The Best Tire for Your Gehl Telehandler

When looking for the best telehandler tire for your Gehl, there are a few things you should look for. Cost-effectiveness, safety, and performance.

Telehandler Tire Types

The cost of a tire is not limited to the initial sales price. It also includes how long they last, damage resistance, and how much downtime they create. The most cost-effective type of tire on the market is solid tires. These tires are often more expensive upfront however they eliminate downtime and last much longer.

Pneumatic Telehandler Tires

Pneumatic telehandler tires are suitable for light use. The issue is that flat tires create a costly and dangerous risk. Especially in construction applications. If a tire goes flat while carrying a load, that load becomes unstable and can hurt one of your guys. Even if everyone is safe, the flat tire needs to be changed causing downtime and the purchase of a new tire.

Foam-Filled Telehandler Tires

That is why most Gehl operators now use foam-filled tires. These tires don’t have the same safety risks associated with pneumatic versions, but they are also more reliable. A foam-filled tire is just a pneumatic tire filled with foam instead of air. This makes the tire puncture proof however they can still develop side wall damage that can cause the tire to go flat. The flat tire then creates an unstable ride for operators risking safety again.

Foam-filled tires are also expensive to change, and the rubber will have to be cut off of the rim. This process is costly and time-consuming taking away valuable uptime for the machine and pushing back deadlines.

Solid Telehandler Tires

Solid telehandler tires are becoming more and more popular on Gehl telehandlers now because they don’t have this issue. These tires consist of rubber, with some apertures that allow for compression. They are both puncture and flat-proof and are overall more reliable than pneumatic or foam-filled tires. They cost the most upfront however will last much longer and perform better than the other two options.

The EWRS-TH Series

The solid telehandler tire from Evolution Wheel is a great example of a tire built to last longer and perform better than any of the competition. On top of the benefits of being a solid tire, these tires are segmented to be easily serviceable. They also feature a linear load profile as well as specially designed tread patterns.

The Segmented Design

The segmented tire design allows operators to service the tire on the job site. The rubber is attached to the rim with a series of nuts and bolts that can be removed and replaced if it is damaged. If the tread is gouged or damaged in any way, the operator just replaces the segment. This takes only a few minutes instead of having to change the whole tire. Eliminating unnecessary downtime and repair costs

When the tread is completely worn, a retread kit is available so operators can change the rubber themselves. No special equipment, technicians, or the need to remove the rim.

Linear Load Profile

The linear load profile is designed to give operators the ability to predict exactly how the tire will compress under a load. For every pound added to a load, the tires compress equally. A problem with other telehandler tires is that they start to buckle under heavy loads and operators can't predict exactly when this will happen. When it does it damages the tires and results in premature wear. With a linear load profile, this isn’t an issue.

Specialized Tread Design

The EWRS-TH Series has two tread designs, the traditional all-terrain version, and the hard surface tread pattern. The hard surface tread pattern is designed with a large footprint lengthening the wear life of the rubber. Hard surfaces don’t require the same amount of traction as off-road applications. increasing the surface area and decreasing the void space allows the tire to last longer. The all-terrain tread is designed to maximize traction making it ideal for muddy conditions.

Even though solid tires are more expensive up front, the cost-effectiveness, safety, and reliability they provide far exceed the competition making them an ideal option for all operators.