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How to extend the service life of forklift tires

Author : HITOP

Update time : 2020-11-23 15:25:00

A. Master the maintenance skills of forklift tires

The correct maintenance of tires can help you maximize your return on investment. The following are some suggestions that can extend the service life of tires and forklifts or improve the use effect:
1. Choose suitable tires according to the working conditions and environment
You can choose the appropriate tire type according to different working conditions and use environments;
1) For example, working outdoors, with good road conditions, and long working distances (500 meters or more), it is recommended that you choose pneumatic tires. Although solid tires can basically avoid the safety hazards caused by pneumatic tire blowouts, it is difficult to withstand long distances. Internal heat generated by uninterrupted operation;
2) In more cases, it is recommended to use solid tires. In addition to not requiring the maintenance of pneumatic tire pressure, solid tires also have no safety hazards caused by blowouts of pneumatic tires. High-quality solid tires are cost-effective, maintenance-free and longer. The replacement cycle of the tire is much better than that of pneumatic tires; under conditions of moderate working strength, distance and load, solid tires with side holes with higher shock absorption are a good choice for better safety and comfort；
3) For forklifts carrying out handling operations in a clean room, it is recommended that you choose light-colored solid tires without markings, which can greatly reduce the obvious black marks left by the forklift on the ground during load transportation, especially when steering or emergency braking;
4) In a working environment with hazardous chemicals or dust explosion risks, it is extremely important to choose a specially formulated explosion-proof tire. Specially formulated explosion-proof tires with conductive properties (rubber is usually an insulator) can keep the vehicle running. The generated static electricity is guided to the ground in time to better avoid potential safety hazards caused by static electricity accumulation. When choosing run-flat tires, it is best to select and assemble under the guidance of professionals.

2. Carry out operation training for forklift drivers
Poor operating habits will put your equipment in a dangerous state and will accelerate tire wear. It is recommended that you conduct professional training for forklift operators-forklift certification and safety plan training, which will be very effective. Safety training is an effective way to protect team members and prevent accidents and increase costs. Regular training can keep the skills of forklift operators at the highest level.

3. Regularly check tires
Paying attention to the early signs of tire damage can prevent unnecessary tire replacement. Check the tires at least once a week. The inspection items are:
1) Whether there are metal chips, broken glass or other impurities on the tire surface that can cause early damage to the tire;
2) Check the tire rubber for slight cracks, early delamination and block loss, to avoid accidents and unnecessary maintenance costs. If found, please eliminate it before use.

4. How do you check the forklift and tires? It only takes 5-10 minutes each time. It is recommended to check each time before using the forklift:
1) Check all forklift tires for the signs of damage described above;
2) Check whether the air pressure of the pneumatic tire is within the normal range. Excessive high or low inflation pressure will cause abnormal operation of the tire. Excessive high and low tires are prone to puncture, which will pose a safety threat to personnel on site;
3) Whether the wheel installation position is correct;
4) Ensure that the brake and control system functions are in a normal state;
5) In busy work situations, whether pneumatic tires or solid tires are used, especially in summer, the tire temperature should be checked every 2 hours. If the temperature is too high, the temperature should be lowered in time or the operation should be suspended. Prevent burns during inspection (the puncture temperature of the tire is usually above 100 degrees Celsius).

5. Adjust the brake
The wheels on the forklift are part of the braking system. Improper adjustment of the brake will cause excessive heat accumulation in the contact part of the wheel hub and the tire. The final result is that the heat accumulation continues to increase and the tire bursts, and the rim and tire are separated and safety accidents occur.

6. Prevent overload
Overloading is a common cause of premature tire damage, puncture, and tire & wheel separation. When the counterbalanced forklift is working under load, the load should not exceed the specified range. This can ensure that the front and rear forces of the forklift are within the bearing range of the tires and effectively ensure the service life of the tires.

7. Avoid standing still for a long time under load
If your forklift is stationary for a long time under load (especially heavy load), the tires will produce stress concentration points. This phenomenon will cause temporary "out of round bumps" when the tires are used again, that is, the forklift will drive smoothly The performance is severely reduced, and it will take a long time to return to its original state. This is one of the characteristics of rubber, resilience and compression set. The serious consequence is the complete failure of the physical and mechanical properties of the tire, that is, the tire is directly scrapped.

8. Keep road conditions intact
Forklifts work indoors and outdoors for a long time. The quality of the road conditions is one of the main reasons that affect the service life of the tires. It is recommended that users regularly clean the working road conditions to ensure the "good condition" of the road conditions; especially the rigid and sharp debris and broken glass , Crushed rocks, etc., which make the tire bear repeated punctures under load and high-speed operation, leading to premature tire damage.

9. Avoid high-temperature road conditions
Tyres are rubber products. The high temperature range of the rubber used is 50℃, and it is not suitable for long-term contact. Otherwise, the complete network molecular chain structure of the rubber will be broken under the action of high temperature erosion, which means it will lose its physical Mechanical properties, thereby prematurely damaged.
When the tire is in use, avoiding the high temperature working environment and maintaining a good rubber state is an effective way to extend the service life.

10. Avoid tire stains
In the working process of the tire, it is necessary to avoid all kinds of oil stains. The first is that it will cause the tire to contact the road surface and cause slippage, which will cause safety hazards. The second is that these solvents (oil stains) will cause the tire rubber to swell. Will gradually reduce the performance, resulting in premature damage to the rubber.
If it is contaminated with oil stains, it should be cleaned up in time to keep a clean and dry surface; when the use environment is unavoidable with oil stains (solvents), special oil-resistant formulas can be customized.

B. Reasonable time to replace forklift tires
1. The tire wear exceeds the wear mark
There will be a wear mark line on the sidewall of the forklift tire. Please replace the tire within this mark line in time during use. When it is used close to the wear mark line, it should be replaced.
2. Rubber comes off and falls off
During the use of the forklift, if the tire rubber falls off or falls off in a large area, please replace the tire in time; continuous use will reduce driving comfort, increase operating intensity, increase energy consumption, and even cause safety hazards.
3. The local wear area is too large
The tire rubber should be replaced when the area of local wear is too large or there are many wear parts.
4. According to different working conditions, choose suitable tires
The rear wheel (guide wheel) of a counterbalanced forklift can bear more load than the front wheel in an unloaded state. Because the forklift has a counterweight at the rear, the rear wheel will be damaged in advance if it works for a long time.

Therefore, routine inspection of forklift tires is very important. Your warehouse truck operator should check for wear and damage before each operation. If problems are discovered in advance, they can "prevent problems before they happen."

C. Replace tires according to specific usage
According to the degree of tire wear and damage:
1. Inflatable solid tires (ordinary solid tires): when worn to the wear mark line, they should be replaced in time;
2. Press-fit tires: When the remaining rubber thickness is less than 30%, it should be replaced in time;
3. When the tire is seriously damaged or abnormal, it should be replaced in time.

D. necessary tire replacement is to reduce costs
Replacing tires requires investment, but the new tires will benefit the forklift operator and your factory. There is no doubt that the forklift will achieve maximum efficiency, improve work efficiency and reduce fuel consumption, and new tires can also minimize impact , Can create more comfortable driving performance for operators, they can reduce fatigue and concentrate on work. The necessary replacement can actually reduce maintenance costs, and the replaced tires can improve work efficiency.
Although this is a necessary expense, there are several ways to reduce the cost of tire replacement:
1. If the use environment permits, you can choose a smooth solid tire without a pattern, which can increase the contact area between the tire and the ground and reduce the wear speed of the rubber.
2. For non-special operating conditions, choosing high-quality solid tires to replace pneumatic tires can greatly extend the replacement time and eliminate a lot of tire maintenance, reduce downtime and improve safety.

E. Now that you know how to extend the service life of forklift tires, it is recommended that you follow the correct maintenance methods to maximize its performance and help your forklift choose the appropriate type, thereby improving production efficiency and reducing costs.

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How to extend the service life of forklift tires