The criteria for determining when electric forklift tires need replacement are mainly based on wear level and damage conditions. The application scenarios of tires made of different materials are directly related to the operating ground surface and working condition intensity. The specific details are as follows:

1. Criteria for Determining Electric Forklift Tire Replacement

Wear Limit Mark Criterion

High-quality forklift tires are pre-set with a wear limit line on the tread (usually 1–2 mm in depth). When the tread pattern is worn down to be flush with the limit line, or the remaining depth of the pattern is less than 1 mm, the tires must be replaced immediately. At this point, the tire's grip and skid resistance will drop sharply, leading to a high risk of skidding and rollover during operation.

Damage Condition Criterion

1. If a tire has a penetrating crack, bulge, or delamination, or the sidewall rubber is separated from the wheel hub, it must be replaced immediately even if the wear has not reached the limit, so as to avoid tire blowout during operation.

2. If a solid tire has large-area chunking or cracks extending to the internal carcass layer, or a pneumatic tire has frequent air leakage or failed valve core sealing, replacement is required.

3. If the tire wheel hub is severely deformed or rusted and cannot fit tightly with the forklift drive shaft, the wheel hub must be replaced together with the tire.

Working Condition Adaptation Criterion

If a forklift operates on ramps or uneven ground for a long time, even if the tread wear does not meet the replacement standard, but there is severe local uneven wear (the wear amount of the pattern on one side is much higher than that on the other side), it is recommended to replace the tires to prevent driving deviation caused by uneven wear.

2. Types and Application Scenarios of Tires Made of Different Materials

Solid Rubber Tires

Material Features: The tire body is pressed from solid rubber without an inflation structure, featuring strong wear resistance, high load-bearing capacity, and excellent puncture and blowout resistance.

Application Scenarios: Suitable for indoor hard ground surfaces such as warehouse storage areas, workshop concrete floors, and hardened ground in logistics sorting centers. They are ideal for high-frequency, heavy-load short-distance handling operations, especially in working conditions with metal debris and sharp materials, to prevent tire puncture.

Disadvantages: Poor cushioning performance, high vibration during driving, relatively loud noise, and not suitable for long-distance travel.

Pneumatic Tires (Including High-pressure and Low-pressure Pneumatic Tires)

Material Features: Similar in structure to automobile tires, the tire body consists of rubber + cord layers and is inflated internally. It has good cushioning and shock absorption effects, low driving noise, and strong grip.

Application Scenarios: Suitable for complex outdoor ground surfaces such as open-air freight yards, gravel roads, and asphalt roads in factory areas. They are ideal for long-distance handling and climbing operations, as they can effectively absorb ground bumps and improve operational comfort.

Disadvantages: Weak puncture resistance, prone to blowout in areas with sharp debris, and require regular tire pressure checks.

Polyurethane (PU) Tires

Material Features: Cast from polyurethane, they have high hardness, 2–3 times the wear resistance of rubber tires, good noise reduction effect, low rolling resistance, and lower energy consumption.

Application Scenarios: Suitable for indoor high-precision operations on smooth ground surfaces such as pharmaceutical workshops, food processing plants, and electronic component warehouses. They are ideal for light-load and medium-load working conditions with high requirements for noise and cleanliness, and are commonly used in small electric forklifts such as electric stackers and electric pallet trucks.

Disadvantages: Poor impact resistance, prone to cracking under uneven ground or heavy-load impact, and not suitable for outdoor or rough ground operations.

Mark-free Tires

Material Features: Mostly made of specially formulated rubber or polyurethane, they do not leave black rubber marks on the ground during driving.

Application Scenarios: Suitable for places with extremely high requirements for ground cleanliness, such as precision instrument workshops, epoxy floor warehouses, and dust-free workshops.