The choice between a tire or track in your fleet of equipment matters. Are there advantages of one over the other?
Let’s get one thing out straight-away, customer preferences will largely depend on the application and the ground conditions. And your market is likely a bit different than a time zone over. Ultimately, the quick and dirty answer here is to have both options available to avoid a missed rental.
For Tracks
Mike Dembe, Vice President of OEM Sales – Construction at OTR Engineered Solutions, explains that the trend toward tracked equipment has been growing for the past 10-15 years and even to the point that more than 70 percent of all skid-steer loader platforms are tracked. Of course, skid steers aren’t the only type of equipment in the equipment rental lot. The “tracked” trend goes far beyond skid-steers, he says. Excavation equipment, lift equipment, trenchers, and more are all examples of a growing market for tracks.
Tracks are often used in farming, construction, landscaping, and situations where customers may be going over grass, says Jeremy Edds, aggregate national account sales manager for MAXAM Tires. He points out an increase of stability by providing a wider footprint. In many cases, a machine with tracks would be less likely to tear up the grass as much.
Advantages of Tracks
- High traction in off-road applications, construction, earthmoving, uneven terrain
- High productivity
- Increased stability with a wider footprint
- Less downtime due to unexpected flat tires
- Operator comfort going over obstacles
“[Tracked machines] are also utilized in demolition and site clearing for their robustness and pushing power,” says John Wittenberg, Key Product Support Manager at Bobcat. Jobs that will require grading and site preparation benefit from the stability and minimal ground disturbance of tracks. This versatility can allow customers to get to work sooner after rain or extending working sessions.
Pro Tip: Rubber-tracked loaders often offer a low ground pressure alternative for landscaping on sensitive turf, however they are less maneuverable on hard surfaces and tight spaces. Ask the right questions to make sure to provide the right solution.
Let’s not overlook operator comfort as they have been known to be a bit easier on the operators. Pneumatic and solid tires have the reputation to bounce and transfer ground conditions to the operator.
“Furthermore, depending on the application, ground compaction is a concern,” says Steve Jensen, Vice President of Aftermarket Sales at OTR Engineered Solutions. “Let’s say the rental customer is working on digging a swimming pool in someone’s backyard. If [they] do the job with a two-wheeled loader, it’s going to dig ruts and leave big tracks. With tracks, the surface disturbance can be minimal.”
“Rental customers are increasingly requesting tracked equipment for these reasons (above),” adds Dembe. “But they really prefer flat-free options — whether it’s tracks, solid tires or tires with foam fill.”
As the worst enemy of any rental fleet, downtime is the killer here. Not only does an equipment rental company have an unhappy customer, the machine isn’t going anywhere and the clock is ticking. Unless there’s a readily available replacement on hand, that customer has a crew standing around. That scramble for repair is costing money. Both their and your return on investments are just sitting there.
Another factor for rental fleets is the machine’s life cycle. Since operator’s preference is toward tracked vehicles, Bob Gilkenson, Vice President of Business Development at OTR Engineered Solutions, explains that rental companies may often get a premium for a tracked machine vs a machine with tires.
For Tires
Though there is a trend toward tracked machines, pneumatic tires will always be relevant.”
— Steve Jensen, Vice President of Aftermarket Sales, OTR Engineered Solutions
“There’s certain areas and applications that make more sense for tires,” says Jensen.
Tires provide advantages like speed and maneuverability. They work well and are usually more durable on improved surfaces like streets, sidewalks, parking lots, driveways or hard-surfaced yards. “They’re also ideal for working in tight conditions where skidding is necessary – handling tight corners with ease and mastering smaller workspaces,” says Wittenberg.
Terrain is also a key factor. The U.S. has a very diverse terrain and weather-based conditions — even the dirt in one area of a state can vary from area to area. For example, the Northeast sees more wheeled-based equipment because for snow removal applications.
Pro Tip: A more narrow tire should cut through the snow better by providing a better traction and up to 40 percent more speed than a standard tire. Tracks, on the other hand may more likely slide as if on ice.
Advantages of Tires
- Tire-based machines are typically less expensive to run
- Increased maneuverability and speed
- Easier to operate on flat floors/surfaces
- Lower cost
- Tread design can offer advantages in specialized work
- More electric options
A tire’s maneuverability and speed comes in handy by landscaping and grounds maintenance professionals. This speed and ease of operation on the more flat surfaces also provide an advantage.
Tire tread also makes a difference. The important part is matching the tread design to job at hand. It also matters if the work is on a surface like sand or a pavement – even a straight tread might work great on a concrete surface. Then there’s the load. As Jeremy Edds, aggregate national account sales manager for MAXAM Tires says in the Digging Deeper podcast episode, “Selecting the Ideal Tire Tread,” “Sometimes people buy a used loader that doesn’t have the right bucket on there, maybe they have an oversized bucket so they are overloading that…anything that’s out of spec or out of the ordinary, we really monitor that to prevent premature tire failure.”
“Though there is a trend toward tracked machines, pneumatic tires will always be relevant,” reminds Jensen. “And that’s because of utilization. You have such a diversity of tread designs that do unique things in different environments. There’s always a tire option that can work for a particular terrain, and at a lower cost than tracks.”
Tires have another advantage in repair and maintenance. Many times tracks don’t outwardly show wear or offer signs they are about to fail. Many failures in a tracked machine happen internally with the steel cables rusting or cracking. These cables are vital to the performance of a tracked machine. “If they fail, you basically have a rubber band with no strength and no ability to propel equipment forwards or backwards. And, again, if this happens, you’re in the same situation as with a flat tire. The machine is down, the meter’s running, and you have an unhappy client that needs a solution immediately,” says Dembe.
Furthermore, replacing tracks come with its own additional challenges. Where many service providers may have a replacement tire in their inventory — many won’t be as willing to stock the larger track. However, Jenson says they are seeing larger rental chains starting to stock replacement tracks and training their own people to do track installs.
Finally, the biggest change in compact machinery in the last few years has been the development and acceptance of electric equipment. However, a tire’s lower rolling resistance reduces the drag on batteries where a track system requires more power/fuel. As such, “Given the current battery and drive technology and the importance of a longer running time — especially in an industry that can’t tolerate downtime — I think you’re going to continue to see more electric machines with tires,” says Gilkenson.
It’s Important to Have Options
What all of this comes down to is to know what type of jobs and environment in your market — there is no perfect choice.
To best serve your customer and answer their challenges, Dembe suggests you end up with a mix. “The continuing trend toward tracked equipment is undeniable, but they are not going to best serve all customers and all needs,” he says.
Wittenberg agrees. “Choosing between tires and tracks for a loader fleet calls for a thorough understanding of the local customer base, the prevalent ground conditions (including seasonal variations), and a careful evaluation of the pros and cons from a rental business perspective.”
There’s no clear answer here, as the choice is up to your rental business and the needs of the market.
As you analyze your market, start with balanced approach and monitor the demand and costs of each type. Wittenberg’s advice: prioritize versatility to cater to the diverse needs of your rental customers. Do this alongside considering the long-term maintenance and operational costs associated with each type.
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