About Pneumatic Tire Forklifts
Pneumatic tire forklifts are distinct from cushion tire models in that their tires are made of solid rubber or filled with compressed air, whereas cushion tires are typically smooth and made of rubber and steel. Pneumatic models are well-suited for both indoor and outdoor operations because they often have a higher ground clearance and wider tires. Forklifts typically run on gas, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), or diesel fuel, although there are fully electric models as well. Compact models have maximum lift capacities of between 3,000 and 7,000 pounds (1,360 and 3,175 kilograms), while high-capacity forklifts can lift as much as 180,000 pounds (81,647 kilograms) or more.

Toyota High-Capacity IC Pneumatic Forklift
Benefits & Applications
Cushion tire forklifts are often less expensive and have longer lasting tires, which makes them a good fit for indoor operations on relatively smooth surfaces. However, pneumatic models, and specifically those with puncture-proof, solid rubber tires, can not only handle outdoor application over uneven terrain, but they can also withstand running over nails, rocks, and other obstacles without taking as much damage as other types of forklifts. This makes them popular for work in lumberyards and on construction sites. Other popular industries and applications include agriculture, airports, concrete work, mining, oil and gas, and more.
Popular Makes & Models
LiftsToday.com has a large selection of new and used pneumatic tire forklifts for sale from popular brands like Caterpillar, Hyster, Still, Toyota, and Yale. One specific example is the Hyster H30FT internal combustion pneumatic tire forklift. It has a load capacity of 3,000 pounds, a maximum lift speed of 118 feet per minute (36 meters per minute), and a top speed of 13.4 mph(21.6 km/h).
On the other end of the spectrum, there is the Toyota High-Capacity IC Pneumatic forklift, which is available in several configurations. The largest option has a load capacity of 125,000 pounds (56,699 kilograms), a top speed of 20 miles per hour (32.2 kilometers per hour) with no load, and a maximum lift speed of 34.7 feet per minute (10.6 meters per minute).