Carlisle’s foam fill technology reduces solid tire shock

Berea, OH – What does it actually mean when Carlisles Tyrfill talks about No More Solid Shock? Although the construction and heavy vehicle transportation industries have used solid aperture tires for years, that doesn’t mean that this tire choice is the most efficient or ergonomic solution on the market. Solid tires are both expensive and heavy to maneuver—and while they’re more resilient than traditional air-filled pneumatic tires, anyone who has spent 8 or more hours behind the wheel of a bulldozer or excavator resting on solid apertures knows that they can offer a bumpy, jarring ride.

Because of the impact emitted to heavy industrial vehicle operators and their equipment, so-called “solids” can not only take a toll on machinery, but, more importantly, they are highly fatiguing to driver-operators. Depending on the worksite conditions and terrain, operators riding on solid apertures may sustain unwanted physical effects after long hours driving in rough and uncomfortable conditions. In the industry, this rugged ride and the accompanying vehicle wear and tear is known as “Solid Shock.”

Solid Shock may lead to a condition called Whole Body Vibration or “WBV”—which has been linked to adverse health effects such headaches, lower back pain, joint pain, and fatigue. How can solid tires cause this phenomenon? When Off-the-Road (OTR) vehicles rely on solid tires, excessive G-force vibrations are transmitted from the road or transportation surface through the tires and vehicle suspension, to the driver. This shakes the vehicle’s axles and creates a rougher ride that can jar the human body—and, over time, also damage the vehicle.

But there is a more suitable alternative that can save operators both time and money while also helping to promote more sustainable solutions within the transportation field. The answer lies with Carlisle’s award-winning polyurethane or “foam fill” technology. Instead of utilizing air in pneumatic tires, foam fill or Carlisle’s branded TyrFil™ Flatproofing solution eliminates the undesirable side effects of Solid Shock, while also offering the industry a more cost-efficient alternative to eliminate tire flats on the job.

Unlike air-filled pneumatics, which can easily puncture when exposed to rough objects and typical worksite debris, TyrFil makes OTR vehicle tires virtually resistant to puncture from glass, sharp rocks, nails and even rebar. Using TyrFil, essential workhorse machines, such as bulldozers, excavators, telehandlers, forklifts and more, can safely operate over job site discard with ease—ensuring that tires remain protected and that unwanted flats won’t disrupt the busy project flow on constructions sites, mining operations, agri-business endeavors, and even military drills.

Central to this cushioning capability of TyrFil technology is its ability to customize the durometer, or hardness, of the rubber compound and other components. Solid tires with high durometer components are harder and absorb less impact, whereas tires with lower durometer components, such as polyurethane tire fill, are considerably softer and more capable of absorbing impact. Why is this important? The overall ride of the vehicle is more comfortable for drivers and also offers greater adaptation to specific driving conditions and circumstances. For example, when a vehicle is operating on a hillside or gradient slope, equipment operators can select durometer options that offer enhanced maneuverability. This ability to more easily manipulate the vehicle using more effective tire technology—versus solid apertures which are heavy and less easily maneuvered—offers significant added safety benefits for both drivers and their expensive equipment.

So, while solid tires may be a default solution for many transportation entities, they don’t need to be. TyrFil technology was developed more than 50 years ago and has been delivering reliable and extensively tested flatproofing solutions to the market since 1971. Plus, it offers a more ergonomic, environmentally friendly alternative for transportation and industrial equipment operators looking to lower their carbon footprint. Based on world class R&D and leading industrial science, TyrFil also successfully extends the life of tire carcasses—enabling operators to repurpose and refill tires with our polyurethane solution to extend OTR longevity and operability. Since solid tires cannot be easily discarded—and since large collections of used tires are at greater risk for “tire fires” that are difficult to extinguish and toxic to the environment—many multi-national corporations working in a host of industries that rely on large commercial-industry transportation and earth-moving equipment have embraced TyrFil as a trusted sustainable solution.