire has reached a point where the rubber compounds begin to breakdown and/or the bond between the rubber and the steel base band is damaged. A tire&#;s physical properties are only rated for operations under normal conditions and temperatures. An overheated tire simply cannot do the same job as a tire that is operating within acceptable parameters and temperature ranges.Prior to the introduction of the infrared digital thermometer, we checked the heat buildup of a forklift tire by simply stopping a forklift mid-shift and carefully putting your hand close to/or on the hub(s). Anything more than mildly warm to the touch (over 150 degrees Fahrenheit) indicated an application where heat build-up may be a problem. For every application (including those with a heat build-up problem), it is always useful to establish a benchmark for tire performance (in hours) to make better recommendations and help minimize the customer&#;s overall cost per hour, and to help determine whether or not a tire problem exists. There is a variety of premium, problem solving tire compounds available that could minimize your customer&#;s overall cost per hour.

Application-Based Causes

• Speed
• Multi-shift operation
• Obstacles/debris on floor (i.e., dock plates, steel, skids, banding etc.)
• Floors: rough, uneven or in poor condition (tracks or rails, expansion joints, holes, etc.)
• Continuous operation (short or no rest times)
• Length of run
• Tight cornering
• Heavy loads &#; drive tires
• Light or empty loads &#; steer tires
• Forklift attachments
• Operator abuse &#; using emergency brakes when not needed
• Ambient temperature
• Chemical contamination (exposure to oils or solvents)

Manufacturing Defects

• Contamination of baseband &#; separation
• Pre-cure &#; chunking
• Bad batch of pre-mixed rubber (excess moisture, etc.)
• Reverting

Other

• Tire pressed crooked during installation
• Wheel/hub or bearing problems
• Kingpin problems (steer axle)
• Tires not replaced in pairs
• Improper brake adjustment

What typically causes tire failure?

If there is an actual manufacturing defect with the tire, most problems will occur within the first 45 days of purchase. Problems that occur in longer periods of time are normally due to equipment misuse. Most problems include rapid starts and stops of the forklift, shoving material instead of picking it up, or overloading, and long runs with the wrong compound of tires, and throwing the transmission into forward and reverse before stopping the lift.

What do I do if the lockring comes off of my solid forklift tire?

The lockring can be pressed back onto the wheel as long as the lockring wasn&#;t damaged or sprung.

Why do my lockring wheels have no lockring now?

Some solid pneumatic tires are now made built right into the tire and lockrings are no longer necessary. Extra caution must be used so not to damage the base of the tire while pressing. These types include Click Tires, Quickbase, Sit, Halo, and Limpent.

What caused damage to a solid tire when pressing

When pressing a solid tire, there are three things that need to be done. The base of the tire must be lubricated, a starter cone must be used, as well as the proper cage to do the job. If not done the result will be damage to the base and the tire. There is no warranty on this type of damage to a tire from the manufacturer. It doesn&#;t matter if it is the cheapest tire or the most expensive tire on the market .You may get away with it for several tires by not using the proper equipment, but you will eventually ruin a tire.