Difference Between Solid And Foam-Filled Tires

The differences between pneumatics and solids are quite easy to understand, but what about the differences between solid and foam-filled tires?

Choosing tires is like choosing shoes, you want them resistant, comfortable and with long-lasting life. Choosing tires for telehandlers is the same, let's dig deep into the topic.

While both of these tires are popular among rental machines and machines used in hostile environments such as demolition, landfills and quarries, there are several factors to consider when choosing these tires for telehandlers. As a general rule, solid tires will normally have a harder rubber compound and more tread depth, which equate to longer tread life than the foam-filled tires. Foam prevents flats from puncture, which prevents downtime but not necessarily increases tire life. Seth Walters, manager and special product programs says that foam-filling a pneumatic tire is like buying insurance against puncture flats, but a solid tire already comes with that puncture insurance for free, it also includes improved tire life because of the special severe-duty compound and tread.

For instance, foam-filled tires have a similar puncture resistant as pneumatic tires, the main difference being the foam inside the tire. Solid tires on another hand are known to be highly resistant to cuts and chunking, and this should be considered. Clients may use their telehandlers for different applications, but a solid tire is recommended for maximum safety, stability and durability. Foam-filled tires often offer the most comfortable ride, although they bounce a bit more than solid tires. Stability is the key point of telehandlers due to their nature of their job, while both type of tires offer very good stability, solids provide a better weight distribution under loads, and that is a big plus.

Since foam-filled act more like a pneumatic tire when it comes to footprint they usually provide better soft surface traction. Solid Tires offer maximal impact resistance for both the sidewall and the tread, as the rubber compound is harder. Foam-filled tires do not offer adequate sidewall protection compared to solid tires. The cost of a reinforced sidewall air tire filled with foam will cost more than a solid tire, and will cause unpredicted downtime that you cannot afford.

Solid tires have a higher upfront cost than foam-filled tires, but the point of investing in a tougher tire is getting more tire life and productivity from it. They reduce expenses throughout your machine’s life. The cost difference can vary from 15% to 40% depending on the performance required.

Based on these factors, you can consider which tires suits you better.

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