Pneumatic tires consist of layers of rubberized fabric called plies. Plies extend diagonally in alternating directions across the tire and build up the tire carcass. Bundles of high carbon steel wires form beads and serve to secure the tire on the rim. An abrasion resistant rubber tread and sidewalls protect the casing. Finally a rubber inner tube allows for inflation of the tire to the specified pressure.
Resilient tires were developed as a flat free solution to the pneumatic tire. The two-layer resilient tire is built from an inner heel layer comprised of a hard rubber compound and an outer tread layer made of an abrasion resistant rubber compound for long tire life. The three-layer resilient tire features a third middle layer. Here a special, softer rubber compound layer is added to maximize shock absorption to mimic the cushioning of a pneumatic and reduce internal tire temperatures.
Press-on tires (also known as cushion tires or band tires) are found predominantly in North America. Here, the tire is typically made from a single rubber compound that's bonded to a steel band. They are pressed on to the machines hub using a hydraulic press. Up to 200 tons or more can be required to install a press-on tire. They are available in either a smooth tread pattern which are suitable for operating on dry, smooth floors or a traction tread pattern for wet environments or uneven/loose surface conditions. Press-on equipped machines are popular due to their ability to handle higher loads with greater stability compared to a similar sized resilient or pneumatic tire.