Driving Off-Highway Tyre Innovation for a More Efficient Future
As construction and infrastructure evolve, BKT is advancing application-specific tyre technologies focused on productivity, durability and lower total cost of ownership. Farid Ahmed, Head – Product Management (OHT), BKT, outlines how innovation, sustainability and digitalisation are shaping the company’s growth.
The off-highway tyre market is evolving rapidly alongside advancements in construction equipment. What emerging customer requirements are having the greatest influence on BKT’s product development priorities?
Customer expectations in the off-highway segment are increasingly centred on higher productivity, longer service life and a lower total cost of ownership. As equipment is deployed in more demanding operating conditions, there is a growing need for tyres that deliver stronger traction, optimised rolling resistance and enhanced durability. These evolving requirements continue to shape BKT’s product development priorities, with tyres engineered for specific applications and load capacities precisely matched to the equipment’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
Co-creation remains central to our approach. Guided by our ‘Growing Together’ philosophy, we work closely with OEM partners to develop tyres tailored to specific machinery and applications, continuously refining tread patterns, compounds and construction across our portfolio. We are also seeing increased interest in e-ready tyres, alongside a continued shift towards radial tyres, driven by their ability to offer better fuel efficiency, improved heat dissipation and longer service life.
Sustainability is also becoming an increasingly important consideration, with customers placing greater emphasis on durable products manufactured through responsible and resource-efficient processes. This aligns with BKT’s continued focus on increasing the use of renewable raw materials, while recycling or reusing more than 98% of the process waste generated across our operations.
Construction equipment today is expected to deliver higher productivity with lower operating costs. How are your latest tyre technologies helping fleet owners improve machine efficiency and reduce total cost of ownership?
At BKT, our tyres and tracks are engineered to deliver stronger traction, optimised rolling resistance and extended service life, helping OEMs and fleet operators lower their total cost of ownership. BKT has a strong global position, and a major reason for this success is our core philosophy of offering the right tyre for the right application. This approach, engineering tyres precisely for the machine, terrain, and operating conditions, has helped us consistently deliver superior performance, safety, and efficiency across construction, mining and industrial sectors. As the demand continues to grow, this commitment matters more than ever. As one of India’s All Steel radial tyre manufacturers, BKT is uniquely positioned to lead with confidence and support the growing needs of our customers with solutions that are stronger, more reliable, and built for the future.
This same ideology can guide how we leverage strategic partnerships beyond OEMs to drive even faster innovation and reach. By collaborating closely with distributors, dealers, fleet operators, and industry bodies worldwide, we can tap into real-time insights from the field, how machines are being used, what challenges operators face, and where performance gaps exist. These inputs directly fuel our application-specific design process across 3,600 SKUs, enabling us to refine tread patterns, compounds, and construction types to meet evolving demands.
After-sales service has become a decisive factor for both OEMs and contractors, often influencing the final purchase decision. At BKT, we provide strong on-site service support to ensure tyres deliver optimum performance throughout their lifecycle. Our commitment to proper after-sales assistance helps customers maximize product utilization, reduce downtime, and achieve significant cost savings.
India continues to invest heavily in infrastructure development while export opportunities are also expanding. How do you balance the differing performance requirements of domestic and international markets?
The OTR tyre market is experiencing strong growth driven by large-scale national development projects and rising equipment demand. Tyre manufacturers are also focusing on advanced rubber compounds and improved tread designs that enhance cut resistance, traction on rough terrains.
India remains our strategic manufacturing hub, and we are firmly committed to the ‘Make in India, for India and the World’ vision. Our four world-class manufacturing facilities in Bhuj, Waluj, Bhiwadi and Chopanki are designed to meet global standards in technology, automation and sustainability. These facilities together produce a wide range of off-highway tyres. The Bhuj facility, spread over 258 acres, includes a dedicated R&D center, testing track, and advanced compounding capabilities. We are also enhancing our capabilities by installing additional machinery and advanced systems to boost our capacity for our on-road segment. BKT continues to invest in capacity expansion, automation, green energy, and product diversification to meet the growing global demand.
Our application-driven approach, supported by close collaboration with OEMs, dealers and distributors, provides valuable field insights that continuously strengthen our product development. As a result, BKT today serves customers across 160+ countries, while continuing to support India’s growing infrastructure and construction sectors.
What initiatives have you undertaken in manufacturing and product design to reduce environmental impact without compromising performance?
Sustainability is at the core of BKT’s long-term strategy, driving innovation across both our products and manufacturing processes. Through continuous research and development, we are steadily increasing the use of renewable materials while replacing petrochemical components with more sustainable alternatives.
Carbon black, which represents nearly 30% of a tyre’s composition, is produced at our integrated facility at Bhuj, strengthening supply chain resilience while ensuring consistent quality standards. The facility operates as a zero-liquid-discharge plant with complete water recycling, while a pneumatic transfer system has replaced bulk bags, eliminating nearly 100,000 bags annually, reducing energy consumption by up to 70% and lowering CO₂ emissions by more than two million kilograms each year.
These initiatives, together with our continued use of reclaimed rubber, recycled steel and reused feedstock, reinforce our commitment to responsible manufacturing while delivering the performance, durability and reliability customers expect from BKT.
Digitalization is reshaping equipment maintenance and fleet management. Do you see connected tyre solutions and predictive maintenance playing a larger role in the off-highway segment over the next few years?
Connected technologies are transforming the way fleet operators manage equipment by enabling greater visibility into asset performance and maintenance planning. They are shifting the industry from reactive maintenance towards predictive, data-driven decision-making. We continue to invest in tyre testing and emerging technologies that enable operators to anticipate maintenance requirements and prevent operational interruptions.
As digital technologies become more widely adopted, we believe tyres will evolve beyond their traditional role that contribute directly to fleet performance and operational decision-making. Looking ahead, we see smart tyre technologies becoming key enablers of safer, connected, and efficient construction and mining operations, creating long-term value for both customers and the industry.
Looking ahead, what growth opportunities do you foresee for BKT in India’s construction equipment sector, and what role will innovation play in strengthening your market position?
India’s construction and infrastructure sectors continue to present significant long-term growth opportunities, supported by sustained investment in infrastructure development and increasing mechanisation. To support this demand, BKT has established a clear growth roadmap, targeting revenue of approximately INR 23,000 crore by FY2030 through expansion across Off-Highway Tyres, Carbon Black and new tyre categories in the Indian market.
In line with this strategy, we have announced plans to expand carbon black production by an additional 360,000 MTPA, along with the addition of 24 MW of cogeneration power at our flagship Bhuj facility. These investments strengthen our manufacturing capabilities while reinforcing supply reliability and operational efficiency. With this blend of market diversification, product excellence, and deeper vertical integration, we remain agile, leverage our global strengths, and continue delivering meaningful value as the industry evolves. With strong government initiatives supporting infrastructure, agriculture, and mining, we foresee significant growth, and a strong upward trajectory for the industries.