Caqital Equipment News October 2018

Solid skid steer tyres generally have a much longer life than their pneumatic counterparts.

and conditions underfoot,” he says. Craig Christie, BCP product application specialist, Barloworld Equipment southern Africa, adds that if you have the correct application and underfoot conditions for a solid tyre, benefits include more hours of operation; less maintenance given that there is no need to check tyre pressure; no punctures or sudden flat tyres; enhanced safety as the tyres do not have to be inflated, eliminating the risk of exploding; as well as less downtime and improved stability. The same view is shared by Brian Rachman, GM of Bobcat KwaZulu-Natal, who says solid tyres have become a viable option as there are no punctures associ- ated with them. Consequently, equipment owners are assured of less downtime, which is tantamount to putting money in the bank. Wakefield Harding, divisional sales manager at ELB Equipment, local supplier of the Gehl range of skid steers, says solid skid steer tyres generally have a much lon- ger life than their pneumatic counterparts. “You can get up to 3-4 times the life out of a good set of solid tyres than you could with a set of pneumatics. This is especial- ly true in heavy-duty service applications,” says Harding, adding that solids also save on labour and installation costs because they come mounted on their own wheel rim – making installing them on your own machine simple. Solid tyres Rachman says while solid tyres are gaining popularity, they are not necessarily ideal for every application. “It’s very important to select the correct tyres for the terrain and application at hand for maximum productivity,” he says. Rachman

It’s very important to select the correct tyres for the terrain and application at hand for maximum productivity.

QUICK TAKE

By their very nature, skid steers are designed to wear tyres because the wheels are constantly counter rotating against each other to provide a full turning radius

As users of construction equipment continue to find ways to reduce their operational costs, solid tyres have in recent years gained popularity in skid steer loaders over their pneumatic counterparts

Solid skid steer tyres generally have a much longer life than their pneumatic counterparts – you can get up to 3-4 times life out of a good set of solid tyres than you could with a set of pneumatics

A pneumatic tyre offers a bit more comfort for the operator as the air in the tyre gives some form of suspension

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