Shopping trolleys are one of those topics where the more you look, the more you find: especially when it comes to the wheels.
For example despite the article mentioning rubber as being superior to PU - it's not always suitable, or even safe. Such as for malls which use ramp-style escalators which allow a shopping trolley to be moved between floors. These must employ PU wheels which have grooves that match the escalator. This lowers the shopping trolley sufficiently for a rubber-brake to press against the ramp, preventing the trolley from moving.
An example of the grooved PU wheel and rubber-brake can be seen here: https://www.industrial-casterwheels.com/china-escalator_trol...
Which seems insane because if you buy replacement suspension parts for cars, the long lasting polyurethane replacements always cost more than the OEM style rubber ones.
cnn is news entertainment.
> While the rubber wheels cost twice the price of the standard polyurethane ones, Diaz said P&H Casters’ natural rubber wheels can last for about a decade, barring mistreatment from customers. In a busier store environment, they can hold out between four and five years.
> However, many retailers choose cheaper parts because the upfront price is typically higher for more durable material, Poulos added.