Heavy-Duty Transport Wheels

Transport wheels are indispensable components in numerous industrial applications. For particularly heavy loads, special heavy-duty wheels are used, which impress with their robust construction and high load capacity. This guide provides all the essential information about the areas of application, features, and selection criteria of heavy-duty wheels, with a special focus on the range offered by Wicke.

What are Heavy-Duty Wheels?

Heavy-duty wheels are industrial wheels specifically designed for the safe transport of especially heavy loads. They are robustly built from particularly durable materials and are characterized by an extremely high load capacity. Unlike other transport wheels, heavy-duty wheels are designed to reliably move weights of up to 30,000 kilograms. Challenging environmental conditions such as uneven floors, aggressive chemicals, or extreme temperatures are no problem.

Areas of Application for Heavy-Duty Wheels

Industry and mechanical engineering (transport of heavy machines and equipment)
Aerospace (movement of satellites and aircraft components)
Construction (transport of building materials and equipment)
Logistics and warehousing (moving heavy pallets and containers)
Municipalities (used in robust cleaning machines and vehicles)
Military (transport of heavy equipment and vehicles)
Food industry (hygienic wheels for easy-to-clean environments)
Medical facilities (quiet, floor-protecting wheels for sensitive environments)

Characteristics of Heavy-Duty Wheels

Swivel Wheels and Rigid Wheels

Heavy-duty wheels come in various types and consist of particularly durable components. Two typical versions are:

Swivel wheels: rotate 360°, allowing high manoeuvrability.
Rigid wheels: do not swivel, offering high stability for straight-line movement.

A combination of both types is often used to ensure both flexibility and stability.

Wheel Housing – Especially Robust and Corrosion-Resistant

The housing of Wicke heavy-duty wheels is made from high-strength steel sheet or welded steel constructions. Different surface protection methods are used:

Galvanized: reliably protects against corrosion, ideal for normal industrial use
Chromated or painted: for aggressive environments or visually appealing applications

Tread: The Right Solution for Every Surface

Choosing the right tread material is crucial for the performance and lifespan of heavy-duty wheels. The wheels are made from high-quality materials that meet diverse requirements depending on the application:

Solid steel: absolutely break-proof and extremely temperature-resistant — ideal for high-temperature areas and heavy machines.
Polyamide: hard, acid- and alkali-resistant — perfect for chemically aggressive environments and smooth floors.
Polyurethane / Vulkollan®: abrasion-resistant, noise-dampening, and suitable for moderate unevenness — ideal for sensitive floors in workshops.
Elastic solid rubber: soft, shock-absorbing, and floor-friendly — optimal for sensitive surfaces or delicate transported goods.

Heavy-Duty Transport Wheels at Wicke Shop at a Glance

Depending on the floor and intensity of use, you can choose from the above-mentioned materials in our series. Swivel and rigid wheels are available with load capacities of several thousand kilograms, depending on the product type.

Solid Steel Heavy-Duty Wheels Series S

These wheels are made entirely of steel, are unbreakable, and heat-resistant. They are excellent for use in high-temperature areas and with heavy machinery. The wheels are standard equipped with ball bearings and can withstand temperatures from -25 °C to 120 °C.

Example product: S LAK 4/200/50K

Here you can find Wicke’s steel heavy-duty wheels

KSG Series – Polyamide (PA 6)

Example product: KSG LAK 4/200/80K

This wheel has a diameter of 200 mm and a width of 80 mm. Made from high-quality cast polyamide PA 6, it offers a load capacity of up to 3,000 kg. Ideal for use in chemically aggressive environments or on smooth floors.

Buy our polyamide heavy-duty wheels with up to 4,500 kg load capacity!

Need polyamide heavy-duty wheels with up to 30,000 kg load capacity?

Polyurethane – Series PE and PG

Example product PE: PE LG 4/200/50K-FSTR
Example product PG: PG LLAK 4/200/50K

These wheels have a polyurethane tire with a hardness of 92 Shore A on a high-quality die-cast aluminium rim. They are abrasion-resistant, noise-dampening, and ideal for sensitive floors in workshops. With a load capacity of up to 700 kg, they are also very durable.

Buy polyurethane wheels with up to 2,000 kg load capacity!

Need polyurethane wheels with up to 25,000 kg load capacity?

Elastic Solid Rubber – DB Series

Example product: DB LLAK 4/200/50K

Equipped with a Wicke-ELASTIC® tire on a high-quality aluminium rim, these wheels offer particularly quiet running and high shock absorption. They are floor-friendly and ideal for delicate transported goods or uneven floors. Load capacity is up to 700 kg.

Buy elastic solid rubber tires with up to 1,000 kg load capacity!

Need elastic solid rubber tires with up to 15,000 kg load capacity?

Selection Criteria for the Right Heavy-Duty Wheel

To find the right wheel or transport wheel for heavy loads, keep the following criteria in mind:

Load capacity
Shock load
Floor surface
Environmental influences
Proper bearing

Load Capacity

When buying heavy-duty wheels online, the most important criterion is the load capacity — the maximum weight the wheels can carry. After all, heavy loads need to be transported. The basic formula for calculating load capacity with 4 wheels is:

weight + load = total load
Divide by 3, since not all four wheels always bear the load evenly.
(weight + load)/3=load capacity per wheel (Own weight + load) / 3 = load capacity per wheel (Weight + load) /3=load capacity per wheel

Shock Load

Shock load is another important criterion when selecting heavy-duty transport wheels. Will rails or sleepers be driven over? These shocks exceed normal wheel usage. Wheels with elastic treads are best here.

Wheels with elastic treads (PU, rubber) offer advantages due to their shock-absorbing properties.

Floor Condition

Basically:

Hard tread → soft floors
Soft tread → hard floors

For uneven or sensitive floors, softer materials like elastic solid rubber or PU are suitable. Note that black solid rubber wheels often leave abrasion marks on floors. There is a solution for this: special solid rubber wheels in grey or grey-blue reduce chalking and contact discoloration.

For rough and insensitive floors, treads made of steel, cast iron, or polyamide are suitable. They ensure easy rolling with high load capacity. Spring-loaded heavy-duty wheels are mainly used for towed applications.

Environmental Conditions and Temperature Ranges

Environmental factors mainly concern chemical influences. Polyamide treads are generally resistant to diluted alkalis and acids. In terms of temperature resistance, polyamide wheels can be used broadly from 40 to 80 degrees Celsius.

For extreme temperatures (e.g., in ovens or cold storage), solid steel wheels are recommended.

Bearings

The choice of wheel bearings is also important. Special plain bearings, roller bearings, ball bearings, tapered roller bearings, and angular contact bearings offer high flexibility. Roller bearings and (double) ball bearings as well as tapered roller bearings are very suitable for heavy-duty wheels. They are robust and ensure durability and low rolling resistance.

Plain bearings: low maintenance, for low speeds.
Roller bearings: high load capacity, shock resistant.
Ball bearings: easy rolling, ideal for direction changes.
Tapered roller bearings: for combined radial and axial loads.

Use Cases for Selecting Heavy-Duty Transport Wheels

Logistics company: An international parcel service was able to significantly reduce noise and rolling resistance in its distribution centre with Wicke PU wheels — while also extending service life.
Mechanical engineering company: For internal transport of milling machines, a manufacturer chose solid steel wheels with steel welded housing — crucial was the extreme load capacity with minimal space requirements.
Cleaning equipment manufacturer: A producer of cleaning machines for airports uses elastic solid rubber wheels to minimize vibrations on sensitive floors.

Maintenance and Care of Heavy-Duty Wheels

Regular maintenance ensures that heavy-duty wheels remain efficient and safe over time. Especially for heavily used wheels (e.g., in industry, logistics, or outdoor areas), maintenance at fixed intervals is recommended.

1. Cleaning

Depending on the environment, dust, dirt, oil, or chemical residues can accumulate in the wheel or housing. These impair rolling ease and can damage bearings.

Recommended procedures:

Dry dirt: Remove with a soft, dry cloth or brush. Especially important for wheels with sensitive materials (PU, rubber).
Oily or greasy residues: Clean with a slightly damp cloth and possibly mild, pH-neutral cleaner. Dry thoroughly afterward to avoid corrosion.
Waterproof wheels (e.g., polyamide or stainless steel housing): Can be rinsed with clear water or even a high-pressure cleaner—only if the bearings are sealed against moisture (e.g., stainless steel or sealed ball bearings).

Important: Avoid aggressive solvents, abrasive cleaners, or strong alkalis, especially on PU or rubber wheels—they damage the tread.

2. Lubrication of Bearings

Lubrication is key for maintenance — it protects against friction, wear, and corrosion. Different recommendations apply depending on bearing type and usage conditions.

Plain bearings: lubricate every 3 to 6 months with a high-quality multipurpose grease like lithium grease.
Roller bearings: lubricate about every 6 months; shorter intervals for heavy use. Best with long-life mineral oil-based grease.
Open ball bearings: lubricate at least twice a year with high-performance ball bearing grease.
Sealed ball bearings: factory-lubricated for life, no re-greasing needed.
Tapered roller bearings: maintenance-intensive due to axial heavy loads; use grease with high pressure absorption. Lubricate if running noise occurs.

Storage of Heavy-Duty Wheels

Even though heavy-duty wheels are robust, proper storage is important, especially for long-term storage or spare parts. Wheels should be stored dry, clean, and protected from direct sunlight to avoid material fatigue, UV damage, and corrosion. Ideal storage temperatures range between 10 °C and 25 °C with low humidity.

Wheels with elastic treads (e.g., Vulkollan®, polyurethane, or rubber) should not be left under load on one spot for long periods to prevent pressure marks. Best stored lying down without load or hung so the wheel can rotate freely.

Greased wheels should be regularly checked and re-lubricated before use, especially after storage longer than 12 months.

Heavy-Duty Transport Wheels from Wicke – The Right Wheel Makes the Difference

Choosing the right heavy-duty wheels depends on various factors — load capacity, environmental conditions, tread material, floor condition, and maintenance requirements. Wicke offers a wide range of high-quality heavy-duty wheels for diverse needs. Our products combine quality, durability, and longevity — for reliable use in any environment.

Do you have questions about our products or need expert advice? Wicke is happy to help. Contact us at +49 (0) 202 25 28 -333.