There’s a lot riding on the tires of aerial work platforms (AWPs) like telescopic boom lifts, articulating boom lifts, and rough terrain scissor lifts. On construction sites, these valuable pieces of equipment provide a stable base while hoisting people high in the air and often must move across terrain varying from improved surfaces like concrete and asphalt to unimproved surfaces ranging from sand to mud.
Tires are what connect these machines capable of reaching heights well over a hundred feet to the ground—and equipping them with the right set of tires can deliver improved performance, increased safety, and ultimately better profitability.
Ideally, aerial work platforms are paired with application-specific tires—that is, tires that are designed especially for the task, terrain, and duty cycle they’re asked to perform. Pneumatic (air-filled), foam-filled, or solid tires all have their place on modern construction sites, but there are some general characteristics that are the hallmark of tires intended for use on AWPs.
Aerial work platforms have a high center of gravity, especially when lifting a load in the air. Tires are how these machines contact the ground, making it essential that they provide a strong, stable platform from which to lift loads and help ensure the performance and safety of AWPs.
Aerial work platform tires must stand up to terrain varying from abrasive asphalt to rugged rocks to the hazardous ground found at many construction sites. Downtime due to a tire-related issue is not an option for busy construction businesses facing packed schedules and a shortage of skilled workers. Today’s construction businesses need to make every minute count more than ever.
In addition to withstanding damage, tires for aerial work platforms need to provide long service life. From tight schedules to narrow margins, modern construction businesses need their tires to wear evenly and deliver long service life. Ultimately, AWP tires must keep machines on site, out of the shop, and maximize a business’s return on investment from them.
The job of aerial work platforms is to move materials and labor up, down, and around construction sites. This makes traction key. The best AWP tires are versatile performers able to deliver much-needed traction on a wide range of terrain, including everything from improved surfaces like concrete to muddy worksites.
Long shifts and rugged terrain can take a toll on operators. The tires on an aerial work platform play a considerable role in the comfort of their operation and whether they deliver a soft ride while traveling across a worksite or hold a person steady while they’re high in the air.
Prioritizing operator comfort can provide a host of benefits ranging from improved productivity to happier operators—something construction businesses facing a tight labor market are increasingly focusing on.
In the end, what construction businesses really need is an aerial work platform tire that delivers the lowest total cost of ownership—that is, a tire that delivers the best performance, the longest service life, and requires the least maintenance in relation to its acquisition price.
For years, the Galaxy Beefy Baby III has been a fixture on construction sites, earning a reputation as a versatile performer that construction businesses can depend on. While the Beefy Baby cut its teeth on skid steers, it’s becoming an increasingly popular option for use on aerial work platforms, as it delivers the essential attributes of an AWP tire.
The Beefy Baby III is constructed with a long-wearing compound, a reinforced sidewall proportioned for extra stability, and a rim-shield protector, allowing it to stand up to harsh applications, resist damage, deliver lasting performance, and reduce downtime. There’s a reason why OEMs, construction business owners, and dealers have all acknowledged it as the “beefiest” tire in the industry.
On worksites, the Galaxy Beefy Baby III delivers the traction AWPs require thanks to a tried-and-true R-4 pattern—with a shallow lug angle and center lug overlap 10% to 20% more than its competitors—that puts the optimal amount of tread on the ground. Traction in slick and sloppy conditions is further aided by terracing between the lugs, which aids in self-cleaning.
The same large footprint that promotes traction also assists in supporting loads. The stability of the Beefy Baby III is enhanced by its flat tread profile and beefy lugs, which ensure high ground contact and excellent load distribution. The Beefy Baby III also features a low-profile section height (LPSH) that helps lower the center of gravity and encourages stability.
Perhaps best of all, operators know and trust the Galaxy Beefy Baby III. For decades, it has been delivering the comfort that operators require and the performance and service life that construction business owners prize.
To learn more about the Galaxy Beefy Baby III, or any of the other exceptional purpose-built and application-specific tires for aerial work platforms offered by our Galaxy brand, contact your local Yokohama Off-Highway Tires dealer or rep.