Telehandler Tyres Durban

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Telehandler Tyres in Durban, Supplied and Fitted

ForknTire supplies and fits telehandler tyres for JCB Loadall, Manitou, Merlo, CAT, Genie, Dieci and other telescopic handlers across Durban and KwaZulu-Natal. You can bring the machine to our Pinetown workshop at 6 Schenk Rd, or we'll come to your site, farm or yard and do the change there.

A telehandler is a funny machine to fit tyres to. It's part forklift, part loader, part crane, and it spends its life with a heavy load sitting a long way off the ground. That last bit is why tyre choice and pressure matter more on a telehandler than people tend to think.

Why telehandler tyres matter for stability

When the boom is up and out, the machine's stability depends on the tyres holding their shape. A soft or mismatched tyre lets the machine lean, and on a telehandler a small lean at the wheels becomes a big lean at the end of a 14-metre boom.

So we're fussy about three things:

Matching tyres across each axle

same size, pattern and wear level

Correct pressures

for the load chart of your specific machine

The right ply rating

because an underrated tyre flexes under load even at the right pressure

None of this replaces your machine's load chart or your operator training. It just makes sure the tyres aren't the weak link.

Which telehandler tyres suit your work?

Telehandlers work in very different places, and the tread pattern should follow the ground, not the brochure.

 

Tread typeBest forTrade-off
Industrial (R4 / IND)Construction sites, yards, mixed hard and soft groundAll-rounder, the most common choice
Agricultural (R1 / lug)Farms, soft soil, mud, silage pitsExcellent grip, wears fast on concrete and tar
Solid or puncture-resistantScrap yards, demolition, recycling, anywhere with steel and glassNo flats, but a harder ride and more weight

For most building sites around Durban, an R4 industrial tyre is the sensible default. On sugar cane and agricultural work in the Midlands and North Coast, a lug pattern grips far better in wet ground. If your telehandler lives somewhere full of rebar offcuts and broken glass, talk to us about puncture-resistant options before the next flat.

Common telehandler tyre sizes

These cover a large share of the telehandlers working in KZN:

400/70-20 and 405/70-20 on many JCB, Manitou and Merlo models

405/70-24 on larger, higher-lift machines

460/70R24 and 500/70R24 on heavier and agricultural-spec telehandlers

12.5/80-18 and 14.00-24 on some older and compact units

Sizes vary by model and spec, even within one brand. The quickest way to be sure is the size printed on the sidewall, or the machine model and serial plate if the tyre's too worn to read.

Telehandler tyres by brand

We supply tyres for the telehandler brands most common in South Africa, including:

JCB telehandler tyres

for the Loadall range used on construction sites and farms

Manitou telehandler tyres

for MT and MLT models (we also look after Manitou forklift tyres)

Merlo telehandler tyres

for the Panoramic and agricultural ranges

CAT, Genie and Dieci

telehandlers

We're not a dealer for any of these brands and we don't sell machines. We keep the ones you already own rolling.

On-site telehandler tyre fitting

Taking a telehandler off site for a tyre change usually means a lowbed, a driver and a lost day. We'd rather come to you. Our team fits telehandler tyres on site across Durban, Pinetown, the South Durban basin, the North and South Coast and the Midlands, and we'll work around your shift where we can.

We also check the rims, valves and the condition of the other three tyres when we're there. If one corner is wearing faster than the others, there's usually a reason, and it's cheaper to find it now.

Frequently asked questions about telehandler tyres

What tyres are best for a telehandler?

For mixed construction work, an R4 industrial tread is the most common and practical choice. Farms and soft ground suit an R1 agricultural lug pattern, and sites with a lot of sharp debris suit solid or puncture-resistant tyres.

At minimum, replace them in pairs per axle so both sides match in size and wear. Many operators replace all four together because uneven tyres affect stability when the boom is raised.

Sometimes, if the size and load rating match the machine's specification. Agricultural telehandlers often run R1 tractor-style tyres from the factory. Check the load rating carefully, because a tyre rated for a tractor's load may not suit a telehandler carrying weight at full reach.

Use the pressure given by your machine manufacturer for that tyre size, usually found in the operator's manual or on a decal on the machine. Pressures on telehandlers are often higher than people expect, and running them low affects stability.

Yes. We fit telehandler tyres on site across Durban and greater KZN, or you can bring the machine to our Pinetown workshop.

Get a quote on telehandler tyres

Send us your telehandler make, model and the tyre size from the sidewall.l, along with the site location. Call 031 702 6335 or 082 468 5308, or email forkntire@telkomsa.net.

We're at 6 Schenk Rd, Pinetown, Monday to Friday, 7:30 to 16:30.

Call 031 702 6335
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