Balkrishna Industries (BKT)

As a comprehensive mobility solution provider in the off-highway segment, the company has specific tire solutions for every type of machinery, operation, and terrain, with more than 3,600 skus selling in over 160 countries worldwide.
Rajiv Poddar - Joint Managing Director, Balkrishna Industries (BKT)

To which segment of users is BKT catering to?

Balkrishna Industries offers cutting-edge Off-Highway tire solutions especially designed for vehicles in the construction, agricultural, industrial, earthmoving, mining, ATV and gardening sectors.

Our specialized high-performance mobility solutions for the construction sector (encompassing a diverse range of equipment like backhoe loaders, graders, and mobile cranes), includes popular tire models XL Grip Ultra and Loader Plus, with sizes ranging from 18 to 49 inches, catering to various machinery needs. The company has recently expanded its range to include rubber tracks.

What type of tires is BKT offering to the infra construction equipment industry of India?

In the Indian market, BKT is delivering reliable and high-performance tires that drive productivity across industrial and construction sectors. These are engineered to deliver exceptional durability, traction, and stability, addressing demanding requirements in both rocky and soft soil environments.

In wheel loaders, we offer a comprehensive range of tire sizes under the brand name - Earthmax (Radial) and XL Grip (bias), coded across L3, L4, L4S, L5, and L5S categories. This wide selection ensures that we can meet the demands of various loading operations, with superior durability for challenging terrains. For instance, backhoe loader tires are engineered with versatile patterns and compounds to adapt seamlessly across wet, loose, and dry soil conditions, enabling reliable performance in a range of environments.

For rocky terrains, our versatile XL Grip range, suitable for both rear and front tires (2WD and 4WD), is designed to meet the challenges of backhoe loader operations. With a non-directional tread pattern, the XL Grip provides superior traction and stability, while its specialized tread compound offers outstanding cut and chip resistance, resulting in extended tread life.

The Loader Plus, a bias-ply tire tailored for loaders, features a tread compound engineered to withstand cuts and chips, making it ideal for loading and dozing tasks. The EM 937, classified as E-3/L-3, is specifically crafted for loaders and backhoe loaders involved, offering exceptional durability and resistance to wear.

For soft soil applications, the innovative AT621 range, also available for both rear and front tires (4WD), stands out with its extra-deep tread that ensures remarkable cut and chip resistance, enhanced durability, and excellent self-cleaning properties. The robust AT625 rear tire is specially engineered for soft soil environments, boasting increased puncture resistance, durability, and excellent traction and stability, while the BK6060, designed for on-site and on-road use, ensures optimal performance and durability across varied operating environments.

We have introduced TR390 and TR387 specifically for Vibratory Soil Compactor, which are mainly used in road construction and land development. These models have a larger surface area and lower ground pressure, which helps prevent the machine from sinking into loose soil, crucial for maintaining stability and ensuring effective compaction.

Motor graders are often fitted with G2 tires designed with standard tread depth and traction patterns. However, we have developed G3 tires - BKT Super Graders - that feature a rock pattern, providing enhanced grip and durability on rocky terrains—a unique offering in the market by BKT.

Our mobile crane tires are specially engineered in the radial segment to withstand longer travel distances without load, a unique product offering where BKT stands as a market leader. These tires are crafted to handle extended runs while maintaining stability and heat resistance.

There is an emerging demand for tipper trucks with higher payloads and other construction equipment like backhoe loaders, wheel loaders, compactors, motor graders and mobile cranes for superior durability. How is BKT responding to these market requirements?

We are adapting our R&D and production strategies to develop tires that meet these evolving industry needs. We categorize our tipper truck tire applications XL Grip Ultra into three distinct segments: normal load, medium load, and heavy load categories, each aligned with varying cycle distances. This segmentation allows us to tailor tire strength and durability in the radial segment to meet specific application requirements, ensuring optimal load-carrying capacity and heat resilience. For other key equipment types, we have specialized tire patterns and structures suited to diverse terrains and operational demands.

By closely collaborating with OEMs and innovating we remain at the forefront of delivering customized, high-performance, and reliable tire solutions that align with modern construction equipment requirements and industry standards.

What tests are conducted at BKT to check for the desired physical, chemical, compound viscosity and temperature and ensure that your tires can work in rugged and challenging environments?

BKT has developed extensive in-house testing capabilities, focusing on compound composition, physical and chemical characteristics, and performance under stress. We perform compound viscosity and heat resistance testing to optimize the performance of tires under high loads and challenging conditions. Our laboratory capabilities are bolstered by real-time testing on compounds to evaluate their longevity, elasticity, and wear resistance, ensuring our tires deliver optimal performance and require minimal maintenance.

BKT’s dynamic and endurance testing facilities evaluate our tires under simulated real-world conditions. We test for performance under various loads, speeds, and terrains, replicating the operational conditions of construction environments. Our endurance testing specifically assesses tire durability and structural integrity over long hours, ensuring they meet rigorous standards for stability and reliability. These facilities enable us to optimize tire design and composition to meet the industry’s expectations for construction applications.

BKT Tires showcases cutting-edge Off-Highway Tire Solutions at bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2024 at Stall O.G10

BKT Tires is making a powerful impact at bauma India with a display of its extensive product portfolio under the banner “Bharat Ka Tire”—a brand promise that reflects products “Built in Bharat; Built for Bharat and Building Bharat.” The collection features a curated selection of high-performance tires specifically engineered to meet the demands of India’s industrial and construction sectors. The lineup includes advanced models that emphasize durability, load capacity, and enhanced traction.

From robust industrial tires like the EARTHMAX SR31, built for heavy-duty applications, to the AIROMAX AM27, ideal for high-speed mobile crane, each product on display reflects BKT’s commitment to producing tires that enhance operational efficiency and withstand India’s challenging terrains. Other models, such as the XL GRIP ULTRA, MAGLIFT STD, and LIFTMAX LM81, further demonstrate BKT’s versatility in catering to specialized industry needs with precision and performance.

Rajiv Poddar commented, “We proudly showcase tire solutions at bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2024 that are not only built for the Indian market but also support the nation’s development. We aim to strengthen our connection with Indian customers and reinforce our commitment to delivering innovative, reliable, and high-performance tires that drive productivity across industrial and construction sectors.”

These tires represent BKT's commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability, offering robust solutions for diverse applications. The BKT team is thrilled to engage with industry professionals, showcase its expertise, and exchange insights on enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability.

How does the company meet timely demand for off-highway tires for infrastructure construction equipment along with onsite repairing support?

BKT maintains a dedicated lineup of over 500 skus specifically tailored for the infrastructure and construction sector. This expansive range ensures that our customers have access to the precise tires needed for varied machinery, from backhoe loaders to cranes and graders, catering to diverse operational demands. With this extensive SKU portfolio, we can meet the high and growing demand for off-highway tires while reducing downtime and enhancing productivity. Through our distributors, we maintain substantial stock levels across these 500+skus to enable timely delivery, ensuring our customers experience minimal disruption.

In addition to a well-stocked inventory, our on-field BKT staff and dealer teams provide critical on-site repair support and maintenance, helping construction companies maximize tire performance and longevity in high-impact operations. Furthermore, we support our clients with specialized training on tire maintenance and regular performance monitoring, all aimed at extending tire life and optimizing equipment productivity. This comprehensive, sku-focused approach reflects BKT’s commitment to serving the construction and infrastructure sector with precision, reliability, and proactive support.

What are your demand projections of on and off highway tires from India’s construction sector?

The construction sector in India is experiencing robust growth, spurred by infrastructure development, urbanization, and investments in mega-projects. We foresee demand for off-highway tires rising steadily, with volume demand leading the way, particularly for heavy-duty equipment. While volume-based demand will dominate in the short term, we anticipate a gradual shift towards value-based demand as customers increasingly seek reliable, high-performance tires to enhance the operational efficiency and the overall lifespan of their machinery.