Industrial

Industrial tyres: what the category covers

Industrial tyres are built for machines that carry heavy loads at low speed on hard surfaces: forklifts, telehandlers, container handlers, tow tractors, sweepers and access platforms. Compared with an agricultural tyre they have a thicker tread, a stiffer casing and a compound chosen for abrasion resistance rather than traction on soil.

Pneumatic, solid or press-on?

Pneumatic industrial tyres (for example 7.00-12, 8.25-15, 10.00-20) cushion the load and are the standard choice for forklifts and telehandlers working outdoors on uneven yards. They are cheaper to buy and simpler to fit, but can puncture.

Solid (puncture-proof) tyres in the same sizes fit standard rims and are chosen where scrap, glass or metal on the floor make punctures a daily problem. They last two to three times longer than pneumatics in intensive use. Non-marking versions are available for food and pharmaceutical warehouses.

Press-on band tyres are bonded to a steel band and pressed onto the wheel hub. They are used on electric warehouse forklifts working indoors on smooth concrete, where load capacity and stability matter more than cushioning.

Load, speed and heat

An industrial tyre spends its life close to its load limit. Check the load index against the axle load with the truck fully laden and the mast tilted forward, and remember that heat, not tread wear, is what usually ends the life of a forklift tyre. Correct pressure and matching tyres on both sides of the axle are the two habits that make the biggest difference.

Brands

The category is built around West Lake by ZC Rubber, one of the world's ten largest tyre manufacturers, with a wide range of forklift and industrial patterns. CEAT Specialty and VK Tyre cover further pneumatic sizes; inner tubes and flaps for tube-type sizes are listed separately.

Tell us the make and model of the truck and the size on the current tyre and we will confirm the fit before you order.