A Guide To Choosing The Best Tire For Your Compact Wheel Loader

The compact wheel loader is a type of loader used to collect and move industrial materials such as gravel, rocks, sand and dirt onto larger trucks. This heavy material is then transported by the trucks from the place of collection to a project site or dumping site. While this sounds simple enough, the entire process can be quite complicated – particularly when you do not have the ideal compact wheel loader to complete the collection and transportation of items. Finding the best loader is imperative and this article will guide you in identifying that piece of machinery.

compact loadersChoosing the most efficient and reliable loader is dependent mostly on the type of tire being utilized. The correct tire will enable your compact wheel loader to perform appropriately, thus saving you money on any unnecessary expenses. There are various types of wheels from which to choose, such as the lug tire, the industrial tire, the turf pattern tire and the skid steer tread. Each option will be detailed below.

1. The lug tire

The lug tire is also known as the AS Tread. This type of wheel is used primarily for traction and is most convenient on slippery or sensitive surfaces that lack any haulage conditions. It is highly advantageous in that it has a self-cleaning mechanism, thus decreasing the need for maintenance. However, the minimal amount of tread makes it wear very quickly when utilized on concrete surfaces.

2. The industrial lug tire

The industrial lug tire is also popular within areas that do not have tread on the surface; however, this tire has multi-functions and can be used on concrete surfaces in addition to softer, sensitive grounds. If you are utilizing a compact wheel loader in public areas it is recommended you utilize this type of tire.

3. The skid steer tread tire

The skid steer tread tire is also known as the SKD tire and presents with a high ply rating due to its heavy duty appearance. As this wheel has a heavy duty character, it features rim guards to protect it when rolling on the different surfaces. This tire works best on hard surfaces showing 50% traction and 50% hard surface. It should be noted that despite the heavy duty appearance, the skid steer tread tire is only available in small sizes making it ideal for small compact wheel loaders.

4. The turf pattern tire

The turf pattern tire has the greatest amount of tread among all tires currently available; this means that it is most beneficial when working on hard surfaces such as concrete. However, due to the turf pattern tire’s soft shoulders and steady steering, the weight of the loader will be evenly distributed across the wheel minimizing any damage to soft surfaces; therefore, this tire can also be utilized well on sensitive areas.

As can be seen, there are numerous options when searching for the ideal tire to utilize. It is important to take into consideration such factors as traction, strength and durability, and by following this guide you will be able to locate the best wheel for your needs.