Pallet truck wheels are a small component with a big effect on how the truck feels to use, how much noise it makes and what it does to the floor. Our manual pallet trucks run on either nylon or polyurethane (PU) wheels, and the choice between them is the main difference between the standard and Premium trucks in our 3000kg range. This guide explains the two materials without overstating either. The trucks are on the 3000kg pallet trucks page and the full range on pallet trucks.
The two materials
- Nylon is a hard plastic. Nylon wheels are firm, hard-wearing and resist most oils and chemicals found on a warehouse floor. They are the standard fit on general-purpose manual pallet trucks, including our red, orange, yellow and blue 3000kg trucks and both 2000kg models.
- Polyurethane (PU) is a softer-faced material, usually moulded onto a steel or nylon core. PU wheels are generally associated with quieter, smoother running and a gentler contact with the floor. They are the fit on our Premium 3000kg pallet truck.
On our trucks everything else – 3000kg rating, 550 × 1150mm forks, 4.2mm steel, manual hydraulic pump – is the same between the standard and Premium models. The wheels are the difference.
Rolling resistance and effort
A harder wheel deforms less under load, so on a smooth, hard floor nylon rolls with very little resistance and a loaded truck is easy to keep moving. PU deforms slightly more, which gives it grip and a smoother feel over small imperfections, joints and debris. In practice the difference in effort on a clean concrete floor is small; the difference becomes noticeable where the floor is uneven, painted or has expansion joints, where PU tends to ride over rather than bump.
Noise
This is the clearest difference. Hard nylon wheels on concrete are loud – the rumble of a pallet truck across an empty warehouse is a nylon sound. PU is quieter. If the truck works near offices, a shop floor, a showroom or in a shared unit, or if it is in use all day, the quieter running is the reason most customers choose the Premium truck.
Floor protection
Nylon is harder than most floor coatings, so on painted or epoxy floors, resin floors, tiles and polished concrete it can mark, scuff and, over time, wear tracks along regular routes. PU is softer than the floor rather than harder than it, and is the usual recommendation where the floor finish matters. On rough or unfinished concrete either material is fine.
Durability and conditions
Neither material is simply "more durable"; it depends on the conditions:
- Nylon copes well with oil, grease, chemicals, wet floors and cold stores, and it is not cut by swarf or grit. It is the safer choice for a rough floor with debris.
- PU resists impact and abrasion on a clean floor and is easier on the truck's bearings because it absorbs some of the shock. Sharp debris, chemical spills and standing water are harder on it than on nylon.
Whatever the material, keep the wheels clear of banding, shrink-wrap and string – that, not the material, is what stops most pallet trucks rolling.
Which truck should you choose?
| Your situation | Wheel | Truck |
|---|---|---|
| General warehouse, rough or unfinished concrete, occasional use | Nylon | Standard 3000kg pallet truck |
| Oily, wet or chemical floors; cold store; debris underfoot | Nylon | Standard 3000kg pallet truck |
| All-day use on a smooth floor | PU | Premium 3000kg pallet truck |
| Painted, epoxy, resin or tiled floors you want to protect | PU | Premium 3000kg pallet truck |
| Working near offices, a shop floor or customers – noise matters | PU | Premium 3000kg pallet truck |
| Ramps and vehicle loading where the load must not roll | Rubber/PU with a brake | Braked pallet truck |
The standard truck is the red 3000kg pallet truck (also in orange, yellow and blue); the PU option is the Premium 3000kg pallet truck. For controlled handling on a slope, the used Chadwick braked pallet truck runs on rubber/PU wheels with a parking brake – see braked pallet trucks.
Looking after either type
Whichever material you choose, the wheels are the part of a manual pallet truck that wears. Check them when you check the pump: clear banding, string and shrink-wrap from the axles, look for flat spots on the load rollers (the small wheels under the fork tips take the weight when the forks are raised) and for chunks missing from the steer wheels. A truck that suddenly needs more effort to push usually has something wound round an axle rather than a worn wheel. Both wheel types are replaceable parts, so a worn set does not mean a new truck.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change nylon wheels to PU later?
Wheels are a replaceable part on manual pallet trucks, so a set can be changed by someone competent with the right axle pins. In practice, buying the Premium truck is simpler than converting a standard one.
Are PU wheels stronger?
The wheel material does not change the truck's rating – both trucks are rated at 3000kg. PU absorbs shock; nylon resists chemicals and debris. Choose for your floor and your use, not for capacity.
Which is better for a cold store?
Nylon is the usual choice in cold and wet conditions.
Which is quieter?
PU. If noise is the problem you are trying to solve, that is the answer.
Compare the two on the 3000kg pallet trucks page, browse all pallet trucks, or read the 2000kg vs 3000kg guide if you are still choosing a capacity.