The tyre is the only point of contact between the truck and the floor. A poor choice shows up as a rough ride, premature wear, damaged floors, and sometimes downtime. Yet the question is often handled as an afterthought, at replacement time, even though it shapes both the safety and the productivity of the workstation. Three main families cover most needs: cushion (solid) tyres, pneumatic tyres, and polyurethane. The right choice comes down to three simple factors: the condition of the floor, the working environment, and whether you need to protect the surface.
In short: choose cushion (solid) tyres for indoors on smooth floors, pneumatic tyres for outdoors and rough terrain, and polyurethane for electric warehouse trucks on a clean, flat slab. On top of that comes the marking or non-marking choice, depending on how sensitive the floor is. Decide from the floor condition, the environment, and the need to protect the surface, then watch wear so you replace at the right moment.
Cushion tyres: indoors on smooth floors
The cushion tyre, also called a solid press-on tyre, is a solid block of rubber bonded to a band that presses onto the wheel. With no air, it cannot puncture or go flat, which removes a large part of the maintenance burden. Being compact, it lowers the centre of gravity and improves stability under load. It is the reference choice for engine and electric trucks running indoors on concrete slabs, in warehouses, storage zones, or on loading docks.
Its limit is comfort: on uneven ground it passes shocks straight through to the machine and the operator, with no cushioning. Keep it to smooth, sound floors. On a damaged surface or rough outdoor terrain it wears fast and tires the equipment.
Pneumatic tyres: outdoors and rough terrain
The pneumatic tyre comes in two versions: air-filled, like a truck tyre, or solid pneumatic (a solid rubber tyre with a pneumatic profile). Taller and wider than a cushion tyre, it gives more ground clearance and genuine cushioning. Its tread bites on loose, gravelly, or uneven ground.
It is the choice for outdoor yards, construction sites, port zones, and any difficult terrain. The air-filled version delivers the best ride but stays vulnerable to punctures; the solid version removes that risk at the cost of slightly less cushioning, which makes it ideal where debris and scrap metal lie around.
Polyurethane: electric warehouse trucks
Polyurethane is fitted mainly to electric warehouse equipment: pallet trucks, stackers, and order pickers. The material offers low rolling resistance, which spares the battery and extends runtime, along with excellent resistance to abrasion and high point loads. Compact and durable, it suits clean, flat indoor floors perfectly. On these trucks the tyre works hand in hand with the onboard energy: getting the lithium versus lead battery call right weighs as much as the rubber choice on a shift's real runtime, and it carries through into careful traction battery maintenance.
On the other hand, it dislikes prolonged moisture, oil-soiled floors, and pronounced irregularities. Keep it indoors, on a sound slab, in the logistics flows where it excels.
Marking or non-marking: protecting the floor
Whatever the family, the rubber comes in a marking version (black, conventional) and a non-marking version (light coloured, without carbon black). The non-marking tyre avoids black streaks on light floors and limits contamination risk. It is essential in food processing, pharmaceuticals, retail, and anywhere the floor is light resin or polished concrete.
Non-marking compounds usually last a little less and cost a little more, but the trade-off is obvious once floor cleanliness is part of the brief.
| Tyre type | Environment | Strength | | --- | --- | --- | | Cushion (solid) | Indoors, smooth floor | Compact, maintenance-free, stable under load | | Pneumatic | Outdoors, rough terrain | Ground clearance and cushioning | | Polyurethane | Electric warehouse | Low rolling resistance, durable |
Reading wear and knowing when to replace
Watching wear avoids unpleasant surprises. A few concrete markers:
- The wear line. A reference mark, often a line or a colour change in the rubber, shows the limit you must not pass. Once reached, the tyre needs replacing.
- Chunking. Lumps of rubber tearing away signal a compound unsuited to the ground or an overload; deal with it without delay.
- Flat spots. A flattened patch creates vibration and gives away repeated harsh braking or long periods parked under load.
- Cracks and separation. At the wheel, they call for an immediate check.
Always replace in pairs on the same axle and keep the original dimension: a changed diameter throws off lift height and stability. When in doubt, have the fitment checked by a technician.
The tyre is just one link in the ground-level equipment: as with forks and attachments, the right component depends on the workstation and the real load. For a replacement matched to your equipment, lean on our checked used machines and accessories.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a cushion tyre and a pneumatic tyre?
The cushion (solid) tyre is a solid block of rubber with no air, compact, that cannot puncture and stays best on smooth indoor floors. The pneumatic tyre, taller and wider, gives more ground clearance and genuine cushioning for outdoors and rough terrain.
Which tyre should I choose for an electric warehouse truck?
Polyurethane is fitted mainly to pallet trucks, stackers, and order pickers: low rolling resistance, good resistance to abrasion and point loads, ideal on a clean, flat slab. Keep it indoors, away from prolonged moisture and oil-soiled floors.
When should I choose a non-marking tyre?
Whenever floor cleanliness is part of the brief: light resin or polished concrete floors, food processing, pharmaceuticals, retail. The non-marking tyre avoids black streaks and limits contamination, at the cost of slightly shorter life and a higher price.
How do I know a tyre needs replacing?
Watch the wear line, chunking (rubber tearing away), flat spots, and cracks or separation at the wheel. Always replace in pairs on the same axle and keep the original dimension so you do not throw off lift height and stability.
Need to replace your tyres? Browse our equipment and accessories or request a quote.
