How Forklift Tires Impact Warehouse Safety and Performance
Embed Buzzsprout audio player
Kevin chats with Robert Brown, Director of Sales at Yokohama TWS, live from the ProMat 2025 show floor at the Trelleborg Tires booth. With decades of experience in the tire industry, Robert shares valuable insights into the evolving landscape of material handling tires and why they are far more than just a wear item. From choosing the right compound for warehouse environments to understanding shift intensity and the latest safety innovations, Robert explains how tire selection impacts operational safety, efficiency, and long-term cost savings.
As part of the Yokohama family since its acquisition of Trelleborg Wheel Systems, the company now ranks as the fifth-largest global tire manufacturer, employing over 30,000 people and generating more than $7 billion in annual revenue. This episode offers a rare, in-depth look at how something as seemingly simple as a tire can have a significant impact on your material handling operations.
Not All Forklift Tires Are Created Equal
Tire selection isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision; it’s highly dependent on environment, application, and shift intensity. “The most important thing for an operator or an operation to understand is how many shifts per day you are running,” said Brown. He compared the needs of a small hardware store with occasional forklift use to those of an Amazon distribution center that operates 24/7. Misaligning tire type with usage level can cause premature wear, safety issues, and inefficiencies.
Certain environments require specialized tires, such as smooth tires for high-contact areas, traction tires for uneven surfaces, and non-marking tires for clean-room or indoor use. Brown emphasized, “It’s not a cookie cutter; it’s not a one tire that’s going to fit everything.” Understanding these nuances helps warehouses avoid wasteful early replacements and unsafe overuse.
Building Safety into Forklift Tires
One of the most innovative safety features Trelleborg offers is its proprietary Pit Stop Line. This bright orange indicator appears when a tire is nearing the end of its usable life. “Once the orange line starts protruding, that’s when you know you have about 100 hours before you have to replace that tire,” Brown explained. This feature solves two problems: companies discarding tires too early, and others risking operations by running them too long.
Derived from a scrap tire analysis of hundreds of thousands of units, the research revealed that 30% of tires were discarded while still having usable life. Conversely, others were dangerously overused. With Pit Stop Line, warehouses gain a visual cue that prevents both safety hazards and financial waste. “Nobody else, to my knowledge, in the industry or the world has anything like this,” he added.
Custom Compounds for Specialized Needs
From fireworks factories to carpet warehouses, different applications require different tire compounds, and that’s where Yokohama TWS excels. “You need to have a tire that can be very overloaded, has extreme wear resistance, or can withstand oils and chemicals,” said Brown. There are even electrically conductive tires that eliminate the need for grounding straps in environments that are sensitive to static.
He compared it to automotive tires: “Are you going to take a tire from a Honda Accord and put it on an F1 car?” The reverse also fails—performance tires burn out quickly under regular use. Whether the priority is chemical resistance, overload durability, or non-marking surfaces, choosing the right compound ensures long-lasting performance and safety. Trelleborg’s expansive product catalog spans value lines for light-duty environments to top-tier solutions for extreme industrial needs.
Key Takeaways on Forklift Tires
- The Pit Stop Line offers a unique, industry-first visual indicator that combines safety and cost savings.
- Approximately 30% of tires are discarded too early, while others are dangerously overused. Pit Stop Line solves both problems.
- Specialized compounds are available for chemical exposure, heavy loads, electrical conductivity, and non-marking needs.
- Trelleborg covers the entire spectrum of needs, from basic low-cost options to extreme-duty performance products.
Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments.
Guest Information
For more information on Yokohama, click here.
To connect with Robert on LinkedIn, click here.
For more information about forklift tires and maintenance, check out the podcasts below.
Forklift Industry Future Unveiled: NOBLELIFT Live from ProMat
467: Driving Warehouse Efficiency with Autonomous Forklift Products from VisonNav
