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 |
Scale 1-5 (5 = excellent…1 = poor) |