Our small-scale protagonist is the MH20, in the 125/50-75 size: measuring 12.4 centimeters in diameter and weighing half a kilogram, it fits right in the palm of your hand. A single tire of this type can carry up to 140 kilograms at speeds of up to 16 km/h, covering distances of as much as 2 kilometers. That is more than two hundred times its own weight. It performs wherever precision is key: with pallets in warehouses, on transport platforms, and on factory tugs. This tiny tire carries a great responsibility.

Another surprise: not every tire is filled with air. In warehouses and production facilities we use different „super-elastic” tires. Instead of air, they feature a solid, resilient structure mounted on a specialized industrial rim. Continental offers these under the name „Continental Super Elastic” (CSE) and guarantees they are puncture-proof. However, a great deal of engineering lies within the rubber itself: a shock-absorbing compound that dampens vibrations and ensures low rolling resistance, while steel wires embedded in the base provide an optimal fit to the rim.

As we approach the end of our tour, the LD-Master Traction 35/65 R 33 comes into view. With a diameter of 2.07 meters, it stands taller than most adults. It weighs 1,123 kilograms—roughly the same as a small passenger car – and features a tread depth of 97 mm. This tire can support a load of up to 32,500 kilograms when operating on a loader in a cyclic application, at a pressure of 8 bar and a speed of 10 km/h. To put that into perspective: 32.5 tonnes is equivalent to the combined weight of about 65,000 MH20 tires – the kind we saw in Malutkie. This giant even has its own „doctor”: a factory-installed sensor that continuously monitors the tire’s pressure and temperature.