Caqital Equipment News October 2018

SKID STEERS

Pneumatic tyres remain very popular in road work and agricultural applications.

As users of construction equipment continue to demand more efficiency from their machines, solid tyres have become increasingly popular in skid steer loaders over their pneumatic counterparts. However, it’s all about the right tyre for the right application, writes Munesu Shoko . Skid steer tyres – solid or pneumatic?

I t is common knowledge that skid life. By their very nature, skid steers are designed to wear tyres quickly because the wheels are constantly counter rotating against each other to provide a full turning radius. Consequently, tyres are by far the most expensive replacement wear items on a skid steer loader. As users of construction equipment con- steer loaders are harsh on tyres. The sharp turns and spinning wheels often associated with these legendary machines can shave days off a tyre’s

tinue to find ways to slash their operation- al costs, solid tyres have in recent years gained popularity in skid steer loaders over their pneumatic counterparts. Why solid tyres? There are several benefits associ- ated with this type of tyre, but before we delve into the advantages, Hugo van der Walt, BCP product specialist, Barloworld Equipment southern Africa, warns that both pneumatic and solid tyres have their respective advantages and downsides – as well as applications for which they are best suited. “It is all about the application

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