Starting here and now, I am going to post safety topics on a monthly basis. Not reinventing the wheel, as just about every forklift dealer has their own blog, the main difference here is relating my personal experiences found in my travels which (I hope) will have some unique insights and information useful to all who read these posts.
Tire Wear:
This particular topic will skew toward forklifts, with a little bit of general application - you have been warned.
Tire wear in forklifts is an ongoing topic of discussion, with a variety of variables involved for what on the surface would seem to be a open and closed, cut and dried, singular aspect of any machine, in truth tires are one of (if not) the most important part of any vehicle. Of course, all of the factors play a significant role in maximizing tire wear. I will attempt to cover as many of these factors in this post - without getting too carried away!
Let's start with a new set of tires - after receiving the bill, you want to do everything in your power to maximize your return on investment! Starting with the forklift operators, cultivate an awareness of safety at the beginning of each shift with the forklift inspection: visually inspect for damage to tire "tread", wheels etc. Look for foreign objects stuck in tires (though a cushion tire will not "go flat", there is a possibility of "chunking" (large chunks of rubber missing from tire) and "delaminating" (rubber separating from the metal rim) if the object is left in a tire.) Also check for uneven wear, front drive tires can wear unevenly due to rapid acceleration ("burnouts") and aggressive accelerating when the drive tire is wet. The typical forklift drive axle acts like a standard differential in an automobile, where only one wheel has power full time. This kind of wear is dangerous on a forklift because it offsets the stability triangle - creating a tipping hazard. Also regarding the drive tires, the standard wear point maximum is at the top of the lettering of the tire size on the side (applicable to steer tires as well), or the "safety line". However, consideration for forward tilt of the mast must be observed as there is only a few inches of clearance from the floor to the bottom of the mast (majority of 2,000 to 5,000lb. forklifts). The ratio of tire wear to the point where the mast will contact the ground is very little, and less on uneven surfaces. Uneven wear of the steer (rear) tires: if the steer tires appear to be tapering to one side, specifically to the inner side, could indicate a wheel bearing or king pin issue and should be addressed immediately. On an electric forklift with solid polyurethane tires, look carefully for flat spots on the face of the tread. Flat spotted tires will cause the forklift to shake and bounce during operation, causing a load to shift and/or fall off of forks, possibly cause internal damage to the forklift, and very unpleasant for the operator, of course!
Next, we want to focus on driving surfaces. Keeping forklift paths free of objects and debris, avoiding potholes and uneven pavement etc. are all good practises for tire health. Make sure to keep shrink wrap and banding materials picked up and away from forklift tires - I have seen many tires, wheel bearings and brakes damaged by just a little of either of these ran over and tangled around a wheel.
Majority of all new forklifts have programmable acceleration, speed restrictions, and other customizable options to help add to forklift tire life. If you are considering purchasing a new or newer forklift, ask your sales representative about these options to see if they are right for you.
A word about pneumatic tires. The basic visual inspection stated above applies to pneumatic tires, with close attention to objects that could cause a puncture of the tire/inner tube and cause a leak. Routine air pressure checks should be performed to extend the life of these tires, and is crucial to the lift/tilt functions in respect to ground clearance and maintaining the stability triangle.
I welcome a dialog on this topic and any other topics of safety that are of concern or interest to you. Thank you for your time!
Tom Kassen, Owner/Field Technician
(509) 939-0926
https://mobilemachineryservice.com/
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