BKT showcases prototype of its 57-inch tyre for rigid dump trucks

Mumbai-headquartered BKT Tires (Balkrishna Industries), a leading manufacturer of off-highway tyres specifically for vehicles operating in agricultural, industrial, earthmoving, mining, port, ATV, and gardening industries, has developed the prototype of its biggest tyre for rigid dump trucks. The Earthmax SR 468 prototype has been made in the 40.00 R 57 size and is ready to be tested in coming months by BKT engineers.

The company says the history of Earthmax SR 468 is particular, since the new machinery to make this enormous tyre reached the Indian plant in Bhuj in January 2020, just before the lockdown which affected – at various levels and at different times – the Asian continent too. Initially, owing to the emergency situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic, the machinery which reached Bhuj was not immediately installed. Only after a temporary shutdown of BKT's manufacturing facilities, which was necessary to implement a rigorous safety plan for all staff, did activities finally return to full operation. Including the installation of the new machinery for the giant 57-inch tyre, installed thanks to the online help of the manufacturer and to the BKT engineers on site.

Rajiv Poddar, joint MD, BKT said: “Despite the pandemic and the extreme difficulties caused by the situation, in BKT we achieved the impossible: going ahead very determinedly but with a similar focus on people, who for us are the company’s real assets. With this Giant 57” tyre, the prototype of which has been made thanks to the extraordinary determination of my fellow workers, we wish to send a positive message to the market, to our partner distributors and to our end users. In BKT, research and development into new products which help the company evolve but also the whole sector has not stopped. Thanks to enthusiasm and know-how, BKT always finds new ways to grow, even in the most complex situations.”

Dilip Vaidya, president and director – Technology, BKT said: “At this time we must call on all our strength, energy and all our creativity. That is what drives BKT's initiatives and also its products. It is a very important moment, a giant product has been created which will now be subject to the most rigorous testing up to the spring of 2021, until we are sure we have achieved the highest possible level of quality and reliability, as always. Only when we are absolutely sure we can offer our users the best Earthmax SR 468 possible, will we officially launch the new 57-inch giant.“

The new tyre will joins the numerous products which make up the Earthmax family, a range of radial tyres used on off road vehicles and equipped with an all-steel structure which provides greater resistance to the casing and hence against damage. A leading feature of the Earthmax SR 468 is the special tread design and the compound, created to limit the heat generated. The E-4 depth of the tread provides extreme resistance in highly challenging conditions.