Pneumatic telehandler tires are the cheapest option on the market. They are effective for light work but not in more demanding applications like construction. A flat tire in these conditions can be dangerous, especially when traveling with heavy loads.
Foam-filled telehandler tires are pneumatic tires filled with foam rather than air. This allows them to be puncture resistant and safer on a construction job site. The foam adds weight to the tire providing more traction but sacrifices floatation.
However, foam-filled telehandler tires do not flex like pneumatic tires. Due to the stiffness of the tire foam, a rough ride is caused for the operator. Also, they suffer sidewall damage. Whenever sidewall damage gets severe enough, foam squeezes out of the tire. It is dangerous to ride on a hobbled tire when carrying heavy loads because the uneven ride causes the tire to vibrate.
Premium options like the EWRS-TH Series are more expensive upfront, but will save you money in the long run. It will be more expensive in the long run to replace foam-filled or pneumatic tires that keep rupturing than to replace premium solid tires on telehandlers.
Time spent servicing tires costs money. Not only do you have to pay for maintenance or replace tires, but the time wasted dealing with them can be expensive. This is why solid tires are becoming more common on job sites. Solid telehandler tires are less damaged. If you get a segmented option like the EWRS-TH Series, you won’t have to worry about downtime due to damaged tires again.
Telehandler tires are most important for safety. Same as any other piece of equipment on the job site. A flat tire on the job site can be very dangerous, especially when carrying heavy loads. A tire that isn’t stable creates a dangerous environment. Solid tires are designed to handle heavy loads while operating in severe conditions so you can trust they won’t fail you.