Welcome to McLaren Industries! Check our McLaren's recently updated PDF brochure about Solid Cushion Tires. Recent developments: McLaren Industries Opens R&D Facility to Support North American OEMs Read Announcement McLaren Industries Expands Popular Nu-Air Solid Cushion Tires to Include Backhoes. Read the full announcement here Advanced Rubber Track Technology Applied on Mini Excavator Tracks for the First Time. Click here to read the announcement Helpful article: Keep your rubber tracks in top shape with these handy rubber tracks maintenance tips. Please, be sure to check our News & Resources section on this website to stay up to date with the latest developments at McLaren Industries. We strive for continous improvement! Our ability to innovate depends on your continous feedback. Please take a short moment to complete a quick online customer survey. Here are some comments we have received from customers: "Great initial and post service. 5 stars rating in my books! Exceptional service differentiates Mclaren from its competitors." - Rob Pagacz (Bobcat S300 skid steer loader); "Tires are still working out great. Tons of hours left on them!" - Levi McDermott (Mustang 2086 skid steer loader); "Made my bobcat work like a Cat dozer; Easy on off" - Roy Young (Bobcat S250 skid steer loader); "I think you make a superior product..." - Eric Wellish, (Case 1845C skid steer loader); "I really like the traction that I get from my tracks, and will most likely consider repurchasing when needed... I have the TDF series track." - Scott Robinson (Takeuchi TL 150 compact track loader); "Your Protrac rubber have saved me thousands of dollars! I rented a track machine for one month prior to having your tracks, that rental cost would have covered the cost of the McLarens. I was expecting to have bought a new machine, but there has been no reason to as the OTTs have added lift capacity, stability, a softer ride, and of course traction beyond my wildest expectations. My machine rep is not happy with your product, no sale for him... Could not be happier, literally!" - Simon Huxtable (Bobcat 763 skid steer loader); "The up front cost is greater than others but quality and performance far outweigh the cost." - Bearden Services (Bobcat S250 skid steer loader); "The sales rep that handled my purchase was knowledgeable, polite, and knew his product... Good job, keep it up. " - Mike Essenpreis (John Deere 325 skid steer loader); "The salesman helped me quite a bit with the sizing issue." - Dennis Weiss (Bobcat Model 100); "I appreciate the after sales follow up." - Eagle Golf Inc. (Caterpillar 236B skid steer loader); Need to contact McLaren Customer Serive in the US? Send an email to: cs@mclarenusa.com Please take a moment to complete a sort online customer survey.

How Rubber Compounds Affect Solid Skid Steer Tire Life

Solid Skid Steer Tires

The lifespan of a solid skid steer tire is largely dependent on the rubber compounds used to create it. Ultimately, there are three different compounds that impact tire life, which are known as the base rubber compound, the cushioning compound, and the tread compound. While some tires may have four or five compounds, these three have the most direct effect on the lifespan of a solid skid steer tire. To learn more about how rubber compounds affect solid skid steer tire life, continue reading.

Base rubber

Base rubber refers to the rubber on a skid steer tire that makes contact with the wheel. The base rubber must be firm, hard, tear resistant, and have grip to create a good lock with the tire. If the base rubber of a solid skid steer tire does not possess these characteristics, the wheel will slip inside the tire.

Wheel slip refers to when the rim spins inside the tire. When the rim spins even just one time, the seal of the tire breaks. In such a case, the operator will have to press the tire off and repress and reseal it.

In other cases, however, the tire may become damaged from the slip, and the operator may have to purchase a replacement. To prevent wheel slip and damage it is important to purchase tires with a quality base rubber compound.

Cushioning compound

The cushioning compound, which makes the aperture holes in a solid skid steer tire, also greatly impacts solid skid steer tire life. This cushioning provides suspension and shock absorption for the skid steer. If a cushioning compound is too hard, it won’t provide adequate shock absorption, regardless of whether it includes a large number of aperture holes with good sizes and depths.

Ideally, the cushioning compound should have elongation and tear resistance, in addition to flexibility. Such qualities allow the cushioning compound to flex tremendously without cracking or tearing prematurely. Poor quality compound in this area will lead to cracked aperture holes

Tread compound

Tread compound is another example of how rubber compounds affect solid skid steer tire life. If the tread compound of a solid skid steer tire is poor, then the tire’s life will often be shortened due to chunking out, cracking, and premature wear. Chunking is one of the largest issues associated with poor tread compound. It refers to when a tire cracks and tears off, and pieces of it break off.

If a tire has a bad tread compound, it will get cuts and tears very easily, which will ultimately lead to chunking. In addition, a tire with poor tread compound also has poor wear resistance. However, a tire with poor tread compound will likely become unusable from excessive chunking before it has the chance to wear out fully.

At McLaren Industries, we design our solid skid steer tires with superior compounds to ensure maximum tire life. As a result of extensive testing and years of development, we have developed exceptional base rubber, cushioning, and tread compounds that will help reduce tire slip, chunking, and premature tearing. To learn more about our industry-leading skid loader tires, contact us today at (800) 836-0040 or click here to request a quote.