A variety of concerns come to play, but one needs to understand how important the role of tyres is for excavators and backhoe loaders. Take a look:

Suitable for standard applications
According to Ankit Maheshwari, Manager – Sales and Marketing, Trident International Pvt Ltd, says, “These machines are normally fitted with pneumatic tyres and due to the conditions (Mining, construction, scrap handling, glass industry, etc.) in which they operate, are prone to frequent punctures, tyre damage, and fast tyre wear. This result in losses associated with frequent repair and replacement, downtime, and leads to additional costs associated with excess inventory of spares.”

Maheshwari outlines, in such a severe duty applications, the users can opt for solid tyres which have the following advantages:

• 3 to 5 times more wearable rubber than pneumatic tyres
• 100 per cent puncture proof service
• Zero downtime on your machine due to tyres
• Sidewall apertures for better shock absorption and ride comfort
• Failure free performance over longer time cycles
• Premium HD rubber compound
• Engineered for high abrasion application and superior tyre life
• Suitable for use in environments where punctures are a recurring problem

Available in multiple patterns for different applications
These tyres are available in multiple patterns for different applications. The latest offering is a non-directional solid tyre designed for applications such as re-cycling yards, demolition, industrial plant, quarrying, construction, etc.

Wider tread pattern
“The tyres for excavators have wider tread pattern with circumferential tie bar for excellent traction and high tear resistance. The high bucket volume with optimised lug angle provides superior surface contact and better tyre life; the strong nylon casing provides higher load carrying capacity to the tyre. We have Apollo AWE 713 for excavators,” says, Farid Ahmed, Divisional Head, Marketing, Off Highway Tyres, Apollo Tyres Ltd.

Commenting on the offerings, Ahmed claims, “We have two product offerings for Backhoe Loaders – Apollo Y Lon and Apollo AIT 426. Moreover, Ahmed explains, “Apollo Y Lon is the market leader in its category, having 25 lugs and 25 sea guards, which provide excellent puncture resistance thereby reducing downtime. Its unique tread design ensures optimum contact patch for the best traction in demanding applications. Apollo Y Lon has higher bead strength for firm seating on the rim and for least slippage in operation. The dry bonded breaker material of this tyre ensures maximum impact resistance during rough operations, and the exceptional tread compound provides better tyre life.”

Lastly he concludes, “Apollo AIT 426 has wide lugs, which provide optimum contact area for high traction. Optimum sea guards and thick under tread ensures puncture resistance for hassle free operation. The open tread design of Apollo AIT 426 provides excellent self cleaning abilities thereby ensuring minimum slippage and maximum traction on loose underfoot conditions.“