Skid Steer Tires

When choosing skid steer tires for your skid steer loader you will need to think about a couple of things. But what if you don't know all about ply rating and carcass strength or rim guard sizes? A knowledgeable skid steer tire salesman should be able to help you out and will give you the time and attention you deserve.

Choosing skid steer tires might seem like a boring task but it is actually a very important business decision. Sure you will be most concerned with the price of your skid steer tires but there are other factors that are just as important and that you should consider as well.

Where your skid steer tires will be performing their work is a very important factor in choosing the right skid steer tires. If you will be working on finished landscaping such as golf courses, ball fields and other turf areas you will be very concerned with the amount of impact your skid steer tires will make. Is there an industry standard for ‘easy on turf' needs? What ground pressure will your skid steer tires leave? These are very important questions to ask yourself before you make your purchase.

Generally your skid steer tires, the tracked models, will exert 2 to 4 psi of ground pressure where the skid steer tire-especially those with larger flotation tires- will exert about 7 to 12 psi ground pressure. That is a big difference. The lighter the machine the less damage to turf. Ground pressure isn't the only factor in the effect on turf. The number of contact points your equipment has and the material that comprises your skid steer tires will also make a difference.

Skid steer tires, no matter how large, have only four points of contact with the turf. If you will be working in wet and slippery conditions you may want to buy tracks, which can provide excellent floatation. Rubber or Kevlar skid steer tires or tracks will do less damage to soft ground than steel tracks with metal lugs. The wider the skid steer tires the lower the ground pressure.