Spherical roller bearings are suitable for low-to-medium speed applications involving heavy loads or shock loads.​

They are available with cylindrical or tapered bores and can be supplied with adapter assemblies and withdrawal sleeves. These bearings are classified into types R, RH(R), and RHA, which differ in their internal structures. Bearings with tapered bores can be easily mounted and dismounted using adapter assemblies or withdrawal sleeves. All bearing series share the same taper ratio: for series 240 and 241, the ratio is 1:30 (supplementary code "K30"); for other series, it is 1:12 (supplementary code "K").​

Spherical roller bearings can be used as double-row, combined radial and thrust bearings. They use spherical or convex rollers as rolling elements. The raceways in the outer ring are spherical, which allows for a certain degree of misalignment between the shaft and the housing.​

Spherical roller bearings are unparalleled in withstanding high loads and shock loads, though their speed capability is limited. They perform consistently even under extreme conditions, such as application-specific stresses and marginal lubrication.​

The cages of spherical roller bearings offer high dimensional accuracy and functionality. It is estimated that the operating life of spherical roller bearings is twice that of conventional bearings.