Skid steers are one of the most versatile and universal machines found on jobsites today. Skid steers were first introduced to the dairy farm application when released but have become popular in the construction industry among many others. Today, it's not uncommon to see these machines used in mining, demolition, recycling, waste-handling, landscaping, and more. Anywhere a small but powerful machine is needed for a project, you’ll probably find a skid steer in use.
Developments in skid steer technology have also led to tire technology innovations. Traditionally, skid steers are outfitted with pneumatic tires (air-filled). But over the past 15 years or so, demand for solid skid steer tire has trended upwards. But which tire is the best option? It can be tough to choose between the tried-and-true pneumatic tires that have been in use for years, versus the newer, more technologically advanced solid skid steer tires. Let's examine some of the differences so you can determine which tire is right for your needs.
Pneumatic Skid Steer Tires
As the industry standard, pneumatic tires are the easiest to afford and purchase. When comparing pneumatic skid steer tires versus solid skid steer tires, pneumatic skid steer tires seem like the better value due to lower up-front cost. The downside is that these tires wear out quickly. They are also more likely to puncture, so you’ll need to replace or repair them often. These costs can add up to a huge expense in the long run.
Another reason workers might prefer pneumatic skid steer tires is because skid steer machines are not equipped with suspension, so the ride can be bumpy and rough. Pneumatic skid steer tires soften the ride by providing shock absorption, resulting in increased comfort for the machine operator. However, this can also be a drawback because the ride can get too bouncy due to the air in the tires. This is a common complaint from operators.
Solid Skid Steer Tires
One of the most appealing things about solid skid steer tires is never having to stop working to repair a flat. In extreme applications such as demolition sites or rock quarries, pneumatic tires are at high risk of puncturing items like rebar, sharp rocks, or construction debris. Solid skid steer tires provide the ultimate in puncture resistance, which means less downtime for workers and machines, and fewer repair costs.
Though solid skid steer tires are more expensive up front, they last 3 to 5 times as long, and in severe applications up to 10 times longer than pneumatic skid steer tires, which means fewer tires will need to be purchased. This also increases your return on investment (ROI) because the machine will be in operation for far longer between tire changes without downtime from flat tires. Solid skid steer tires provide more uptime and less downtime.
One of the biggest complaints about solid skid steer tires is the lack of suspension. Pneumatic skid steer tires are generally considered friendly to the operator, who can feel battered by lower-quality solid tires. However, advances in rubber technology and solid tire designs have made this far less of an issue. Rubber compounding has advanced to a point where solid skid steer tires can compress and give a smooth ride for the operator. This is while still being able to handle heavy loads. Also, as a result of advances in rubber compounding, the problem of stress cracking has been eliminated even while having a tire with a lot of movement in the rubber compound.
Skid steer machines are a crucial part of the modern jobsite. The right tires are critical for getting the job done right, on time, and under budget.
To learn more about solid skid steer tires visit the Video Gallery from Evolution Wheel.
