Top Tips to Maximize Forklift Tire Safety & Efficiency

Forklift tire pros share valuable advice.

By: Molly Chen and Robbie Gilliss, Contributors

With material handling as the backbone of the economy, forklifts serve an integral role in uploading goods and materials. This is why forklift accidents have a big impact on your business and ultimately, people. Did you know that 70% of forklift accidents could be prevented by operator training and retraining? Each compensation claim can average $41,000 and each safety violation costs up to $13,000.

While it’s critical to maintain your forklift trucks, it’s also equally important to ensure your forklift tires’ safety is maximized as they may have a bigger impact than you think. Forklift tires play a major role in ensuring operator’s safety and maximizing productivity; whether it’s an indoor or outdoor operation.

To sum it up, the benefits of maintaining your forklift tires include: safer operation, increased tire life, increased productivity, reduced fuel consumption and improved operator comfort. In this article, we’re going to share tips on:

• How to choose the best application for your operation
• How to maximize your tire safety and care for your forklift tires properly
• When to change your forklift tires

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST APPLICATION

It’s also important to consider the factors that affect tire safety, including: environment, application, equipment upkeep, operator training and warehouse efficiency.

Environment: It’s important to not overlook the environment in which your forklifts operate in. Consider the below questions when selecting the best application for your forklift and how to improve your operation’s maintenance:

1. What does your warehouse look like?
2. Is everything tidy with enough space?
3. Debris on floor?
4. Have you completed an overall evaluation of the environment where the forklifts operate?

Application: After you’ve identified what the overall environment is like, it’s important to consider what type of application is appropriate for your warehouse and operations.

The chart above outlines various types of applications and forklift tires. Photo courtesy of Maxam Tire North America.

HOW TO MAXIMIZE SAFETY

Equipment upkeep is vital, and every forklift operation should have a preventative maintenance program along with daily checks. Be sure to conduct a pre-shift checklist on both your equipment and forklift tires when possible. Other key factors include:

Operator Training: Employers must ensure every forklift operator is certified, stays current with operator training and is aware of hazards.

Warehouse Efficiency: This goes back to the environmental aspect but consider whether your warehouse is as efficient as it can be. Refer to its blueprint and consider how to maximize space, as well as ensuring everything is tidy.

Forklift Stability: Regardless of your operation needs and application, maintaining your lift truck’s stability is critical to avoid tipping. Typically, a forklift becomes unstable in the following scenarios:

1. If it falls outside of the “stability triangle” (from the center of the rear axle to the front wheels), a tip will likely occur.
2. Driving down a ramp when the center of gravity moves too far forward.
3. Sharp turns when center of gravity shifts too far to the left/right of the wheelbase.

In addition to ensuring how environment and operation play a role in your forklift tires’ longevity and performance, it’s important to consider whether your shift is on the light use side or heavy shifts side, this also impacts your operator’s comfort.

It’s worth considering a more premium forklift tire if your operations have heavy shifts, which can be measured by hours run, load carried, ground quality, distance traveled and operator comfort.

Facts to consider are that the operator will absorb 84% of shock if a tire is 40% overworn, which results in the forklift’s transmission working harder to turn the tires, resulting in a potential breakdown. This is why it’s critical to consider proper tire care.

We’ve discussed factors that have an impact on your forklift’s tire safety. If you’re following these guidelines and are maximizing your operation’s safety, another aspect to consider is to know when to replace a forklift tire.

The chart above outlines how the forklift tire’s quality impacts safety and efficient operation. Photo courtesy of Maxam Tire North America.

WHEN TO CHANGE FORKLIFT TIRES

Below are nine warning signs that help you identify damaged tires:

1. Blow-out: Even solid material handling tires can blow out and have severe cracks on sidewalls. Blow-outs are often caused by heat buildup due to high duty cycles, heavy loads and long runs. Replace these with larger tires that have a special compound to meet the demand of your operations.
2. Base/cap separation: Base/cap separation is when a solid resilient tire’s base separates from the cap and it looks similar to a blow-out. This happens due to excessive heat buildup from high duty cycle and long runs. The cause could be a production issue and that the tire wasn’t cured properly.
3. Bond separation: This occurs when press-on tire’s rubber separates from the steel band due to excessive heat buildup and a long/high duty cycle. The cause could be a production issue and that the tire wasn’t cured properly.
4. Radial cracking: When you see cracks radiating on the sidewall of the tire all around, this is a sign that you’re overloading; when your loads exceed the rated capacity of the tire. Replace the tires with tires that have special compounds that meet the demand or get wider tires.
5. Steer tire overload: Similar to radial cracking, caused by overloading above the rated capacity of the tire. Replace the tires with tires that have special compounds that meet the demand or get wider tires.
6. Chipping and chunking: If the tire has chips and chunks missing, this is a sign that you’re running over debris, broken floors and other things that should not be on the floor. Ensure your floor maintenance is being conducted, along with operator training.
7. Pitting or cupping: If you see the tire with some cupping and dents on the surface, this is the result of bearing problems. Be sure to repair your equipment ASAP.
8. Uneven wear: Uneven wear of the tire is caused by misalignment of forklift axles, be sure to repair your equipment ASAP.
9. Flat spots: When you find flat areas on the surface if the tire, this is a sign that operators are spinning the tires and skidding to stop. Conduct an operator training and consider replacing with tires that have more traction.

In summary, keeping your tires in good condition may require some time and effort but ensures maximum productivity, a safer workplace and better efficiency. Forklift tire safety has a significant impact on your operation when it’s maximized. When being followed properly, you will achieve maximum productivity and ultimately ensuring the safety of your people. WMHS

Molly Chen is the Marketing Brand Manager with Maxam Tire North America, and Robbie Gilliss is the company’s Material Handling Segment Manager. As a major global specialty tire manufacturer and distributor, Maxam Tire has a strong reputation for market-leading quality, reliability, and delivered value. Our organization’s foundation is centered around world-class engineering practices and the most advanced manufacturing platforms within our industry, ensuring superior product quality. Visit www.maxamtire.com for more information.