What tires/wheels you have on your patient transport cart could well be one of the most important decisions you make. The right tires will give you years of trouble free, smooth and efficient handling and the confidence that comes with knowing your patient is safe and comfortable.
Picking the perfect tire for your EvacKart
Consider Tire & Wheel Size
There are many factors to consider when selecting your wheels. Certainly, the tire/wheel size, both diameter and tread width are important. The taller the wheel the more ground clearance your cart will have and it is easier to get over certain obstacles in the trail. The tire tread width will give you more stability in uneven terrain. But choosing the tallest and widest wheel available is not usually the best choice. If the wheel is too tall it makes the center of gravity higher and the cart is unwieldy on off-camber slopes. It also could make the cart too awkward for your patient to get into. If the tire is too wide it sticks out beyond the width of the cart and becomes an “obstacle” that could get “hung up” when negotiating narrow trails.
Blend Form & Function
The perfect fitting tire/wheel is a blend of form and function. Tall enough to move over expected obstacles easily but low enough that you have a stable center of gravity on side hills. The tread width should be wide enough that it doesn’t sink into the loose dirt but not so wide that it creates drag from its own mass. Our standard tire/wheels range from 14.5” to 20.0” in diameter and 1.5” to 6.5” in tread width. All of them are flat free.
Don’t Forget Ground Material
You should also consider what type ground material your carts will traveling over. Sand, in particular, requires special attention. We equip our Evackarts with low pressure flotation tires from Wheeleez® when it is expected that patients will be transported over loose sand. Equally challenging is what works best when the ground is soft but has rough and sharp rocks to contend with that would easily puncture any kind of pneumatic tire. In areas of volcanic soil this is referred to as cinders. We have found a wider tread puncture proof tire with a flat profile works very well.
Please visit www.marathonind.com for ideas on what sizes, shapes, and product specifications are available. For sand tires you should visit https://wheeleez.com. And please feel free to call or email our expert support staff to discuss your questions or concerns.