Press-On Band Tyres: Fitting, OD Groups, and How to Select the Right Size

What Is a Press-On Band Tyre?

A press-on band (POB) tyre is a solid rubber band — a complete ring of compounded rubber with no internal structure, no bead wire, and no air chamber. Unlike a solid resilient tyre, which is mounted on a split rim assembly, a POB tyre is pressed directly onto a one-piece steel rim using a hydraulic press.

The bond between rubber and rim is created entirely by interference fit: the inner bore of the rubber band is manufactured slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the steel rim. When the hydraulic press forces the band over the rim, the rubber stretches and grips the metal with enough friction to handle the full rated load — no bolts, no retaining rings, no adhesive.

How the Size Notation Works

A press-on band tyre size has three numbers: OD × Width × Rim bore, all in inches.

For example, 21x8x15 means:

• 21 — outer diameter of the assembled tyre (inches)
• 8 — tyre width (inches)
• 15 — rim bore diameter — the inner diameter of the rubber band, which matches the outer diameter of the steel rim (inches)

Some sizes include a fractional rim bore, written as 6 1/4 or 6 1/2 — for example, 10x5-6 1/4. The dash before the rim bore is simply a separator; the three core dimensions remain OD, width, and rim bore.

Metric sizes use millimetre dimensions throughout and are listed separately in the Metric OD group. For those sizes, the mm equivalent of OD × Width × Rim bore is given directly — no inch conversion needed.

OD Groups: Why They Matter

Press-on band tyres are organised into OD groups named after the outer diameter: 10", 12", 13", 14", 15", 16", 17", 18", 21", 22", 26", 28", and Metric. Within each group, the OD is constant — only the width and rim bore vary.

The OD group is the first thing to establish when selecting a replacement tyre. The outer diameter determines whether the tyre clears the forklift's frame, drive housing, and guard plates. A tyre with the correct width but the wrong OD will not fit the machine — or will foul the chassis under load.

Smaller OD groups (10", 12", 13") are common on order pickers, stacker trucks, and small reach trucks. Larger OD groups (21", 22", 26", 28") are found on higher-capacity electric counterbalance forklifts and reach trucks handling heavier pallet loads.

The Interference Fit: How the Press-On Bond Works

The interference fit is what holds a POB tyre to its rim without any mechanical fastener. During manufacturing, the rubber bore of the band is held to a tolerance that keeps it smaller than the nominal rim diameter by a controlled amount — typically a few millimetres depending on size.

When the hydraulic press forces the rubber band over the rim flange and seats it fully, the rubber is under continuous radial compression against the metal. This compression creates the friction force that resists rotation, axial movement, and the shear forces generated during load-bearing and braking.

The interference fit is sensitive to dimensional accuracy on both parts. A rim that is worn, out-of-round, or corroded reduces the grip. A tyre that has been over-stretched in a previous improper fitting attempt, or stored in conditions that degraded the rubber, will not generate adequate interference.

The Pressing Process

Fitting a POB tyre is a workshop operation. The steps are consistent regardless of OD group:

1. Inspect the rim — check for corrosion, burrs, and out-of-round. Lightly clean the rim surface. Do not apply lubricant to the mating faces; the interference requires dry metal-to-rubber contact.
2. Align the tyre over the rim — centre the rubber band over the rim flange on the press bed. The tyre and rim should be concentric before pressing begins.
3. Press to full seat — apply hydraulic pressure steadily until the rubber band is fully seated against the rim shoulder. The press force required varies by size — larger OD groups with wider bands require significantly higher press tonnage.
4. Verify seating — check that the tyre is seated evenly on both sides of the rim, with no gap between the rubber and the rim flange shoulder. An uneven seating indicates misalignment during pressing and must be corrected before the wheel is returned to service.

Load Wheel vs Steer Wheel: Why the Rating Differs

For the same POB tyre size, the rated load capacity differs depending on whether the tyre is installed as a load wheel or a steer wheel.

Load wheels bear the payload directly. On an electric counterbalance, the front wheels are load wheels; on a reach truck, the rear load wheels carry the mast and lifted load. These wheels experience the highest downward force and receive a higher load rating per tyre.

Steer wheels carry the machine's own weight and handle the lateral forces of steering — but at lower vertical loads. The steer wheel rating for the same tyre size is typically 15–25% lower than the load wheel rating.

When calculating whether a tyre is rated for your application, always use the load wheel rating for load-bearing positions and the steer wheel rating for steering axle positions. Using the load wheel figure for steer positions is acceptable; using the steer figure for load positions is not.

Step-by-Step: How to Select the Right POB Tyre

Use this four-step process when specifying a replacement or new-fit POB tyre:

Step 1 — Confirm the OD Group

Read the existing tyre sidewall or the forklift manufacturer's specification. The first number in the size designation is the OD. If the sidewall is worn, measure the bare rim outer diameter and add 25–30 mm to get the approximate OD.

Step 2 — Identify the Wheel Position

Establish whether the tyre is a load wheel or steer wheel. Check your forklift operator's manual if you are unsure. This determines which load column to use when confirming adequacy.

Step 3 — Confirm Width and Rim Bore

Within the correct OD group, match the tyre width to your existing rim width. The rim bore must match the rim's outer diameter exactly — this is a precision dimension and should not be approximated. Multiple rim bore variants (e.g. 6, 6 1/4, 6 1/2, 8) exist within the same OD group to cover different rim standards.

Step 4 — Verify Load Adequacy

Check that the rated capacity (load wheel or steer wheel as applicable) meets or exceeds the calculated load per wheel. For the load axle: divide the forklift's rated load capacity (plus mast and attachment weight) by the number of load wheels. For the steer axle: use the machine's unladen rear axle weight from the specification sheet.

POB vs Solid Resilient: Which Type Do You Have?

The two types are easy to confuse when ordering replacements. The key differences:

If your forklift has a one-piece steel wheel hub with no visible rim bolts or split line, it uses press-on band tyres. If the rim has visible bolts and a visible split or lip where two halves meet, it uses solid resilient tyres.

Frequently Asked Questions