Wheel tread options
Tread material, wheel diameter and bearings are the three things that affect rolling resistance (i.e. how easy a piece of equipment is to move).
Manner castors have six wheel tread options: polyamide (N), polyurethane (ND), solid rubber (NK), thermo-elastic rubber 55 Shore A (PTE 55), thermo-elastic rubber 80 Shore A (PTE 80) and elastic solid rubber (NEK).
There are also wheels that are electrically conductive: solid rubber (NK A) and the non-marking thermo-elastic rubber 90 Shore A (PTE/K AX).
This table will help you select the wheel tread your castors will need. It compares rolling resistance on all six of Manner’s wheel tread options.
| Properties | N (polyamide) | ND (polyurethane) | NK (solid-rubber) | PTE 55 soft thermo-elastic rubber | PTE 80 thermo-elastic rubber | NEK elastic solid rubber |
| Suitability indoors and outdoors | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Thermal resistance | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Wear resistance | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Shock loading | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Chemical resistance | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Rolling and starting resistance | ||||||
| – smooth and hard surface | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| – uneven surface | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Load capacity | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Surface compatibility | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Traction on surface | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
The surface tread of the wheel has a significant effect on the performance of the equipment. To assist selection we also provide the following features. Unless there is an application reason not to fit, the NEK tread is an ideal selection.
NEK/K elastic solid rubber with ball bearing hub
- Resilient wheel tread on nylon centre
- For the best features of soft and hard wheels
- Hardwearing
- Suitable for light equipment and heavy loads
- Very low rolling resistance for movement with less effort
- Quiet in operation
- Non-marking
- Easy roll over floor debris
- Good resistance to abrasion
- Resistant to pick-up of metal swarf or stones
- Resists side-slip
- Smooth ride
ND/K polyurethane tread on nylon centre with ball bearing hub
- 95° shore hardness tread on nylon centre
- Low rolling resistance
- Low noise
- Floor saving
- Good resistance to mineral greases and oils
N/K nylon (polyamide) wheel with ball bearing hub
- Low cost general purpose wheel with good mechanical properties