Skid steers are versatile machines that are used in a wide assortment of jobs and applications. They are used in construction, mines and quarries, landscaping, and agriculture. They can be used on hard packed dirt, sand, mud, concrete, and asphalt, and they are made to carry heavy loads. Tires are an important part of any job and can have the greatest impact on performance and time. Therefore, the tires skid steers require need to be designed to handle some of the toughest environments and carry heavy weights.
ALL IN THE DESIGN
Skid steer tires are made in both pneumatic and solid designs. Solid tires are used mainly in applications where flat tires and cut tires are a problem. An example is in scrap yards where tires are continuously running over metal. Pneumatic tires are used in a wide variety of other applications and are more versatile. Pneumatic tires can be foam filled to reduce flats and used in the place of solids. Because of the cost of foam filling, deep tread skid steer tires should be used to ensure that the user will get the maximum use from the tire.
VARIOUS APPLICATIONS
BKT offers a wide selection of skid steer tires to cover most categories of applications from light to heavy duty operations. Wear resistant compounds, like cut and heat resistant, are used in some tires for severe services and for longer tire life. Deeper treads are available for enhanced traction and longer service time. Whatever the design, quality products and compounds are an important part of BKT’s line.
Standard pneumatic tires are used for light to medium duty applications. BKT offers the Skid Power, Skid Power Plus, Skid Power SK, and Skid Power (Chevron). These tires have sidewall protection and are made with chip and chunk resistant compound. These tires provide long life, puncture protection, and chip and chunk resistance.
Premium pneumatic tires are used for the same duties as the standard tires, but some have added protection for the sidewalls and rim guards to protect the wheel. BKT offers the Skid Power HD in this category which also has an extra deep tread.
Severe duty tires are designed for heavy duty applications. They generally work well in mud and hard surfaces. They are made with a wear resistant compound that work well on abrasive surfaces. These tires generally have an extra deep tread depth and have a larger lug to void ratio. They are resistant to punctures. BKT offers the Giant Trax, Power Trax HD, Jumbo Trax HD, Sure Trax HD, the Mud Power HD, and the Snow Ride (A).
The Mud Power HD is designed for use in muddy and mucky conditions such as dairies and feed lots. The lug pattern is extra deep and cleans out well for this application.
The Snow Ride (A) is made for skid steers used in snow and ice operations. It features excellent traction and longer tire life in these conditions to prevent slippage risks.
CLOSING THOUGHT
An important part of any job is to reduce downtime and increase the return on your investment. Therefore, a little bit of tire maintenance can go a long way in reducing tire problems. Check for cuts, punctures, and wheel damage that can cause most downtime and tire failures. Repairing tires when needed and running the recommended air pressures will save time and money. BKT has many quality products in every range for almost every skid steer application. Designed to handle tough work environments, BKT delivers skid steer tires that add to the bottom line of construction projects.
For more information:
For more about BKT’s lineup of skid steer tires, visit www.bkt-tires.com.
Modern Contractor Solutions, March 2021
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