JK Tyre is preparing for the future mobility demand, banking on its R&D and testing capabilities. The pioneer of radial tyre technology to green tyres in India, JK Tyre is in the process of launching new technologies from puncture-proof tyres to UUHP ( Ultra Ultra High Performance) and electric vehicles tyres for passenger cars and connected mobility solutions.

“If you look at the evolution of tyre technologies in India, today radialisation in the passenger car tyre segment has reached over 90 percent, while it is in the 50–55 percent range in the commercial tyres segment. In the next three to five years, the radialisation of commercial tyres will reach 65 to 70 percent. We will also see a fast transition from tube tyres to tubeless tyres in the country soon. New technologies such as smart tyres and puncture-proof tyres will pick up gradually segment-wise in India, catering to niche demand initially. As and when OEMs require these new technologies, our products will be readily available,” said Dr Rabindra Mukhopadhyay, director, R&D, JK Tyre & Industries,.

JK Tyre acquired Pune-based Treel Mobility. Today, JK Tyre is India’s only tyre company that indigenously manufactures Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) based on TREEL sensor technology for OE and OE replacement markets. Its smart tyres provide live data on tyre temperature, tyre pressure, tyre positions, locations, distance travelled and expected tyre life through its algorithm, thus capturing the full health of the tyres.

The company is pushing its smart tyre solutions in the replacement market, especially for fleet companies. “It’s all about the value for money. If the customers think this product is value for money, they will pay for it,” said Dr Mukhopadhyay. The company’s smart tyres are available in PCR, 2-wheeler, LCV and truck categories.

The company is engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of automotive tyres, tubes and flaps. Today, the company has 12 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities – three plants in Mysuru; three plants in Haridwar; one plant each in Banmore (MP), Kankroli (Rajasthan) and Chennai, and three plants in Mexico. These plants manufacture around 32 million tyres per annum.

JK Tyre’s products comprise truck & bus radial and bias, passenger car radials, two- and three-wheeler tyres, LCV & SCV bias and radial, off-highway tyres (OTR and Farm), as well as speciality tyres for military and defence, industrial and farm applications besides racing tyres.

Products in Pipeline

The company will soon introduce new products catering to the demand of new requirements, and one of them is a puncture-proof tyre for cars. The puncture-proof tyre has an inner coat of a special rubber compound developed by the company that seals and heals the tyre immediately. As per the company, its puncture-proof tyre can sustain up to 300 punctures. It also enhances durability and does not allow fuel efficiency to drop.

Bias tyres will also remain the focus of JK Tyre to maintain its leading position in the commercial tyres segment. According to Dr Mukhopadhyay, though India is aggressively moving towards the radialisation of commercial tyres, bias tyres will remain in demand for the next 15-20 years owing to the road conditions and the benefits it provides. “For short-haul and within-the-city transportation, bias tyres are still preferred. Globally, bias tyres still own around 10 percent market, and India is one of the leading exporters of bias tyres,” said Dr Mukhopadhyay.

Tyres for EVs are expected to have lower rolling resistance, much lower tyre noise and high torque resistance with durability. JK Tyre has also developed new pattern series for electric scooters. For the scooter tyres, the company has a compound which has a 12 percent reduction in hysterias, leading to higher fuel saving and lower heat-related failures. JK Tyre is currently working with MG Motor to offer EV tyres on the passenger car tyre side. “We also have plans to offer electric passenger and light truck tyres,” added Dr Mukhopadhyay. 

JK Tyre has also developed the second generation of EV tyres for passenger cars, which can up to 13 to 14 k per KVH.

Though niche, the high-performance bikes and car segment is gaining traction in India, and JK Tyre is also eyeing the same segment. For premium, high-end luxury cars, for domestic and export, JK Tyre has developed Levitas Ultra, an ultra-high-performance tyre. The Levitas Ultra offers the best in class ride and handling, braking, comfort and noise level. The company will also bring out ‘H’ rated tyres designed for high-speed motorcycles, which can reach 210 kmph, focusing on a lower aspect ratio. The company has tested and validated the Levitas Ultra tyre for India and Europe. The company claims the Levitas Ultra tyre’s performance is tuned at a level better than the global brands in overall handling, performance, control, wet grip and noise. “We are also working on non-pneumatic tyres, but it will take time to develop,” added Dr Mukhopadhay.

R&D and Testing Capabilities

R&D has always been  an integrated focus of JK Tyres to bring new technologies. A few decades ago, almost all tyre companies in India collaborated with foreign tyre companies to get technologies. To reduce dependency on international companies, JK Tyre established India’s first independent elastomer and tyre research institute, Hari Shankar Singhania Elastomer & Tyre Research Institute (HASETRI), in 1991 at Kankroli, Rajasthan. Today, HASETRI is one of the leading research institutes in Asia in rubber and tyre technology. HASETRI works in material characterisation, product characterisation, simulation, environmental analysis, calibration, consultancy and training.

In 2018, JK Tyre inaugurated its Global Technology Centre RPSCoE in Mysuru, bringing together the best in class facilities under one roof. The RPSCoE houses HASETRI and The JK Tyre Tech Centre. The company is ramping up its R&D and testing capabilities to meet future requirements. This year, the company has allocated a budget of INR 1.1 billion to procure equipment for tyre analysis. JK Tyre has already ordered the Flat-Trac CT Plus system, made by MTS, which is engineered to deliver highly accurate and repeatable measurements of tyre force and moment properties under steady-state and dynamic conditions. The machine, which costs over INR 500 million, has capabilities of steady-state force and moment measurement, dynamic force and moment measurement, sinusoidal radial deflection tests, simulation testing and effective rolling radius measurement. Another highlight of the centre is semi-anechoic chamber for noise, harshness and vibration measurement. JK Tyre was also the first tyre company in India to invest in a first-of-its-kind semi-anechoic chamber.

JK Tyre also has a centre of excellence at IIT Madras, a joint venture between the company and IIT Madras. Over the years, the company has developed many predictive technologies and other solutions at the centre. The IIT Madras centre has a virtual proving ground to have the actual performance for the tyres on a vehicle without having real tyres or vehicles. Various data for the vehicles and a tyre is fed into the software, and you can put data of any test track and drive the car with different speeds. The virtual proving ground helps the company generate various data to determine what kind of tyres is best suited for a particular vehicle.

For enhancing its door testing capabilities, JK Tyre is also establishing its wet grip testing capability. The company has bought a skid trailer used for on-road tyre characterisations- force & moment, rolling resistance dry and wet grip. Currently, it is at NATRiP, Indore.

Recently, HASETRI received accreditation from the prestigious National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL) for outdoor regulatory testing as per ISO/IEC 17025:2017. With this, HASETRI has become the first Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) recognised by DSIR, Government of India and an independent tyre testing and research institute in India to receive such accreditation from NABL.

Under the scope for outdoor testing, the accreditation includes testing for wet grip and coast-by noise for C1 (passenger) and C2 (light truck) category tyres as per ECE R117 method. The indoor tyre testing facilities for regulatory requirement like rolling resistance, endurance, dynamic growth etc. have already been accredited by NABL as per ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

JK tyre is exploring many possibilities on the material development front, one of which is mixing solid and liquid materials. “We are exploring possibilities of mixing natural rubber at the level of latex form with other solid materials. With this mixing process, we can save lots of energy consumption,” said Dr Mukhopadhyay. The company is working with different raw materials suppliers, especially synthetic rubber suppliers like SBR, to convert petrol-based materials to non-petrol based materials.

Reuse, retread and recycle are also focus of the company.  Currently, the company is using three percent recycled rubber in its new products. In the future, it targets to have 10 percent recycled rubber in the new products in the next five years. “However, a greater challenge is to have virgin rubber properties in the recycled rubber,” added Dr Mukhopadhyay.

JK Tyre is also targetting to increase its retread tyre volume . As of now, it is retreading 300 tonnes of used tyres per day, aiming to take it to 500 tonnes per day. (TT)

THE TIRE COLOGNE (TTC) 2026 is adopting a new WALK OF SERVICES format that will focus not just on products but on solutions for the economic and organisational sustainability of the tyre industry. The event is scheduled to be held from 9 to 11 June 2026.

The WALK OF SERVICES addresses the dynamic change currently experienced by the tyre industry. Today, having the proper workshop equipment, specialised software architecture, good technical experience and long-term staff engagement and retention tactics are essential for surviving in a market that is becoming more and more complicated. By strategically connecting the pertinent partners, information and solutions in branded areas across the trade show, THE TIRE COLOGNE will provide visitors additional value through the WALK OF SERVICES.

Clear visitor instructions, exhibitor booths with a theme, live demonstrations and a diverse programme on the Service Stage all contribute to the WALK OF SERVICES' content-driven narrative. Employees, system and process solutions, workshop technology and tyre service, vehicle services and disposal and sustainability are the five topics covered by the WALK OF SERVICES. Additionally, the model gives exhibitors access to new prospects. They gain from more visibility, a tailored strategy for their target audiences and a pertinent content foundation for excellent conversations. This new format's emphasis on services shows a strong commitment to the trade show's continued growth.

Michelin, the world's foremost pioneer in tyre technology, has opened its first Michelin Tyres & Services shop in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, in collaboration with Tyre On Wheels, a top auto tyre dealer. Michelin India's emphasis on solid local connections is reflected in the new shop.

Tyre On Wheels offers a wide selection of Michelin tyres for high-end automobiles together with top-notch tools for tyre fitting, alignment and balancing. This alliance is well-positioned to meet changing consumer expectations given the continuous increase in private car ownership and the need for dependable after-sales servicing in Lucknow. Additionally, it backs Michelin India's continuous initiatives to grow its network of upscale stores and offer clients professional advice, high-quality goods and an exceptional level of customer service.

Tyre On Wheels has established itself as a reliable presence in Lucknow's automobile servicing industry by leveraging its 65 years of experience and three-generational heritage. In the city, Tyre On Wheels has two locations: one in Ashiyana Chauraha and one in Gomtinagar. The dealership, which is well-known for its knowledgeable advice, affordable prices and trustworthy after-sales support, provides a variety of services, such as alloy wheels, wheel alignment, balancing, nitrogen filling and tyre sales.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India, said, “We are pleased to expand Michelin’s presence to Lucknow, a city that blends cultural heritage with rapid infrastructural growth. Our partnership with Tyre On Wheels reflects a shared commitment to quality, customer care and trust, values deeply embedded in both their legacy and Michelin’s brand ethos. As we continue to grow our footprint across India, this launch reinforces our commitment to bringing innovative tyre solutions and superior service experiences to emerging cities with growing mobility needs.”

Eighty-two percent of drivers in Canada want to take a day or overnight trip this summer, according to a recent Probe Research survey for the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC). However, a majority of drivers are opting to remain in Canada rather than travel to the United States, highlights the survey.

The results of the study, which measures interest in road trips across borders and within provinces, show that only eight percent of Canadians currently have plans to cross the border, and 88 percent of them would prefer to travel inside Canada rather than travel to the United States. This year, 51 percent of drivers cancelled their scheduled road excursions to the United States. In Canada, 28 percent of respondents will drive to another region of the nation, while 69 percent want to travel by car inside their province.

The poll also brought to light the discrepancy between drivers' behaviour and their understanding of the significance of tyre care. Given the present financial strains, the majority of Canadian drivers (89 percent) concur that appropriate tyre inflation and maintenance are more advantageous than ever since they boost tyre longevity and improve fuel efficiency.

Carol Hochu, CEO, TRAC, said, “Our findings reveal that Canadian drivers need more education about how to do tyre maintenance right. This is especially true among younger drivers, who may be taking a road trip for the first time this summer. Proper tyre inflation and maintenance aren’t just safety measures – they’re economic ones. Improper tyre inflation – both underinflation and overinflation – increases fuel consumption, shortens tyre lifespan, and even increases the risk of tyre failure on poorly maintained tyres during long road trips. So, while Canadians are staying on Canadian roads this summer, they should check their tyres before embarking on a road trip adventure. It’s simple, easy, and helps keep drivers safe.”

Pirelli has announced the development of specific P Zero tyres for the new hybrid Porsche 911 GTS. This marks the latest collaboration between the tyre manufacturer and the German automaker, extending the availability of P Zero tyres across the entire 911 range.

The tyre maker states that it has engineered a unique version of the P Zero R as the primary fitment for the sports car. This tyre aims to balance performance with daily usability. A new compound provides grip across varied surfaces and weather, with an emphasis on wet conditions. The tread pattern reduces noise and low rolling resistance supports efficiency.

A dedicated P Zero Winter 2 tyre was also created for Porsche 911 owners seeking winter performance. This tyre features a directional tread pattern to improve wet and snow grip, while enhancing braking and handling on dry surfaces.

The tyre development process utilised Pirelli’s Virtual Development Center (VDC) in Breuberg, Germany. This facility employs virtual design and testing, leading to increased precision, a 30 percent reduction in development time and a 30 percent decrease in physical prototypes. The VDC facilitated the optimisation of tyre characteristics for the Porsche 911.

This joint effort represents the latest in a long-standing partnership between Pirelli and Porsche. Pirelli has achieved 338 homologations for all Porsche models, including SUVs, sedans and sports cars with internal combustion, hybrid and electric powertrains. Previous collaborations include the P Zero Trofeo RS for the 911 GT3 RS and the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus for the 911 Dakar. The P Zero R will be the main tyre for the Porsche 911 GTS.