Pallet Jack Pros Recommend: Which Steer Wheels are the Best?

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Which Steer Wheels are the Best?

Steering wheels, like load wheels (also called roller wheels), come in different materials. Which kind do you need? That depends on where you use your pallet jack:

Nylon Steering Wheels

Ideal for hard surfaces.

The easy-to-clean rims are great for indoor applications requiring high levels of hygiene (eg. the food industry).

Hard but brittle (they are less impact resistant than the alternatives).

Low rolling resistance.

Create more noise when traveling than Rubber or Polyurethane.

Polyurethane Steering Wheels

Suitable for all applications.

Recommended for heavy loads.

Crosses obstacles (such as expansion joints) with ease.

Almost silent during travel.

Low rolling resistance.

Ultra-Poly Tread on Aluminum hub

When available, these wheels are longer lasting and they roll more easily than regular poly, also a chemical bond on a steel core. Ultra-poly is very hard and won't shatter like nylon if too cold (i.e. in and out of a freezer). They are also non-marking with the possibility of flat-spotting, as mentioned above.

Solid Steel Wheel

When all else fails you may need solid steel wheels. These are best for use on factory floors where there may be metal shavings or hard debris on the floor, and where noise is not an issue. What they lack in their ability for use in a sneak attack (they’re pretty loud) they make up for in sheer durability. These are also a good choice if you need to work outside on rough asphalt. *** These wheels can damage nice floors, so avoid use on floors you want to remain "pretty".

One Wheel or Two?

Now that you've got an idea of which type of wheel is best for your specific uses you are faced with another sometimes tough decision. One wheel or two?
First, most pallet jacks have two steer wheels. They are located on the main body of the jack, attached to the hydraulic unit, and therefore the handle.

Unless a pallet jack is brand new, we always recommend replacing both steer wheels at the same time. There is a legitimate benefit:
Steer wheels wear down and get shorter the longer you have used them. Steer wheels (like pallet jack load wheels, or the tires on your car) do not act independently but are a portion of a larger machine. Even a small difference in diameter causes stress on the mating (aka connected) parts which then causes issues down the line.

We recommend having extra wheel kits on hand. This will reduce downtime, and our kits contain quality wheels, and the necessary hardware comes for free! We have kits for all major brands in stock.