With restrictions lifting on golf courses opening during the COVID-19 crisis, the time has come to go back out and work on our golf game. Once the clubs are packed, your customers’ parties are booked, and tee times are arranged, you want to make sure that your customer's time spent on the course goes as smoothly as possible. An occasionally overlooked area that deserves attention is the state of your golf cart's tires. Golfers spend much of their time in their golf carts, and making sure that the carts are in prime working condition is a high priority. Here are some signs to look for when deciding if it is time to change the tires on your golf cart.

Worn Treads on Your Tires

Typically, golf cart tires will last around two to three years before needing replacements. Inspecting each tire for wear and tear begins with checking the treads on each tire. If the treads are getting thinner, it is time to consider replacements. If metallic threads are showing through the tires, do not operate that cart until the tires have been replaced.

Trouble Maintaining Speed

If you are having trouble getting the golf cart up to speed and maintaining that speed, it may be time to change your tires. Check your tires for any leaks or punctures, and bring out your pressure gauge to check the tire pressure. All of these factors could have a direct impact on your tires and their ability to carry golfers to the next hole on the course safely.

Cracks in the Rubber

If you start seeing cracks in the rubber of your tires, it may be time to consider replacements. Cracks by themselves may seem like a minor inconvenience; however, if they are left unaddressed, they can grow in size over time. As they grow, the tire is more susceptible to leaking air, tire pressure, and catastrophic events such as popping.

With golf courses reopening to the public, the golfers' safety is still the highest priority. We encourage anyone who goes golfing during this time to maintain social distancing. However, ensuring that all of your golf carts have tires that are ready and raring to go is one necessary step towards reaching a sense of normalcy again.

If you are in the market for new tires for golf carts, visit us online today and look through Tires4That's fully stocked inventory. Are you also looking for UTV tires? We also carry a full assortment of onJun 01, 2020

For anyone trying to buy forklift tires online for the first time, they might be wondering: “Which forklift tires work best for my particular needs?” If you’ve worked with forklifts for a little while, you should know that there are fundamentally three different kinds of tires: cushion, solid pneumatic, and air-filled pneumatic. These three will offer all the versatility that you need for your forklift. If you haven’t had to change your forklift’s tires and aren’t yet sure how to differentiate these tires, here’s a quick breakdown: 

Cushion

Cushion tires are the thinnest, but they are more durable options when it comes to your forklift. Structurally, they consist of strips of rubber that are pressed onto the wheel, which leaves little risk of flats or puncturing. They also provide better maneuverability when it comes to steering, though this is due to a decreased turning radius. Plus, these tires should only be used indoors or over paved surfaces, since they often leave your forklift closer to the ground, putting it at risk for snags if driven over uneven surfaces.

Solid Pneumatic

Solid pneumatic tires are the most durable and versatile tire you can have on your forklift. They are composed of solid rubber and ride high enough to allow your forklift to travel on indoor and outdoor surfaces without too much trouble. There are only two potential drawbacks to the most common tire on the market: They offer a slightly lower quality ride on paved surfaces and are a little more costly upfront. Still, solid pneumatic tires are such a durable option that you will often have these for many years.

Air-Filled Pneumatic

Similar to solid pneumatic tires, air-filled pneumatic tires can ride on paved and unpaved surfaces. However, they are better suited for outdoor activities over unpaved roads. The reason for this is they are designed with deep treads and materials durable enough to allow you to fulfill the objectives you have for your forklift.

Which Works Best for Me?

The short answer to which is best for you is, “it depends.” While it would be great to have each of these tires to pop onto a forklift as your needs change, the reality is that some forklifts aren’t designed to be compatible with all three options. As a consequence of this, you should make sure that whatever option you choose fits how you’re going to use your forklift and the design of the machine. To find out more about selecting the right forklift tires or find a comprehensive catalog of tires for skid steers online, call the Tires4That team today!

When you’re selecting tires for your tractor, one important consideration is how the tires are built on the outside. The shape, grooves, material, and overall construction are all essential to a tire’s performance and durability. But sometimes, it’s what’s on the inside of the tire that counts: liquid ballast.

Liquid ballast enhances a tire’s performance by maximizing traction and stability while decreasing slippage, tire pressure loss, and fuel consumption. Not all tires can be ballasted, but there is no hard and fast rule for determining whether a given tire is designed with ballast in mind. For example, tires with and without tubes can be ballasted. Some tire manufacturers don’t recommend liquid ballast at all, but recommend using cast-iron weights instead.

If you’ve confirmed that liquid ballast is compatible with your tires, the first thing to do is select which type to use. For a breakdown of options, watch this quick video.

As you can see, the right type of ballast for your tires will depend on the climate where you plan on using them, as well as how much money you want to spend. Once you’ve decided which liquid you’ll be using, here’s what you’ll need to do next:

1. Insert the ballast through the air/liquid adaptor, which is located under the valve core. Rotate the tire to give yourself access to the valve core and unscrew it to deflate the tire.
2. Attach one end of a tire hose to your liquid supply and screw the other end of the tire hose onto the air/liquid adaptor.

How much of the tire should be filled?

When you find out whether the manufacturer recommends liquid ballast for your particular tire, they will also usually tell you how much of the tire’s volume should be filled. For many tires, 75% of the total volume is the suggested quantity. Others may suggest smaller amounts, such as 40%, but a tire should never be more than 90% filled.

Once you’ve filled the tire, unscrew the tire hose and replace the valve core. Be sure to fill tires on the same axle with equal amounts of ballast for a balanced ride. This would typically be the front axle, as ballast is usually only used for front tractor tires, like the ones for sale from Gallagher Tire.

Before you can fill a tire with liquid ballast, you will need tires. In that case, look no further than Gallagher Tire, where you can buy Gladiator X Comp tires online and much, much more!