Choosing The Right Tires Is Important
Although it may seem not important, choosing the right tires for your loader is the best way to ensure your machine operates efficiently. The right tires enable an optimal performance of your machine, save money in downtime and operating costs and increase the productivity. The type of tires of your front end loader, backhoe or skid steer loader, depends on your application and the terrain you will use the machine on.
All tire types feature traction, wearing ability and strength. There is no perfect tire for the entire lifespan, especially if they are used on a hard surface one day and the next one on a sensitive surface. Therefore, it is recommended to select tires based on the surface. While skid tires are great for concrete, lug tires are just perfect for traction and smooth tires for grassy and sandy surfaces. Read few details for each tire type below.
Turf Pattern Tires – Turf pattern tires are the most recommended tires for a mini front end loader because of their ability to be used both on hard and soft surfaces and lawns and grassy areas. As these tires have the highest amount of tread in contact with the surface and have a low ground pressure, the turf pattern tires are very efficient on concrete, but also on soft surface. The shoulders of the turf pattern tires are sift and as your mini front end loader steers, the weight is evenly distributed and the damage on the lawn or the grass is reduced to minimum.
Skid Steer Tread Tires – The skid steer tread tires are for heavy duties because of their rim guards and high ply rating. They work best on 50-50% traction and hard surface, but are only available in smaller size. They may not be a fit for the bigger front end loaders, but for a mini front end loader they are the perfect choice.
Lug Tires – The lug tires, also known as AS Tread, are the best choice for traction. To achieve the best traction, you need the deepest lugs, which are also known for their self-cleaning ability. As the lug tires have the lowest amount of tread in contact with the surface, they are very quick on concrete, or hard surface. But as the lug tires have the highest ground pressure, they are the worst choice for sensitive/soft surfaces.
Industrial Lug Tires – The industrial lug tires are multi-functional, as they are suitable for any kind of surface. This means that they can be used on either concrete or soft-soil surfaces. If you are using your loader on public roads, the industrial lug tires are the recommended ones.
