As more and more warehouses are utilized, aerial lifts and AWPs increase in importance as they are required to move, pack, and ship inventory. Additionally, as warehouses and manufacturing facilities are costly to build and maintain, protecting these facilities' floors is equally important to business owners. After all, while extremely functional, scissor lifts, forklifts, and boom lifts may mark, scuff, or leak on expensive floors. Fortunately, things like drip diapers, tire covers, and tire booties help protect floorspace. To help learn more, the following FAQs highlight the main benefits and important information about tire booties.
What are tire booties?
Tire booties, which are also known as tire cover socks are protective coverings designed to be placed over the tires of indoor aerial lifts, such as boom lifts, scissor lifts, and forklifts. In addition to helping to prevent scuff marks, scratches, and residue on finished floors, there are some additional benefits to tire booties:
- Provides durable, water-resistant surface protection that moves with the AWP.
- Easy to install and stays on tires during operation.
- Remain self-centering while AWP is in operation.
- Made from high-quality materials like nylon and polyester with a urethane coating for durability.
Ultimately, tire booties and socks are an effective solution to prevent damage to finished floors and surfaces during indoor construction projects involving equipment with non-marking tires.
What is the difference between tire booties, tire socks, and drip diapers for scissor lifts and forklifts?
The terms tire booties, tire socks, and tire covers generally refer to the same product, despite the variety in industry jargon. These covers are placed over the tires and protect the floors by preventing the rubber from marking them. In contrast, drip diapers protect floors differently by absorbing fluids from engines and preventing scuffs from tires. Here are some benefits of drip diapers:
- Heavy-duty sheets absorb fluid leaks and drips from underneath aerial lifts.
- Designed for mobility, moving with the machines to provide leak protection.
- Capable of absorbing up to 1/2 gallon of fluid, trapping oil and other liquids while allowing water to evaporate.
- Easy to install using magnets and bungee cords, with replaceable absorbent pads.
- Prevent slip hazards and costly floor damage from fluid leaks.
Tire covers protect floors from tire marks, while drip diapers absorb fluid leaks and spills from the lift itself, helping maintain clean and safe job sites.
How to know if you need replacement tire booties?
Importantly, as tire booties are used while the AWP operates, it is vital to know when a replacement tire sock may be required. Aerial lifts are very powerful, both in their uses and pure engine power, so it is important to follow standard AWP safety checklists before operating any type of aerial lift. At a high level, there are a few simple to-spot warning signs that mean a replacement tire sock might be required.
- Excessive Wear and Tear: If the tire booties are showing significant signs of wear, such as holes, tears, or thinning of the material, consider replacing them.
- Loss of Traction: If the tread on the tire booties has become worn down, they may no longer provide adequate traction and protection for your lift.
- Difficulty Staying in Place: If the tire booties are constantly slipping off or not staying securely in place, it's a sign that they likely need to be replaced.
- Damage to the Booties: If the tire booties have been damaged, such as from exposure to chemicals or being caught on something, they should be replaced to ensure continued protection.
- Time-Based Replacement: Depending on the usage and conditions, tire booties may need to be replaced every 2 weeks to 2 months (check the product specifications to ensure you understand the general longevity of your tire cover), even if they don't show visible signs of wear.
Like all machine parts and equipment, regularly inspecting the condition of tire socks is the key to knowing when a replacement is needed. Due to the dangers of working with aerial lifts, it is vital to inspect all parts before use and proactively replace parts to keep your team safe (and lifts operating safely). Ultimately, proper maintenance and timely replacement will help ensure the continued effectiveness of your tire booties. Additionally, the most common reasons for tire booties to wear out are:
- Frequent Use and Exposure to Harsh Conditions: Tire booties used daily or in harsh environments with chemicals will degrade faster than those used occasionally.
- Improper Maintenance and Care: Not regularly cleaning and properly drying the tire booties can lead to faster degradation of the materials.
- Aggressive Driving Habits: Aggressive maneuvers like hard braking, sharp turns, and rapid accelerations can put additional stress on the tire booties, causing them to wear out faster.
- Temperature Extremes: Extremely hot or cold temperatures can cause the tire booties to degrade faster, leading to cracks, brittleness, or softening of the materials.
Finally, while each lift differs slightly, and product specifications should be reviewed, generally, frequency of use is the largest factor in longevity.
How to choose the right size tire bootie?
Generally, consult the AWP manual to find the exact specifications and tire cover size. However, to determine the right replacement tire bootie you may need, start by measuring the size of the tire because tire socks must be sized specifically to fit your lift tire. Additionally, there are a few other things to consider, such as:
- Type of AWP: Tire booties come in different sizes and materials depending on the type of equipment they are intended for, such as forklifts, scissor lifts, or another AWP.
- Secure Fit: The tire booties should fit snugly over the tires without being too loose or too tight.
- Customization Options: Some manufacturers offer customized or made-to-order tire booties to ensure a perfect fit for your specific equipment.
How to find replacement scissor lifts, forklifts, and other AWP replacement tire socks?
Aerial Equipment Parts offers multiple types of tire covers and socks that fit all types of AWPs and the leading brands of scissor lifts, forklifts, and other major AWPs. For example, our extensive inventory includes high-grade ballistic nylon tire covers for smaller aerial devices. Conversely, larger machines likely require tire covers made from HD ballistic-strength nylon poly blend. Finally, consistent with industry standards and expectations, our tire covers and socks are made according to the specific tire on your machine to ensure they fit properly. Additionally, tire covers help protect your floors by reducing marks on your floor which leads to a cleaner facility (with lower maintenance costs).
Finally, Aerial Equipment Parts offers a huge selection of replacement lift equipment. Our inventory includes parts for all major brands, including JLG, Genie, Skyjack, and more lifts. If you need to replace any of your aerial lift parts, then search our inventory to find the right part for your lift today. Reach out to us at Aerial Equipment Parts for any questions you have about tire covers, socks, and/or any other AWP replacement part.