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Posted by Forklift Tire Company on 25th Aug 2026
Komatsu is one of the few forklift badges where the company that built your lift truck also built the excavator on the job site next door. Komatsu Forklift U.S.A. markets, sells and provides aftermarket support for Komatsu branded forklifts in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Latin American countries. The fleet leans hard toward internal combustion: gas and LPG counterbalance trucks from 3,000 to 11,000 lb, diesel hydrostatic machines up to 35,000 lb, and a smaller battery-electric range for indoor work. That mix is exactly why a Komatsu tire question rarely has one answer — the same capacity class can arrive on air pneumatics, solid pneumatics or press-on cushion tires.
This guide covers Komatsu end to end: how to read the model number stamped on your truck, drive and steer sizes for the current AX50, BX50, CX50, FH, AE50, AM50 and BBX50 lines taken from Komatsu’s own published specifications, the electric and reach-truck fleet most tire guides skip, the big-capacity FH trucks that can need six tires instead of four, and the legacy models Komatsu no longer lists. Most sizes in the tables link straight to the matching category on our site; configuration-dependent or unlisted sizes route to fitment help instead. Tires, wheels and load wheels are the Komatsu forklift parts we carry — check the linked page or ask us for current availability.
Have a photo of the data plate? Send it to sales@forklifttire.com or call 1 (866) 313-2180 — we will read it with you before you order.
In this guide
Komatsu: The IC Workhorse
Komatsu’s current North American lift-truck catalog runs to ten families: the AX50 (3,000–3,500 lb gas/LPG), the BX50 (4,000–6,500 lb, offered in both pneumatic and cushion form), the CX50 (8,000–11,000 lb pneumatic), three FH diesel-hydrostatic ranges that climb from 8,000 lb to 35,000 lb, the AE50 four-wheel and AM50 three-wheel electrics, the BBX50 electric cushion line, and the FR reach trucks. Warehouse-first makes build their story around electrics; Komatsu’s story starts in the yard, at the dock and on the mixed-surface site.
One structural point is worth knowing before you shop. Komatsu’s U.S. catalog no longer shows individual FD torque-converter counterbalance model pages — every current model page is FG (gasoline/LPG) or FH (diesel hydrostatic, which is still a diesel counterbalance truck). Komatsu’s current CX50 brochure still publishes the diesel FD40ZTU-10, FD40TU-10, FD45TU-10 and FD50ATU-10 alongside their FG twins, on the same tires. But the FD-badged BX50 twins (FD20T-16 through FD32T-16), and the FD70T/FD80T and FD100T–FD160ET heavy trucks, no longer appear anywhere in Komatsu’s current published lineup. If the plate on your truck reads FD and the model is not one of those four CX50 machines, you are almost certainly running an older truck — and older trucks are exactly where tire sizes drift, after decades of ownership changes, wheel swaps and factory options. Jump straight to the legacy tables if that is you.
Decode Your Komatsu Model Number
A Komatsu model designation is built in four parts, and three of them tell you something useful about tires. The notes below are read from Komatsu’s own specification tables and are scoped to North American models; Komatsu badges some export markets differently, so a designation from outside the U.S. and Canada may not follow these patterns.
Reading a Komatsu model, quickly
- The prefix is the powertrain. FG = gasoline or LPG. FD = diesel with a torque-converter transmission. FB = battery electric. FH = diesel with electronically controlled hydrostatic drive. FR = electric reach truck.
- The digits are a metric capacity class, in hundreds of kilograms — not pounds. FG25 is the 2.5-tonne class. Komatsu publishes that same truck in the U.S. at 5,000 lb at a 24 in. load center, not 5,512 lb. Never convert the model number into a pound rating; read the rating off the plate.
- An S means cushion. This is the most useful letter on the truck. FG25T-16 is a pneumatic-tire truck; FG25ST-16 is the cushion-tire version of the same machine. The pattern holds across the AX50, BX50 and BBX50 families. It is not a two-way test, though: the AM50 three-wheel electrics and the FR reach trucks are cushion-tired with no S in the designation at all.
- The remaining letters describe the drivetrain and frame, not the tire. T is the TORQFLOW powershift transmission; Z marks a compact, short-wheelbase variant — the FG40ZTU-10 has a 70.9 in. wheelbase against the FG40TU-10’s 78.7 in., and Komatsu rates it at the same 24 in. load center as the rest of the U.S. line; M marks a three-wheel truck; and on the ‑16 series an H in mid-string marks the larger engine option. A few suffixes that appear in the literature have no published meaning, so we do not guess at them here.
- The dash number is a series code, not a year. In the current lineup the AX50 is ‑20, the BX50 is ‑16, the CX50 is ‑10, the BBX50 is ‑6 and the AE50/AM50 are ‑12 — all sold alongside each other. A higher dash number does not mean a newer truck across families, and Komatsu does not publish model-year ranges for these series.
Here is what each current family is and roughly what it runs. Use it to place your truck, then go to the matching table below for the exact pairing.
| Family | What it is | Typical tire setup |
|---|---|---|
| AX50 | 3,000–3,500 lb gas/LPG, pneumatic | Pneumatic 6.50-10 drive |
| BX50 | 4,000–6,500 lb gas/LPG. The volume family, built in both pneumatic and cushion form | 7.00-12 or 28x9-15 pneumatic; 21x7x15 or 21x8x15 cushion |
| CX50 | 8,000–11,000 lb gas, pneumatic-type only (no cushion); air pneumatic standard, solid pneumatic a published factory option | 250-15 or 300-15 drive |
| FH | 8,000–35,000 lb diesel hydrostatic, pneumatic-type only (no cushion); air pneumatic standard, solid pneumatic a published factory option. The only diesel with current model pages | 300-15 up to 12.00-20; four drive tires from 15,400 lb up |
| AE50 | 3,000–4,000 lb four-wheel battery electric | Solid pneumatic 18x7-8 drive on the 3,000–3,500 lb models |
| AM50 | 3,000–4,000 lb three-wheel battery electric | Cushion press-on 18x7x12-1/8 drive, dual rear wheels |
| BBX50 | 4,000–6,500 lb battery electric cushion — the electric counterpart to the BX50 | 21x7x15 or 21x8x15 cushion |
| FR | 3,000–4,500 lb electric reach trucks, narrow aisle | Cushion rubber drive tire plus load wheels and casters |
The model number narrows the field — within the North American AX50, BX50 and BBX50 families an S commonly marks the cushion configuration, though it is not universal — but the plate is what confirms the size, because Komatsu publishes more than one front-tire option on some trucks. Our guide to how to read a forklift data plate walks through what is on it and what each field means.
Komatsu Pneumatic Tire Sizes: AX50, BX50 & CX50
The sizes below come from Komatsu’s published specifications for the current AX50, BX50, CX50 and FH35–50 pneumatic models. Every linked size goes to our category page for that size.
| Model | Drive (front) | Steer (rear) | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| FG15HTU-20 AX50 | 6.50-10 | 5.00-8 | 3,000 lb |
| FG18HTU-20 AX50 | 6.50-10 | 5.00-8 | 3,500 lb |
| FG20T-16 BX50 | 7.00-12 | 6.00-9 | 4,000 lb |
| FG25T-16 · FG25HT-16 BX50 | 7.00-12 | 6.00-9 | 5,000 lb |
| FG30HT-16 BX50 | 28x9-15 | 6.50-10 | 6,000 lb |
| FG32HT-16 BX50 | 28x9-15 | 6.50-10 | 6,500 lb |
| FG40ZTU-10 CX50 compact | 250-15 | 7.00-12 | 8,000 lb |
| FG40TU-10 CX50 | 300-15 | 7.00-12 | 9,000 lb |
| FG45TU-10 CX50 | 300-15 | 7.00-12 | 10,000 lb |
| FG50ATU-10 CX50 | 300-15 | 7.00-12 | 11,000 lb |
| FH35-2 · FH40-2 · FH45-2 · FH50-2 diesel HST | 300-15 | 7.00-12 | 8,000–11,000 lb |
Replacing drives and steers together? Tire sets and bundles stack the automatic volume discount.
A note on how Komatsu writes these sizes. Komatsu’s spec tables drop trailing zeros inconsistently — the same tire appears as 7 - 12 - 12PR in one document and 7.00-12-12PR (I) in another. They are the same 7.00-12 tire; likewise 6 - 9 is 6.00-9 and 6.5 - 10 is 6.50-10. The 250-15 and 300-15 drive sizes are metric designations that also appear as 250/70-15 and 315/70-15. Separately — and this one catches people out — the 28x9-15 on the 6,000–6,500 lb trucks is the same tire as 8.15-15. That is a different size from 250-15, not another name for it. If the string on your paperwork does not match anything here, send it to us rather than guessing — that mismatch is almost always notation, not a different tire. The same goes for the machine itself: fork truck, fork lift, lift truck and forklift all describe the same thing, and Komatsu paperwork uses more than one of them.
Komatsu Cushion Tire Sizes: BX50 & BBX50
Komatsu’s cushion trucks come from two directions: the LPG-powered BX50 cushion models, and the BBX50 battery-electric cushion line that covers the same capacity band indoors. Both run rubber press-on tires.
| Model | Drive (front) | Steer (rear) | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| FG20ST-16 BX50 cushion | 21x7x15 | 16-1/4x5x11-1/4 | 4,000 lb |
| FG25ST-16 · FG25SHT-16 BX50 cushion | 21x7x15 | 16-1/4x5x11-1/4 | 5,000 lb |
| FG30SHT-16 · FG32SHT-16 BX50 cushion | 21x8x15 | 16-1/4x6x11-1/4 | 6,000–6,500 lb |
| FB20SHU-6 BBX50 electric | 21x7x15 | 16x5x10-1/2 | 4,000 lb |
| FB25SHU-6 BBX50 electric | 21x7x15 | 16x6x10-1/2 | 5,000 lb |
| FB20SHGU-6 · FB25SHGU-6 · FB30SHU-6 · FB32SHU-6 BBX50 electric | 21x8x15 | 16x6x10-1/2 | 4,000–6,500 lb |
Press-on cushion tires are available in black rubber and in non-marking rubber compounds. Non-marking is the usual choice for food, pharmaceutical, retail and any sealed or coated floor where black scuffing is a problem — and we stock non-marking in many of these press-on sizes. If you do not see the one you need listed, ask us. Our guide to why matched sets save money covers why replacing all four positions together usually beats replacing one at a time.
Komatsu Electric Forklift Tires: AE50, AM50 & FR
Most aftermarket fitment guides omit Komatsu’s electric and reach-truck families entirely. The electric fleet splits three ways, and each one takes a different kind of rubber. The AE50 is a four-wheel electric that Komatsu specifies on solid pneumatic tires — a solid tire in a pneumatic shape, mounted on a pneumatic-style rim, not a press-on. The AM50 is a three-wheel electric on cushion press-ons, with a dual rear wheel set. The FR reach trucks are a different animal again: one drive tire, a pair of tandem load wheels out on the forks, and a dual caster.
| Model | Type | Drive (front) | Rear / load wheels | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FB15U-12 AE50 | 4-wheel, solid pneumatic | 18x7-8 | 16x6-8 | 3,000 lb |
| FB18U-12 AE50 | 4-wheel, solid pneumatic | 18x7-8 | 16x6-8 | 3,500 lb |
| FB20AU-12 AE50 | 4-wheel, solid pneumatic | 200/50-10 — confirm with us | 16x6-8 — confirm with us | 4,000 lb |
| FB15MU-12 · FB18MU-12 AM50 | 3-wheel, cushion press-on | 18x7x12-1/8 | 15x5x11-1/4 (dual) | 3,000–3,500 lb |
| FB20MU-12 AM50 | 3-wheel, cushion press-on | 18x8x12-1/8 | 15x5x11-1/4 (dual) | 4,000 lb |
| FR15K-3 · FR18K-3 · FR23K-3 FR | Electric reach truck | 13x5-1/2 cushion rubber (330 x 140) | 5x4 tandem load wheels; 7x2-7/8 dual caster | 3,000–4,500 lb |
One exception in this table: Komatsu’s own documents do not agree on the FB20AU-12. The AE50/AM50 brochure lists a 200/50-10 front and a 16x6-8 rear; the komatsu.com model page prints 200/500-10 and 18x6-8. We show the brochure values and flag the row rather than pick a winner. Send a photo of the plate to sales@forklifttire.com or call 1 (866) 313-2180 and we will read it against the wheel.
Komatsu prints the AM50 drive tire as 18 x 7 x 12.13 and the BX50 cushion steer as 16.25 x 5 x 11.25. Those decimals are the same fractions you will read off the tire itself — 12.13 is 12-1/8, 16.25 is 16-1/4, 11.25 is 11-1/4. A decimal in a spec table and a fraction on a sidewall are describing one tire.
Reach trucks: the FR series
Searching for “Komatsu forklift wheels” rather than tires? On a reach truck that is usually the right search. Load wheels and casters wear out faster than the drive tire, they carry the load through the forks, and they are the part that turns a reach truck noisy and rough long before anything else does. We stock forklift load wheels and pressed-on wheels and rim assemblies, and our load wheel and caster guide explains how to measure one correctly — outside diameter, width, and the bore or bearing size, all three. Reach-truck fitments vary widely by model, mast and options, so for anything in the warehouse fleet the fastest reliable route is a data-plate photo to sales@forklifttire.com or a call to 1 (866) 313-2180 — we will help you identify the right wheel or tire, including sizes the website does not list.
Big-Capacity Komatsu: FH70 to FH160 and the Six-Tire Problem
| Model | Drive & steer size | Tires per truck | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH70-2 | 8.25-15 | 4 drive + 2 steer = 6 | 15,400 lb |
| FH80-2 | 8.25-15 | 4 drive + 2 steer = 6 | 18,000 lb |
| FH100-1 | 9.00-20 | 4 drive + 2 steer = 6 | 22,000 lb |
| FH120-1 | 10.00-20 | 4 drive + 2 steer = 6 | 26,400 lb |
| FH135-1 | 11.00-20 | 4 drive + 2 steer = 6 | 30,000 lb |
| FH160-1 | 12.00-20 | 4 drive + 2 steer = 6 | 35,000 lb |
Two practical consequences. First, a six-tire order clears the volume threshold comfortably — 4+ items triggers the automatic 15% discount, so ordering the full set as a bundle rather than an axle at a time is usually the cheaper path as well as the safer one. Second, these are large-diameter pneumatic sizes with limited depth in the aftermarket; the 11.00-20 in particular is a specialist size. If you run FH iron, call before you need it rather than after — lead time, not price, is what hurts on this class.
Pricing six tires for an FH? Call 1 (866) 313-2180 or email sales@forklifttire.com for stock and lead time before you need them.
Legacy Komatsu Models: BX50 Diesel, CX20, DX50 & EX50
Plenty of working Komatsu iron predates the current catalog. The sizes below are drawn from Komatsu specification brochures for series Komatsu no longer lists, and are commonly used on certain Komatsu forklifts of those generations. Older trucks have had decades of ownership changes — treat these as a starting point and verify exact tire size and fitment before ordering.
| Legacy model | Series | Drive (front) | Steer / rear | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FD20T-16 · FD25T-16 | BX50 diesel | 7.00-12 | 6.00-9 | 4,000–5,000 lb |
| FD28T-16 · FD30T-16 · FD32T-16 | BX50 diesel | 28x9-15 | 6.50-10 | 5,500–6,500 lb |
| FG35AHT-16 · FD35AT-16 | BX50 | 250-15 | 6.50-10 | 7,000 lb |
| FG35ST-8 | CX20 cushion | 22x9x16 | 18x7x12-1/8 | 8,000 lb |
| FG35BCS-8 | CX20 cushion (Box Car Special) | 22x9x16 | 18x6x12-1/8 | 8,000 lb |
| FG45ST-8 | CX20 cushion | 22x6x16 dual | 18x7x12-1/8 | 10,000 lb |
| FG45BCS-8 | CX20 cushion (Box Car Special) | 22x6x16 dual | 18x7x12-1/8 | 10,000 lb |
| FD70T-10 | DX50 | 8.25-15 ×4 · 14PR | 8.25-15 · 14PR | 15,400 lb |
| FD80T-10 | DX50 | 8.25-15 ×4 · 18PR | 8.25-15 · 18PR | 18,000 lb |
| FD100T-8 | EX50 | 9.00-20 ×4 | Same as drive | 22,000 lb |
| FD115T-8 | EX50 | 10.00-20 ×4 | Same as drive | 25,000 lb |
| FD135T-8 | EX50 | 11.00-20 ×4 | Same as drive | 30,000 lb |
| FD160ET-8 | EX50 | 12.00-20 ×4 | Same as drive | 35,000 lb |
Running a cushion-tire AX50 — an FG15SHTU-20 or FG18SHTU-20? We have not yet sourced a Komatsu document that lists sizes for those two models directly, so we do not print them here. Send a photo of the plate to sales@forklifttire.com or call 1 (866) 313-2180 and we will work it out with you against the wheel.
Same badge, different tire — that is the risk on legacy Komatsu. The CX20 cushion line put a 22x9x16 single on the 8,000 lb truck and a narrower 22x6x16 in a dual arrangement on the 10,000 lb one. The same series also ran a Box Car Special: the FG35BCS-8 carries the same 22x9x16 drive as the FG35ST-8 but a narrower 18x6x12-1/8 steer, so the model number alone will not get you the right rear tire. Komatsu does not publish start or end dates for these series, so we do not print model-year ranges here. If your truck predates the current catalog, work from the plate and the sidewall together — send us both and we will match them for you.
Every Komatsu model in this guide
AX50 pneumatic — FG15HTU-20 · FG18HTU-20
BX50 pneumatic — FG20T-16 · FG25T-16 · FG25HT-16 · FG30HT-16 · FG32HT-16
BX50 cushion — FG20ST-16 · FG25ST-16 · FG25SHT-16 · FG30SHT-16 · FG32SHT-16
CX50 pneumatic — FG40ZTU-10 · FG40TU-10 · FG45TU-10 · FG50ATU-10
FH diesel hydrostatic — FH35-2 · FH40-2 · FH45-2 · FH50-2 · FH70-2 · FH80-2 · FH100-1 · FH120-1 · FH135-1 · FH160-1
AE50 electric — FB15U-12 · FB18U-12 · FB20AU-12
AM50 three-wheel electric — FB15MU-12 · FB18MU-12 · FB20MU-12
BBX50 electric cushion — FB20SHU-6 · FB20SHGU-6 · FB25SHU-6 · FB25SHGU-6 · FB30SHU-6 · FB32SHU-6
FR reach trucks — FR15K-3 · FR18K-3 · FR23K-3
Legacy — FD20T-16 · FD25T-16 · FD28T-16 · FD30T-16 · FD32T-16 · FG35AHT-16 · FD35AT-16 · FG35ST-8 · FG45ST-8 · FG35BCS-8 · FG45BCS-8 · FD70T-10 · FD80T-10 · FD100T-8 · FD115T-8 · FD135T-8 · FD160ET-8
Do not see your model? Komatsu also lists the diesel FD40ZTU-10, FD40TU-10, FD45TU-10 and FD50ATU-10 on the same tires as their FG twins, and the cushion AX50 models FG15SHTU-20 and FG18SHTU-20 are covered by quote. Send the model and serial number from the plate to sales@forklifttire.com or call 1 (866) 313-2180.
How to Confirm Your Exact Komatsu Tire Size
- Read the data plate. It carries the model, the serial number and the truck’s real capacity rating at a stated load center, and it may identify the tire type or size for each position. Keeping that plate legible is part of a compliant truck under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(a)(6). Our data plate guide shows where each field sits.
- Match the series, not just the capacity. On a Komatsu the dash number is doing real work. A 5,000 lb FG25 from the current BX50 line and a 5,000 lb FG25 from an older series can want different rubber, and the S in the middle of the designation decides cushion versus pneumatic before anything else does.
- Cross-check the sidewall on the truck now — then reconcile it with the plate. The size molded into the tire tells you what is mounted today, but not that it is right: a previous owner may have changed the wheel configuration correctly, or not, and Komatsu itself offers more than one front-tire arrangement on some models. Use the plate to confirm the full model, serial number and rated capacity, read every mounted sidewall, and identify the wheel and rim configuration. Then reconcile all three against current Komatsu literature or a Komatsu dealer’s serial-number lookup, which is the only route that accounts for factory options. If they conflict, stop and resolve it before ordering — send us the plate and sidewall photos and we will work through it with you.
One safety note. OSHA’s powered-industrial-truck rule requires a truck found to be in unsafe condition to be taken out of service until it has been restored to safe operating condition (29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1)), and requires trucks to be examined before being placed in service, at least daily (1910.178(q)(7)). Badly worn, chunked or separated tires can make a truck unsafe to operate — that is an out-of-service question, not a cosmetic one. Our guide to the top 5 signs it is time to replace your forklift tires covers what to look for.
What to Verify Before You Order
- Full model designation and serial number from the data plate — including the dash number.
- Tire type at each position: press-on cushion, solid pneumatic, or air pneumatic. These are not interchangeable without the correct wheel.
- How many tires are on each side of the drive axle — Komatsu publishes different front sizes for single and dual arrangements on the same truck.
- The size molded on each current tire, front and rear, read directly off the sidewall — not from an invoice.
- Compound: black rubber or non-marking, and whether your floor, product or customer requires non-marking.
- Quantity: singles, axle pairs, or full sets — and count the wheels before you order. Komatsu publishes FH35-2 through FH50-2 with two drive and two steer tires, and lists dual front drive as a factory option; FH70-2 and larger are four drive plus two steer. 4+ items triggers the automatic 15% discount on tire sets and bundles.
Why Buy Komatsu Forklift Tires from ForkliftTire.com
- Fitment help from people who do this all day. Send your model, serial and current sizes — we will help confirm fitment before you buy.
- The sizes Komatsu trucks actually use. 7.00-12, 6.00-9, 6.50-10, 28x9-15, 250-15, 300-15, 21x7x15, 21x8x15 and the press-on steer sizes are lines we carry — ask us to confirm current availability before you order.
- Volume pricing built in: Save 7.5% on 2-3 items | Save 15% on 4+ items — automatic discount in cart.
- Free ground freight to commercial addresses in the contiguous U.S.
Running a Komatsu on air pneumatics and replacing the wheel as well as the tire? We stock two-piece split wheels sized for the Komatsu pneumatic pairings, including a 12x5 six-hole split wheel for 7.00-12 tires, a 10x5 split wheel for 6.50-10, a 9x4 split wheel for 6.00-9 and an 8x3 split wheel for 5.00-8. Rim wheel servicing is hazardous work. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.177 requires trained employees following the applicable rim manual, a restraining device for inflation, and staying out of the trajectory. Its stated scope is rim wheels on “large vehicles such as trucks, tractors, trailers, buses and off-road machines” — forklifts are not named in that list, but those are the accepted procedures. Leave split-rim work to trained service personnel.
Not sure which tires or wheels your Komatsu needs? Send us your data-plate photo and current tire sizes — we will help you confirm the right fit before you order. Email sales@forklifttire.com or call 1 (866) 313-2180.
Shop Pneumatic & Solid Tires Shop Cushion Press-Ons Shop Wheels & RimsRun other makes too? Start with our master forklift tire sizes by make & model chart, or jump straight to the Toyota, Caterpillar, Hyster, Yale, Crown or Clark guides. Buying multiple positions at once? Tire sets and bundles stack the volume discount automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tires does a Komatsu forklift use?
It depends on the family, the capacity and whether the truck is cushion or pneumatic. Three common examples: a 5,000 lb FG25T-16 pneumatic lists a 7.00-12 drive and a 6.00-9 steer; a 5,000 lb FG25ST-16 cushion lists 21x7x15 and 16-1/4x5x11-1/4; a 6,000 lb FG30HT-16 lists a 28x9-15 drive and a 6.50-10 steer. Komatsu also publishes more than one front-tire arrangement on some larger trucks, so confirm the wheel configuration as well as the model.
Are Komatsu forklifts cushion or pneumatic?
Both, and the model number usually tells you which. In Komatsu North American literature an S in the designation marks the cushion-tire truck: FG25T-16 is pneumatic, FG25ST-16 is the cushion version of the same machine. The AX50, BX50 and CX50 lines are pneumatic; the BBX50 electric line is cushion; the BX50 is built both ways. It is not a two-way test, though: the AM50 three-wheel electrics and the FR reach trucks are cushion-tired with no S at all. The AE50 four-wheel electric is specified on solid pneumatic tires, which is a third category again. Komatsu badges some export markets differently, so this applies to North American models.
What do Komatsu model numbers mean?
The prefix is the powertrain: FG gasoline or LPG, FD diesel, FB battery electric, FH diesel hydrostatic, FR electric reach truck. The digits are a metric capacity class in hundreds of kilograms, so FG25 is the 2.5-tonne class, which Komatsu publishes in the United States at 5,000 lb rather than 5,512 lb. An S means cushion, T is the TORQFLOW powershift transmission, Z marks a compact short-wheelbase variant and M a three-wheel truck. The number after the dash is a series code, not a model year, and Komatsu does not publish year ranges for these series.
What tires does a Komatsu FG25 use?
On the current 5,000 lb BX50 pneumatic models, FG25T-16 and FG25HT-16, Komatsu lists a 7.00-12 drive tire and a 6.00-9 steer tire. On the cushion versions, FG25ST-16 and FG25SHT-16, it lists a 21x7x15 drive and a 16-1/4x5x11-1/4 steer. Note that FG25 on its own is not enough: the S decides cushion or pneumatic, and older FG25 trucks from earlier series can differ. Read the full designation and the serial number off the data plate.
What tires does a Komatsu electric forklift use?
It depends which electric. Komatsu specifies the AE50 four-wheel trucks, FB15U-12 and FB18U-12, on solid pneumatic tires: 18x7-8 drive and 16x6-8 steer. The AM50 three-wheel trucks run cushion press-ons, 18x7x12-1/8 or 18x8x12-1/8 on the drive with a 15x5x11-1/4 dual rear set. The BBX50 electric cushion line runs 21x7x15 or 21x8x15 drives with a 16x5x10-1/2 or 16x6x10-1/2 steer, and those steer tires are not interchangeable with the similar-looking BX50 sizes, which have a larger inside diameter.
Can I put solid tires on a Komatsu pneumatic forklift?
Often, but it is not automatic and it is not a size question alone. Solid resilient tires are made in pneumatic shapes and mount on pneumatic-style rims, so the same nominal size does not by itself mean compatibility or approval. They are heavier than an air-filled tire of the same size, which changes how the truck sits and behaves, and ride quality varies by construction, so treat that as a specification question rather than an assumption. OSHA treats modifications and additions that affect capacity or safe operation as requiring the manufacturer's prior written approval, and capacity, operation and maintenance instruction plates must be changed accordingly (29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4)). Route the change through Komatsu or a Komatsu dealer, and send us the model, serial and current sizes and we will help you confirm what fits.
Where do I find the tire size on my Komatsu?
Three places, and they need to agree. The data plate on the dash or cowl carries the model, serial and capacity, and may list tire information. The sidewall of the tire itself carries the size molded into the rubber; on a press-on it is usually on the outer face. And Komatsu or a Komatsu dealer can look the truck up by serial number, which is the only route that accounts for factory options. If the plate and the sidewall disagree, do not guess. Send both to sales@forklifttire.com or call 1 (866) 313-2180 and we will help you work out which one reflects the truck as it should be running.
Sources
- Komatsu FG25T-16 specifications — komatsu.com
- Komatsu FG25ST-16 specifications — komatsu.com
- Komatsu BX50 series brochure, KOM101-00 — komatsu.com
- Komatsu CX50 pneumatic brochure and spec sheet — komatsu.com
- Komatsu AE50 & AM50 electric forklift brochure, KOM96-01 — komatsu.com
- Komatsu BBX50 electric cushion brochure, KOM80-02 — komatsu.com
- Komatsu FH70-2 & FH80-2 brochure, KOM1032-00 — komatsu.com
- Komatsu FH100-1 to FH160-1 specification sheet — komatsu.com
- Komatsu Forklift U.S.A. — komatsuforklift.com
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178, Powered industrial trucks — osha.gov
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.177, Servicing multi-piece and single piece rim wheels — osha.gov
- Legacy-series tables: Komatsu specification brochures SPECBX50-P-1rev (BX50 pneumatic), KOM93-01 (DX50), KOM90-01 (EX50) and SPECCX20-C-2 (CX20 cushion), as reproduced by Komatsu dealers. These are archived reference documents rather than current Komatsu publications; treat the legacy rows as reference data requiring plate and serial verification.
Tire sizes shown are reference data for models as commonly configured; equipment options, regional builds, and prior owners’ changes can alter what a specific truck needs. Sizes listed are commonly used on certain Komatsu forklifts and are not a guarantee of fitment for any individual truck. Verify exact tire size and fitment before ordering. Trademarks: Komatsu, Toyota, Caterpillar, Hyster, Yale, Crown, Clark, Raymond and all other equipment names and model designations are trademarks of their respective owners. Forklift Tire Company is an independent aftermarket supplier and is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or endorsed by any equipment manufacturer. Make references are used solely to identify the equipment replacement tires are commonly used on.