Today's 'go-anywhere, do-anything' mentality means tyre manufacturers must develop products that can cope with the increasingly varied demands of modern materials handling. The sheer diversity of surfaces on which forklifts now operate means the tyres used will vary drastically and require specific properties to cope.

Forklifts operate on many surfaces, from stone and timber to metal and hot surfaces, and tyres, which are vital for both performance and safety, should therefore be carefully selected. Stipulating the exact demands of the job is the key to obtaining tyres that will not only perform, but will also wear less and last longer.

Tyre-related downtime in the materials handling industry is too often caused by the incorrect application of a tyre chosen purely for purchase price rather than cost per hour, with little regard for health and safety. When tyres are chosen based on the latter variables, brand selection is often very different.

Misuse and misapplication
It is important that the right tyres are matched to the right environment and the right forklift, and that weight and speed limits are not exceeded. Misapplication can lead to premature wearing, which may result in a dropped load or even a forklift roll, potentially injuring the driver and damaging the load.

Fitting
It is vitally important that, once the right tyre is selected, it is fitted by professionals, using the right equipment. This will ensure over-pressing does not occur, avoiding the tyre turning on the wheel and invalidating the warranty.