Lasting commitment to innovation

Trelleborg’s industrial and construction tyres operation is committed to helping tyre distributors and their customers find exactly the right tyre for their needs. The company offers an extensive portfolio of premium-quality solid and pneumatic tyres. Each product is optimised for specific requirements and usage profiles, as well as being built on the same principles of quality and innovation.

Committed to quality and innovation

The principles of quality and innovation drive all areas of Trelleborg’s tire business: from product development and manufacturing through to strategy, customer service and routes to market. For example, its drive to raise industry standards and levels of professionalism recently led Trelleborg to join the UK’s National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) – a body that shares Trelleborg’s commitment to quality.

That reputation for quality comes from a lasting commitment to innovation targeted at meeting user needs. For example, many forklift managers are unaware that, for solid industrial tyres, tread depth has nothing to do with lifetime and consequently tread-depth rules for forklifts differ greatly from those for passenger cars, vans and trucks.

According to the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation, the umbrella group for Europe’s tyre industry, solid tyres are safe to use until wear reaches the base of the tread itself. This is known as either the “wear limit” or “60J line.” When the tread pattern on a solid tyre completely disappears, it still has about half of its useful life remaining.

Forklift tyres are often replaced with up to 25% of their life remaining simply because people are unaware that the tread on an industrial tyre performs a different function to that on their other vehicles. The tread pattern disappears and users assume that the tyre is no longer safe to use . 

It has been estimated that using tyres for the whole of their usable life could reduce tyre replacement by 20%, preventing a huge amount of waste. For a fleet of 15 forklifts, that’s an extra £5,000, or nearly 30 tyres over a typical five-year lease.

A sure sign of safety and efficiency

The trouble is that it is not easy to accurately assess when a solid tyre reaches its wear limit. Research carried out by Trelleborg shows that 2-3% of tyres are replaced too late, reducing traction and stability, putting thousands of drivers at risk. To allow fleet managers to get maximum usage from each tire without impacting safety, Trelleborg recently introduced a new feature it calls the Pit Stop Line on its premium Elite XP tires. 

The highly visible bright orange Pit Stop Line shows up on the tyre’s surface when it has about 100 hours of lifetime left. This gives an unmissable warning that it is time to start thinking about replacement. 100 hours represents 5 to 15 working days for a forklift, allowing better maintenance scheduling and less unplanned downtime. Engineered to meet the requirements of materials handling equipment, Trelleborg’s resilient Elite XP tyres with Pit Stop Line are available in sizes from 3.00-4 to 16.00-25, with a choice of compounds including non-marking, conductive, high-load, cut-resistant and chemical-resistant.

Tailored to individual needs

Through innovation based on end-users’ challenges, Trelleborg has established a truly diverse portfolio of tyre options that allow customers to find the perfect fit for their needs. This mean customers can balance their cost and performance requirements depending on their specific usage profile.

For example, in the resilient sector, the Orca is a standard tyre from Trelleborg that delivers solid performance at a competitive price. This makes it ideal for vehicles that are not used in 24/7 operations or that usually carry lower loads. Combining long mileage, good wear quality and excellent cut resistance with low energy consumption, the Orca is the most cost-effective tyre in its class.

Where pneumatic tyres are required in heavy duty and demanding material handling environments, users can choose the T-900 premium tyre. Its reinforced sidewall, flat tread and special compounding, ensure longer tyre life and extra resistance against sidewall impacts. At the same time, an extra-wide tread improves both stability and traction. The T-900 is available in sizes from 5.00-8 to 14.00-24 and, in the largest size, offers a load capacity of 12,600 kg for load wheels.

Where vehicles are required to make long runs, the TR-900 is an excellent option. Its radial construction allows for higher speeds while also reducing heat build up to extend tyre lifetimes. Moreover, it delivers better stability, traction and security thanks to its unique tread pattern and reinforced sidewalls. Available sizes range from 5.00R8 to 18.00R25, with load capacities up to 27,560 kg. 

Helping customers meet their goals

Trelleborg applies a high level of attention to user needs throughout its portfolio. For example, it offers press-on solid tyres in two different profiles. The traction profile offers long wear and excellent stability, while the smooth profile averages a 13% greater footprint than standard for improved comfort, performance and traction. Compared to premium competitors, Trelleborg’s press-on range provides a 25% longer lifetime and up to 12% in energy savings.

In a highly competitive market, Trelleborg believes success comes from delivering quality, innovation and the tailored tyre options end users need to meet their own business challenges.