What are the advantages and disadvantages of polyurethane solid tires?

The following is an analysis of the core advantages and disadvantages of polyurethane solid tires, combined with a comprehensive comparison of material characteristics and practical application scenarios:

✅ Core advantages

Super abrasion resistance:

The wear resistance is 3-5 times that of rubber tires (polyurethane molecular chains containing rigid blocks), especially suitable for high turnover logistics and warehousing scenarios. ‌

High load-bearing capacity and impact resistance:

The hardness reaches 85-95 Shore A type (rubber tire about 70 degrees), and the single tire bearing capacity is increased by 1.5-2.5 times;

Excellent tear resistance, and not easily spread after the tread is cut (rubber tires are easy to peel off the entire circle). ‌

Maintenance free security:

Solid structure thoroughly avoids the risk of tire blowouts and leaks;

Outstanding oil resistance (performance loss<10% after contact with oil stains).

Good dimensional stability:

The deformation is only 37% -75% of that of solid rubber tires, and long-term use is not easy to cause tire swelling;

Better uniformity to avoid vehicle deviation.

⚠️ Main limitations

Poor driving comfort:

High hardness leads to weak shock absorption ability, resulting in a 30% -50% increase in bumpy road noise;

The steering resistance is relatively high (requiring the cooperation of a hydraulic power assist system).

Defects in heat dissipation performance:

After running continuously for 2 hours, the fetal heart temperature is 15-20 ℃ higher than that of rubber tires (with a thermal conductivity of only 0.2W/m · K);

High temperature conditions may accelerate aging (strength decreases when>80 ℃).

Cost and environmental issues:

The unit price is 1.8-2.2 times that of the same grade rubber tire;

Difficult to degrade after scrapping (recycling technology is not yet mature).

Weak traction:

The grounding imprint area is 18% -25% smaller than that of rubber tires, and it is prone to slipping on wet and slippery roads.