The tyre is the only point of contact between the truck and the floor. A poor choice shows up as a rough ride, premature wear, damaged floors, and sometimes downtime. Yet the question is often handled as an afterthought, at replacement time, even though it shapes both the safety and the productivity of the workstation. Three main families cover most needs: cushion (solid) tyres, pneumatic tyres, and polyurethane. The right choice comes down to three simple factors: the condition of the floor, the working environment, and whether you need to protect the surface.
Cushion tyres: indoors on smooth floors
The cushion tyre, also called a solid press-on tyre, is a solid block of rubber bonded to a band that presses onto the wheel. With no air, it cannot puncture or go flat, which removes a large part of the maintenance burden. Being compact, it lowers the centre of gravity and improves stability under load. It is the reference choice for engine and electric trucks running indoors on concrete slabs, in warehouses, storage zones, or on loading docks.
Its limit is comfort: on uneven ground it passes shocks straight through to the machine and the operator, with no cushioning. Keep it to smooth, sound floors. On a damaged surface or rough outdoor terrain it wears fast and tires the equipment.
Pneumatic tyres: outdoors and rough terrain
The pneumatic tyre comes in two versions: air-filled, like a truck tyre, or solid pneumatic (a solid rubber tyre with a pneumatic profile). Taller and wider than a cushion tyre, it gives more ground clearance and genuine cushioning. Its tread bites on loose, gravelly, or uneven ground.
It is the choice for outdoor yards, construction sites, port zones, and any difficult terrain. The air-filled version delivers the best ride but stays vulnerable to punctures; the solid version removes that risk at the cost of slightly less cushioning, which makes it ideal where debris and scrap metal lie around.
Polyurethane: electric warehouse trucks
Polyurethane is fitted mainly to electric warehouse equipment: pallet trucks, stackers, and order pickers. The material offers low rolling resistance, which spares the battery and extends runtime, along with excellent resistance to abrasion and high point loads. Compact and durable, it suits clean, flat indoor floors perfectly.
On the other hand, it dislikes prolonged moisture, oil-soiled floors, and pronounced irregularities. Keep it indoors, on a sound slab, in the logistics flows where it excels.
Marking or non-marking: protecting the floor
Whatever the family, the rubber comes in a marking version (black, conventional) and a non-marking version (light coloured, without carbon black). The non-marking tyre avoids black streaks on light floors and limits contamination risk. It is essential in food processing, pharmaceuticals, retail, and anywhere the floor is light resin or polished concrete.
Non-marking compounds usually last a little less and cost a little more, but the trade-off is obvious once floor cleanliness is part of the brief.
| Tyre type | Environment | Strength | | --- | --- | --- | | Cushion (solid) | Indoors, smooth floor | Compact, maintenance-free, stable under load | | Pneumatic | Outdoors, rough terrain | Ground clearance and cushioning | | Polyurethane | Electric warehouse | Low rolling resistance, durable |
Reading wear and knowing when to replace
Watching wear avoids unpleasant surprises. A few concrete markers:
- The wear line. A reference mark, often a line or a colour change in the rubber, shows the limit you must not pass. Once reached, the tyre needs replacing.
- Chunking. Lumps of rubber tearing away signal a compound unsuited to the ground or an overload; deal with it without delay.
- Flat spots. A flattened patch creates vibration and gives away repeated harsh braking or long periods parked under load.
- Cracks and separation. At the wheel, they call for an immediate check.
Always replace in pairs on the same axle and keep the original dimension: a changed diameter throws off lift height and stability. When in doubt, have the fitment checked by a technician.
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