Press-on Tyres for Industrial Forklifts

Press-on tyres: what they are and where they belong

A press-on tyre is a rubber ring bonded onto a steel band and pressed onto the wheel hub under hydraulic pressure. There is no rim, no locking ring and no air — the tyre and band together form the wheel. It is the standard fitment on cushion-tyre forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers and other indoor electric trucks working on smooth concrete.

The distinction that matters commercially is that cushion-tyre trucks and pneumatic-tyre trucks are not interchangeable. A cushion truck’s hub is built for a pressed-on tyre; a pneumatic-tyre truck’s hub is built for a rim-mounted solid or pneumatic tyre. The truck decides the type, not preference and not price.

Press-on versus rim-mounted solid: choose by the truck

Reading a press-on size

Press-on sizes are written as overall diameter × section width × band diameter, all in inches. All three numbers must match the machine — the band diameter in particular cannot be approximated, because a band that is even slightly out of size will not press on correctly, and forcing it damages both the band and the hub.

Worked example: 18×7×12 means 18 inches (457 mm) overall diameter, 7 inches (178 mm) section width, and a 12 inch (308 mm) band. If your machine calls for a 308 mm band, a 406 mm band tyre of otherwise similar dimensions is not a substitute.

Matching press-on tyres to common machine classes

Band diameters are given in millimetres for clarity because press-on measurements are frequently checked with a tape rather than read from a marking. Confirm against the machine specification before ordering.

Mounting, wear and replacement

Press-on tyres should be fitted with a hydraulic press and the correct fitting procedure. Fitting without a suitable press risks damaging the band, the hub or the tyre, and a damaged band may look serviceable while being unsafe.

Many customers avoid the problem altogether by ordering tyres pre-mounted on wheels. That removes the pressing step from the workshop and suits dealers who resell to end users without their own fitting equipment.

On wear: replace when the rubber wear approaches the wear indicators, when the tyre is cut or chunked deeply, or when bonding separation is visible between the rubber and the band. On high-hour trucks, make the wear check part of the weekly walkaround — a worn press-on tyre is the most common cause of a sudden loss of traction indoors.

Ordering press-on tyres from JABIL

To quote, we need the tyre size, band diameter, quantity and destination. For a machine we have not seen before, the machine model plus a photo of the existing tyre is usually enough for us to confirm fitment.

• Standard black compound, or non-marking for clean-floor sites
• Anti-static, oil-resistant and cold-store compounds produced to order
• Loose tyres, or pre-mounted wheels for workshops without a press
• Pair-matched drive and steer sets supplied on request
• MOQ from 20 pieces per size, mixed sizes supported in one container
• Typical production lead time 15–25 days after confirmation

Common press-on tyre questions

Cushion-tyre forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers and narrow-aisle electric trucks — in short, indoor electric machines on smooth concrete. Pneumatic-tyre trucks use rim-mounted solids instead.

Not safely. A press-on tyre is bonded to a steel band and must be pressed onto the hub under hydraulic pressure. Attempting it without a press risks damaging the band, the hub and the tyre. Ordering pre-mounted wheels removes the problem entirely.

Measure the overall diameter across the tyre, the section width across the tread, and the band diameter with the wheel removed. Match all three against the size chart. Send a photo with a tape visible and we will confirm.

Most sizes, made to order. Non-marking is the standard choice for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, electronics and clean logistics sites.

Wrong band diameter forcing an incorrect press fit, running past the wear limit, working outside the compound’s temperature range, and oil contamination attacking the bond. Correct specification prevents most premature failures.

Yes. Pre-mounted sets arrive ready to bolt on, which suits dealers reselling to end users and workshops without a suitable press.

Where to go next

If your trucks run on multi-piece rims rather than press-on bands, the forklift solid tyre range covers those sizes. For a wider comparison of band and rim-mounted options before you specify, read press-on versus rim-mounted solid tyres. Wheel assemblies and rims are listed separately under rims and accessories.