Probably not. But as you’re about to read, plenty of opportunities are available to spend too much too often if you ignore proper maintenance.

So, what exactly do you know about lift truck tires? The standard answer is: They’re black, round and roll. And at that point, most people run out of details. Trouble is, lift truck tires are a complicated consumable, and they require regular attention.

“Tires are one of the highest cost maintenance components of lift trucks. It is not uncommon for them to account for 30% of fleet maintenance costs,” according to Kristian Rendtorff, fleet manager at Associated, one of Raymond’s largest dealers.

In fact, tires can stop being all that round and rolling all that well for plenty of reasons. It’s the case whether the tires are solid, cushion or pneumatic or made of rubber or polyurethane. The danger zones for all tires are heat, wear, abuse and misapplication. A solid maintenance program is the best way to monitor tire wear and ensure you are getting the right balance of tire performance and life.

Read the entire article in Modern Material Handling here.