A pneumatic tire roller compacts with a row of smooth rubber tyres instead of a steel drum. The tyres flex under load and knead the surface, pushing the fine material into the gaps that a steel drum bridges over. That kneading action is why a pneumatic tire roller follows the steel-drum rollers on most asphalt jobs and why it is used on stabilised bases and mixed soils. This guide covers how it works, how ballast changes the result and how the two LICH models compare, alongside our full road roller range.
How a pneumatic tire roller works
The front and rear axles carry a set of tyres with the gaps offset, so the rear row covers the strips the front row missed. Each tyre presses a flat footprint into the layer. Because the rubber deforms, the pressure spreads into the surface texture rather than riding on the high points, and the mat closes up. The machine does not vibrate; compaction comes from weight, tyre pressure and the number of passes.
Two settings change the result on site. Ballast changes the total weight, and so the load on each tyre. Tyre inflation pressure changes the footprint: higher pressure gives a smaller, harder contact patch, lower pressure a wider, softer one. Together they let one pneumatic tire roller handle a light wearing course in the morning and a heavier base layer in the afternoon.
Where the pneumatic tire roller fits on an asphalt job
A typical paving train runs a steel-drum roller close behind the paver for breakdown rolling, a pneumatic tire roller for the intermediate passes, and a steel-drum roller again for the finish. The rubber tyres seal the surface and even out the density across the mat, while the final steel-drum passes remove tyre marks. On smaller jobs, a double drum roller often does all three stages alone; on highway work, the pneumatic tire roller is part of the standard crew.
Beyond asphalt, the same kneading suits cement- or lime-stabilised soil, gravel, sand and clay mixtures, and upper highway courses, which are the applications listed for the LCP1016H.
The two LICH models
| LCP1016H | LCP2030H | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating mass (minimum / maximum) | 10,000 / 16,000 kg | 20,000 / 30,000 kg |
| Tyres | 4 front + 5 rear | 5 front + 6 rear |
| Compaction width | 2,280 mm | 2,790 mm |
| Engine power | 75 kW | 125 kW |
| Engine options | Cummins 4BT3.9 (Tier II) or QSB3.9 (Tier III) | 6BTA5.9 (Stage II) or QSB5.9 (Stage III) |
| Maximum travel speed | 14 km/h | 10 km/h |
| Minimum turning radius | 7,500 mm | 8,000 mm |
| Gradeability | 30% | 30% |
| Wheelbase | 3,700 mm | 3,800 mm |
Figures from the LICH product catalogue, read on 14 October 2026.
Both models use full-hydraulic stepless travel, an air-conditioned cab and an electronically controlled water spray with multi-stage filtration. The spray keeps hot mix from sticking to the tyres. The LCP2030H adds dual operator consoles.
Choosing between them
Weight per tyre is the useful comparison. The LCP1016H spreads 10 to 16 t over nine tyres; the LCP2030H spreads 20 to 30 t over eleven. The heavier machine therefore loads each tyre much harder and suits thick base courses, highway binder layers and wide carriageways where its 2,790 mm width cuts the number of passes. The LCP1016H is the more flexible pneumatic tire roller for municipal roads, car parks and resurfacing, with a higher 14 km/h travel speed for moving between work areas.
- Highway paving with a large paver: LCP2030H.
- City streets, overlays and stabilised bases: LCP1016H.
- Mixed work across both: start from the LCP1016H and add ballast for the heavier layers.
Operating tips
Keep the tyres warm before rolling hot asphalt; cold rubber picks up mix, so many crews run a few passes on the hot mat edge first. Keep all tyres at the same pressure so the load is shared evenly. Overlap each pass by about half a tyre width so the offset rows leave no unrolled strips. Turn and stop on compacted ground, not on fresh mat, to avoid scuffing.
Next steps
A pneumatic tire roller usually works beside a steel-drum machine; compare those on the double drum roller for sale page, or see every compactor on the vibratory roller page. Our asphalt roller buying guide walks through a full paving crew. Send us your layer thickness and paving width, and we will quote the pneumatic tire roller and ballast setup that fits.