15 Tips for Longer Tire Life

A lot of weight is riding on your forklift tires. It’s the forklift’s only contact with the ground, directly affecting the stability and lifting capacity. Take our 15 tips to extend your tire’s lifespan.

1. Select the Right Tire for the Job

Proper tire selection is the first step to obtain maximum performance.

2. Inspect Tires Regularly

The operator should check the tires at the start of each shift. Look for and remove broken glass, nails, and embedded metal chips, and inspect for uneven or rapid tread wear.

3. Lubricate Forklift Regularly

4. Keep Brakes in Adjustment

5. Check Axle Alignment and Steering

Regular checks of steering and axle alignment will protect tires against fast or irregular tread wear.

6. Allow Sufficient Tire Clearance

Sufficient clearance between the tire and forklift prevents tire damage from catching loose material.

7. Center Tires on Wheels

Incorrectly mounted wheels can result in the steel base splitting and the separation of rubber treads.

8. Use Proper Equipment

An overloaded vehicle can be unsafe and cause tire damage.

9. Keep Runways Clean

Maintain floors in good repair, free from breaks, ruts, cracks, and depressions.

10. Line Travel Routes

Lines remind the operator that tires should not bump, scrape, or collide with obstacles.

11. Avoid Excessive Heat

12. Avoid Overloading

Overloading can cause tire failure, leading to a tire blowout.

13. Avoid Sharp Turns, Quick Stops

Sharp turns, quick starts, and stops will wear tread rapidly, grind in harmful objects, and cause strains.

14. Avoid Oil, Grease, Or Gasoline

These materials can be detrimental to rubber; wipe off immediately if the tire comes in contact.

15. Avoid Standing Loads

Solid tires can form “flat spots” when loads are left standing on forklifts overnight or longer.

In extreme cases, a flat spot develops, and the tire will bump with every revolution.

When to replace?

You wouldn’t drive a car with worn tires, so why let employees operate a forklift with worn tires? Rubber press-on tires should be replaced when 30% of the tire’s original tread rubber has been worn. For more guidelines on replacing worn tires, read: "When is it Time to Replace Worn Tires."

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