Solid skid steer tires are popular among many skid steer users because of the reduced downtime they provide and the elimination of flat tires. Over the years many different designs have emerged of the aperture hole designs in the sidewall of the tire to provide cushion and make the ride more comfortable for the operator. Here we look at the different types of aperture hole designs in a solid tire and the pros and cons of each.
Round Holes
The first type of aperture hole design in a solid skid steer tire is the single row basic round hole design. This design is intended to provide a cushioned ride with the solid skid steer tire. However, many operators find that it still provides a stiff ride. This design is cheaper to make because the overall use of the rubber compound is decreased due to its lower profile. However, with less rubber in these solid skid steer tires, the grip and the cushioning is certainly reduced.
There are also certain problems associated with this type of aperture design to consider. Round hole solid skid steer tires may suffer from stress cracking over time, because the circular holes often compress to create a specific pinch point under heavy loads. This will end up reducing the load bearing capacity of the tire over time and decrease its useful lifespan.
Round holes are a very common type of aperture hole design for solid skid steer tires because it is less expensive to make and can be sold at a reduced price. You will find that many overseas-made tires utilize this design.
Elongated Holes
The elongated holes on solid rubber tires are just an extended and upgraded version of the rounded holes. They have slightly more rubber used in them, which improves the cushioning when compared to the round hole solid skid steer tires. Despite this, these solid skid steer tires still remain stiff when compared to other superior options.
The elongated aperture means that the problem of stress cracking is significantly reduced, when compared to the round hole solid tires, because the oval is intended to compresses to make a circle instead of a pinch point.
The rubber profile is also larger, which is intended to increases the overall comfort level, but in reality the ride is still fairly stiff. Having a larger rubber profile also means that these non-pneumatic tires are slightly more expensive to manufacture than the round hole version.
Staggered Holes
If you are looking for solid skid steer tires that provide a cushioned ride, staggered aperture hole design solid tires are better than the elongated and the simple round hole designs.
However, the cushioning does not compare to a pneumatic tire, and operators will still comment on the stiffness of the ride.
Furthermore, since the holes are still round, they will continue to create pinch points under heavy loads. This can not only produce stress cracking and over time reduce the load bearing capacity of the solid skid steer tire, it will affect the overall useable lifespan of the tire.
Specially Engineered Holes
Specially engineered aperture holes on a solid skid steer tire provide it the same ride and comfort as that of a pneumatic tire and offer an excellent cushioning effect. This allows the operator to smoothly work on the skid steer while still moving heavy loads.
This type of design is also made to reduce bounce because the aperture design operates like a shock absorber with the ground. Operators have also commented on the solid skid steer tire tire being more stable because of the internal cross structure designed into the solid tire.
Another added benefit is that the aperture holes do not create compress points which ensures that the tires are resistant to stress cracking. This is also possible with the use of premium rubber compounds that use additives specifically designed to reduce stress cracking. They are present in premium solid skid steer tires and offer excellent traction because of the rotational torque the tire creates from compression of the tire.
Conclusion
As you can see from the following table, there are many differences and considerations to think about when deciding on what type of solid tire you are going to buy and the aperture hole design you are going to want to have. Having a specially engineered design is going to be your best option for performance and functionality in both the short and long term. Other options may be an option though if you are willing to give up some performance to save money.
To learn more about solid skid steer tires visit the Video Gallery from Evolution Wheel.
