Tyres, wheels and castors... Where would we be without them? They are the things every materials handling-related business relies on for its daily bread.

Welcome to Forkliftaction.com's feature on the world market for forklift tyres, wheels and castors. The first of this two-part series will focus on the forklift tyre market. Stay tuned for part two, our wheels and castors feature editorial, on November 20.

Well, where to start? Many readers will be well aware of the myriad configurations and styles of forklift tyres available, but here is a brief introduction.

Tyres are a forklift's feet: its connection to the ground. That's a simple definition but, in terms of safety, stability, cost and time efficiency, some consider the tyre to be the most complex and important part of a forklift.

Wrong tyre pressure or incorrect tread type can lead to a range of expensive and potentially fatal problems. Selecting the correct combination of tyre and wheel is most important for saving time, lives and money for your company.

This is where the world's forklift tyre manufacturers and distributors come into the picture. Luckily, despite the many complex decisions that can be made when choosing a tyre specific to your forklift, environment and application, there are plenty of reputable tyre specialists in all corners of the world eager to lend a hand.

Press-on banded, resilient, pneumatic, moulded direct solid or conical base - each type of tyre serves one purpose well. Tyre buyers should be informed and sure of their purchase.

Sometimes, choosing the right tyre can be a problem solved at the forklift dealership, rather than the tyre dealer. If your needs require a tyre that can stand rough or wet terrain outdoors, a rough-terrain forklift may be the answer, as it comes fitted with suitable tyres, and the machine may do your job more easily than a conventional forklift.

While advances in forklift tyres have been rapid in the past decade, clearly the biggest issue facing the market is the responsible disposal of used forklift tyres.

Debate is currently raging in the UK about European Union moves to phase out landfill as a disposal method for whole tyres. This requires tyres to be shredded before disposal, which has been widely welcomed.

But the UK's Industrial Tyre Association (ITA) says UK waste management companies are not equipped to shred solid forklift tyres. The Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) backs the ITA's calls.

Watts Industrial Tyres spokesman Phil Perry said a "large majority" of new forklifts sold had solid tyres fitted as original equipment. He said more than 5,000 tonnes of solid rubber tyres were used in the UK, and almost half that amount discarded each year.

FLTA chairman Brian Warbrick said solid forklift tyres were used widely for better stability and to avoid downtime from punctures. "Materials handling, and industry as a whole, would be much less efficient and safe if the option of solid tyres was removed," he said.

So next time you're buying forklift tyres, consult the professionals. Arm yourself with information and make informed choices. There's a big wide world of tyres out there.

The editorial team thanks the British Industrial Truck Association, Watts Industrial Tyres, the European Tyre & Rim Organisation and the Tyre & Rim Association for their help in compiling this article.