Radial, cross-ply or solid tyres?
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11/06/2007 Hanover, October 2007. User requirements for industrial tyres differ greatly – in particular with regard to stability, speed and ground surfaces. Continental offers the right industrial tyre for every task. Forklifts and industrial trucks have many different operating conditions: they lift loads at varying heights and travel not only on level floors in industrial buildings, but also on ground that may or may not be properly surfaced, with speeds varying between 6 and 50km/h (4 and 31mph). In view of that, there is a wide range of tyres available for industrial vehicles, and the correct choice of tyre is determined by the specific application and requirements in question.
Before purchasing tyres it is extremely important to determine their intended use and the intended type of vehicle, as well as the surface on which they will be used. Depending on ground surface conditions – unpaved, paved, mixed or smooth floors – and the vehicle’s job – lift height of up to 3.5 metres, up to 5 metres or over 5 metres – one particular product will be more suitable and more economical than another. Continental, as one of the world's leading tyre manufacturers, has classified all its industrial tyres on the basis of their relevant features, service conditions and user benefits, thus enabling customers to make a shortlist of suitable products quickly and reliably. Solid tyres – stability even with ultra-heavy loads Forklifts are very often equipped with solid tyres. Thanks to their high rigidity, SE (Super Elastic) solid tyres ensure exceptional stationary stability for the forklift, especially when loads have to be raised to a great height. In high stacking operations, even a slight degree of tyre deformation causes directional inaccuracy of the fork assembly, making it difficult to position pallets and stack products accurately, and putting workplace safety at risk. In logistics centres, solid tyres are therefore the preferred choice; but the other properties of these tyres also make them ideal for (lifting) operations at airports and seaports, in dockyards, smelting works and industrial manufacturing facilities. They are resistant to impact and cut damage, puncture-proof and maintenance-free, and they have a high load capacity.
“For many consumers, solid tyres are a popular choice, simply because they are maintenance-free and their susceptibility to damage is low,” explains Wilhelm M. Wendel, Head of Marketing for Industrial Tyres at Continental. Solid tyres can be used on vehicles with a maximum speed of 25km/h (15mph). With Conti's own SIT (Snap in Tyre) system (mounting without a lockring), it is relatively easy to fit an SE solid tyre, although a mounting press is also required. With its CSEasy system, however, Continental has made solid tyre fitment much more simple: unlike customers mounting conventional solid tyres, CSEasy customers need no press to fit their tyres. Just a simple torque key suffices to mount the spare tyre quickly and securely. Furthermore, CSEasy SC 20 gives up to 40 percent higher mileage performance compared with standard solid tyres. The use of solid tyres, however, means that compromises have to be made in terms of ride comfort. If the materials handled are easily damaged and ground conditions are not ideal, solid tyres may not be the first choice. In this case, it is important to consider whether pneumatic tyres may be a better option. Pneumatic tyres – with the emphasis on comfort “For the consumer, the comfort offered by pneumatic tyres is often one of the prime purchasing criteria,” says Wilhelm M. Wendel. This is true of both radial and cross-ply tyres.
The specific design of cross-ply tyres means they provide high lateral stability and thus relatively good stationary stability even on ground that is not properly surfaced, which is of utmost importance for stacking and lifting tasks. Tough cross-ply tyres are suitable for mixed ground surfaces. They also offer good traction on poorly surfaced ground. Approved for a maximum speed of 40 to 50km/h (25 to 31mph), depending on the tread pattern, and thus considerably faster than solid tyres, cross-ply tyres also feature a very high resistance to sidewall damage, good mileage performance and traction.
Radial tyres – fast and strong The budget-minded consumer opts for radial tyres because of their low rolling resistance and much better mileage performance compared to cross-ply tyres, although mileage performance is still generally lower than that of solid tyres. The excellent economic efficiency of radial tyres shows on long distances in particular. This type of application can be found frequently at airports and seaports where vehicles travel at relatively high speeds, such as on the apron when luggage and other goods are transported. In comparison to solid tyres, the focus here is on “transporting” rather than “lifting”. “Consumers opt for radial tyres because they are considerably more economical and provide better driving comfort than their cross-ply counterparts,” explains Wilhelm M. Wendel. Continental’s radial tyres for both industrial trucks and tractive units are capable of operating at speeds of up to 40-50km/h (25 to 31mph), depending on the tire’s tread pattern. The Extra Deep version, with a greater tread depth than standard tyres, even achieves a mileage performance comparable to that of SE tyres. In terms of traction, radial tyres are better than solid or cross-ply tyres. Owing to the need for regular inflation pressure monitoring on pneumatic tyres, more maintenance is required than for solid tyres. This may also influence the decision to purchase these tyres.
The multitude of parameters, product specifications and individual service conditions shows just how vital it is to obtain first-rate technical guidance when choosing industrial tyres, since this can significantly influence the success and satisfaction of each and every user in industrial plants. Continental is the only tyre manufacturer to supply a comprehensive range of industrial tyres, making it the No. 1 in Germany and Europe, and one of the top three worldwide. The Continental Corporation is a leading automotive supplier of tyres, brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics and technical elastomers. In 2006 the corporation realised sales of EUR14.9 billion. At present it has a worldwide workforce of around 89,000. Continental’s tyre divisions are an official sponsor of UEFA EURO 2008™, which will take place in Austria and Switzerland in June 2008. Further information on this is available at www.ContiSoccerWorld.de, www.contifanworld.com and www.conti-online.com. Overview: Radial, cross-ply or solid tyres?
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