Wheel Selection Guide
Choosing the type of wheel that best suits your application is an important requirement. Each wheel type may have characteristics that make it excellent for one job but unworkable for another. This chart provides general information you may find useful in choosing a wheel. If further guidance is required, please consult the factory.
| What Type Close |
Ease of Rolling | Quiet Operation | Floor Protection | Impact Resistance | Abrasion Resistance | Temperature Range |
| Poly on Iron | Good | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | 0° to 180° |
| Poly on Heavy Duty Iron | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | 0° to 180° |
| Poly on Forged Steel | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | 0° to 180° |
| Trees Soft Poly on Iron | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | 0° to 180° |
| Poly on Aluminum | Good | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | 0° to 180° |
| Rubber on Iron, Standard | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | -70° to 160' |
| Rubber on Iron, Extra Hard | Good | Good | Excellent | Good | Fair | -40° to 200° |
| Rubber on Iron, Neoprene | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | -60° to 200° |
| Rubber on Iron, Low Profile | Good | Good | Excellent | Fair | Fair | -70° to 160° |
| Semi Steel | Excellent | Poor | Poor | Fair | Excellent | -50° to 600° |
| Forged Steel | Excellent | Poor | Poor | Excellent | Excellent | -50°; to 600° |
| Solid Polyurethane Phenolic | Excellent | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent | 0° to 180° |
| Phenolic | Excellent | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | -50° to 260° |
Other factors to consider in choosing a wheel type include:
Type of bearings can have a major impact on reliability, durability, maintenance schedules, and capacity. See "Wheel Components" for further bearing information.
Floor conditions: The presence of obstacles, debris, oil and/or chemicals can have a significant impact on the life and performance of a wheel. A general rule is that softer treads are better for obstacle laden floors, floor protection and quiet operation. Harder treads are best for reliability on smooth floors but offer less floor protection and cushioning.
Maintenance: The expectation that wheels will or will not be properly maintained is another factor in choosing wheels/bearings.
Manual vs Power Tow: Generally, power tow requires durability and quiet operation, whereas manual operation requires reliability and ease of swiveling.
Properly matching wheels to specific applications can involve factors too numerous to list completely. Please consult the factory for further information.
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