Caterpillar Flexport Tyres Cut Down Time And Improve Cost

Caterpillar's extreme duty Flexport solid tyres are proving popular in a range of industry sectors, with an increasingly diverse mix of machinery. While some customers may think of the Flexport tyre as a solution designed purely for compact machines such as skid steer loaders, the concept is also available both new and remanufactured for all of Caterpillar's small and medium wheel loaders.

Mick George Limited is one of the leading suppliers to the construction industry in East Anglia and the East Midlands in the UK, specialising in providing bulk excavation and earthmoving services, aggregate supply and waste management services. The company has always used wheel loaders for this rehandling task, but in the past has suffered numerous punctures, causing extensive down time on site. UK Cat dealer Finning provided Mick George with an ultra-high lift loader arm solution for the firm's 950H wheel loader. At the same time that this machine was delivered to the firm's site near Cambridge, it was also equipped with Cat Flexport tyres.

Two years on, and the company reports zero downtime due to tyre issues. "They were a new idea to us and they were more expensive than some of the other options that were presented to us," says George's Pete Newman. "However that has been money well spent because we've suffered no down time due to tyres since the machine has been on site."

Flexport tyres are designed with holes moulded through the outer ring of the sidewall. This provides the necessary flexibility and comfort, as there is no air cushion within the rubber. This increased tyre flexibility offers an improved ride compared to other solid tyre solutions, reducing operator fatigue, increasing comfort and boosting productivity.

The elliptical design of the holes in the tyre is designed so that under load, it compresses into a round shape, reducing stress points and preventing cracking. Competitive designs that have round holes, can become flattened under load, causing cracks and stress points in the rubber.

Caterpillar Flexport tyres are available for all small and medium wheel loaders and integrated tool carriers from the 924F to the 962H. The tyres can be ordered in a 59x9x20.5 size and a larger 62x9x23.5 fitting, and both sizes are available new or remanufactured.
In the case of Caterpillar Remanufactured Flexport tyres, the tyre uses 100% new rubber, only the steel rim is reused. This provides the same, as-new, service life expectancy as a new Flexport tyre and customers receive a core refund if the steel rim is undamaged when the time comes to change the tyre.

Caterpillar Flexport tyres offer a cost-effective solution for customers in a variety of arduous ground condition industry sectors. In waste and metals handling, demolition and other heavy duty applications, where tyre damage can cause regular down time, the Flexport tyre solution ensures that equipment keeps working, while providing improved operator comfort, reduced machine stress and increased productivity.

For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been building the world's infrastructure and, in partnership with its worldwide dealer network, is driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. Caterpillar is a technology leader and the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines.