Why are there different materials for load wheels? Which one should I choose?

What is the best load wheel material for your pallet jacks or electric lift trucks?

To answer that you’ll first have to answer: 

What are your floors like?

Here a short overview:

Retail / customer-facing floors: choose Poly
Why? They are quiet, non-marking, and gentler on finished floors

General warehouse: choose Ultra-poly
Why? Better rolling and longer life than standard poly while staying quiet and non-marking

Rough floors / debris / dock work: choose Nylon
Why? More durable for rough, wet, or debris-covered surfaces and outdoor ramps/docks

Freezer / cold storage: choose Nylon or ultra-poly
Why? Nylon handles harsh cold-duty environments well, while ultra-poly is noted for cold performance and durability

Heavy-load / high-abuse industrial use: choose Nylon
Why? Strong, durable, and better for demanding conditions than standard poly

Extreme-duty, specialty environments: choose Steel
Why? Best where debris and brute durability matter more than noise or floor protection

More details on each material:

Polyurethane (Poly)

Ideal for display floors, carpeting, and warehouses. They mark floors the least while rolling easily and make very little noise. These wheels can be very durable when used exclusively on smooth surfaces. 

But: Poly is not as tough as nylon, and wheels are easily damaged when running over debris. Moisture, oil or chemicals will easily degrade the material.

Ultra-Poly

They are longer lasting and they roll more easily than regular poly. Ultra-poly is very hard and won't shatter if too cold; and they are also non-marking.

Nylon

A harder material that is best for cold storage applications. And Nylon wheels can support greater weight capacity. Debris on the floor does not degrade the wheel as fast. It is also the material of choice for use in environments that may cause rust or corrosion like poultry processing, and working with seafood.   

But: Nylon wheels make more noise and can leave marks.

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. They are the strongest and most durable - best for extreme loads and rough conditions.

But: very noisy

One or two?  

Replacing the whole load wheel bracket is more time-consuming and expensive than choosing two wheels during regular maintenance.

Because we so strongly advocate changing both at the same time we created wheel kits, and they are priced at a substantial discount.  

And how do I replace the load wheels?

Follow our step-by-step video:

Quality replacement parts for

electric lift trucks  and manual pallet jacks 

Fast Lift Parts is the world's largest supplier

of after-market pallet jack parts.

Order today at www.genericparts.com

800-331-0839     *      csinfo@genericparts.com

We go the extra mile

to make sure you get what you need

- fast.

Everything you need to know about Lift Truck Tires

Choosing and maintaining the correct forklift tires is essential for safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations. Regular inspections, proper selection, and timely replacement are key to maximizing tire life and forklift performance.

And while we don't offer quite all of these options, it might be useful to know about them.

• Pneumatic Tires:
  Filled with air (like car tires), they provide excellent shock absorption and traction, making them ideal for rough or uneven outdoor surfaces such as construction sites and lumberyards. However, they are susceptible to punctures and require regular air pressure checks.
  
• Solid Pneumatic Tires:
  Made of solid rubber, these are puncture-proof and more durable than air-filled pneumatics. They are suited for environments with debris or sharp objects and have a longer lifespan.
• Cushion Tires:
  Made of solid rubber and fitted to a metal band, cushion tires are compact and best for smooth, indoor surfaces like warehouses and manufacturing facilities. They offer a smaller turning radius, making them ideal for tight spaces.
• Polyurethane Tires:
  Lightweight and durable, these are used mainly on electric forklifts in indoor environments. They provide good traction, are non-marking, and resist chemicals and cuts.
• Non-Marking Tires:
  Designed to prevent floor scuffing, these are essential in clean or appearance-sensitive environments such as retail, food, and pharmaceutical facilities.
• Specialty Tires:
  Options include fiberglass-impregnated tires for heat resistance, static-resistant tires for explosive environments, and cold-prepped tires for icy conditions.

We recommend:

Poly tires electric trucks, especially when ridden or capable of lifting above 4 feet, due to the superior stability vs. rubber tires. Polyurethane also has less rolling resistance than rubber which increases efficiency.

Polyurethane tires are harder, can carry greater loads and will outlast a rubber tire by as much as 4 times. However, they also have less cushioning ability.
Polyurethane tires offer improved traction with different tread types without sacrificing load capacity. They are more durable and are less likely to suffer from chunking, tearing or delaminating. Polyurethane tires are less prone to cutting or tearing.

Polyurethane can be slippery when wet but tread styles, such as the Diamond Groove or XGroove are available for wet and cold floor conditions while maintaining high load capacities.

Rubber tires can offer a softer ride and are generally used outdoors on the larger propane and internal combustion lift trucks. Rubber tires dissipate heat well and are recommended for use at higher speeds. They offer a broader footprint providing better traction, particularly in wet conditions, but have lower load capacities. Rubber tires are typically made with carbon black and because of this will mark indoor floors.

Tread Patterns

Smooth – Smooth surface tires are best on clean floors and standard warehouse environments.  There are several types of smooth tires.  SC = smooth crown. SF = smooth flat.  These can also have tapered sidewalls TSW or straight sidewalls SSW

X-Groove, also known as Diamond Groove (XG) – These have an X or Diamond pattern cut in the tire surface, best for wet floors and freezer areas.  

Worried about the wear of your tires?

Check out this video on 
When to Replace and How to Measure Your Drive Tire

Free tire pressing service available 

with the purchase of a new tire or tire and wheel combo. Tire and hub assemblies are available in stock for many of the most popular electric pallet trucks. 

If you don't see what you are looking for here, just call us at 800-331-0839 or email us at csinfo@genericparts.com.

Crown WP Series & PE Series  *  Big Joe WPT60  *  BT Prime SMX45  *  Hyster W40XT & W40Z  *  Jung Heinrich EJE120 * Mitsubishi PW23 & PW30 * Raymond 102XM * Toyota 7HBW23  *  Yale MPB040E 

We have the Press-On Tires you need!

FREE Tire Pressing – Limited Time

Generic Parts is committed to providing services that benefit you. We now press drive tires with hubs up to 12” in diameter and for a limited time are offering free tire pressing with the purchase of a drive tire or hub. 

We also offer competitive pricing on a range of drive tires, hubs and assemblies. Call today for information on price and availability.

Thank you for making Generic Parts your material handling parts resource!