The premium offerings include Smart tyres, Puncture Guard tyres, and the XF series of fuel-efficient tyres for commercial vehicles
Amidst the transformation happening in the Indian automobile landscape, the Rs 90,000 crore tyre industry is also rapidly ramping up to meet the demand for high-quality and premium products, foremost among them being the increasing rim size tyres.
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The rising passion for driving and adventure among aspirational Indians, the ever-increasing luxury cars and SUVs, is also pushing hard the tyre manufacturers to come out with innovative and targeted solutions catering to varied needs, enhancing safety, convenience and fuel-efficiency aspects.
Capitalising on this growing demand for premier tyres, leading tyre manufacturer JK Tyre, which claims to be a front-runner in the country’s innovation-led technological development, has doubled down its focus on strengthening its key markets, including Punjab and Chandigarh, for its portfolio of high value tyres, which include Smart tyres, Puncture Guard tyres, and the XF series of fuel-efficient tyres for commercial vehicles.
Interacting with your own news portal LifeInChandigarh.com, while in Chandigarh for a meeting with channel partners from across Punjab and Chandigarh, where JK Tyre has nearly 200 touch points, including 27 exclusive brand stores, Anuj Kathuria, President (India), JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., shared that the company has pushed the fast forward button on increasing its production capabilities and strengthening its network of touch points and exclusive brand stores across the country, including Punjab.
“In two years, JK Tyre will ramp up the strength of its exclusive brand stores from the current 800+ to 1,000+, making us the tyre company with the highest number of exclusive brand stores in the country,” he said, adding that “the exclusive brand shops, variously called as Steel Wheels, Truck Wheels and Xpress Wheels, are one stop shops, which apart from selling tyres, are equipped with all allied facilities and services, including wheel alignment, wheel balancing, nitrogen, etc.”
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Reminiscing on the changing trends, he shared that about 15 years ago car tyres were typically of 12-13 inch (rim diameter), and gradually, as entry of premium car manufacturers started picking up, larger rim size tyres began replacing the smaller ones. This trend has received a huge leg-up in the last 4-5 years, he added.
Dwelling on the phenomenal popularity of SUVs, he said there was a time when out of every 100 cars sold at most 30-35 were SUVs. “But look at the percentage of SUV sales now, they are skyrocketing. In the last few years because of a transformation in lifestyles, and increasing travel, SUVs sales have nearly doubled in percentage terms to 60-65% of all cars sold.”
Sharing an example of increasing rim sizes, Kathuria said the top selling Hyundai Creta SUV, when it was introduced in India, sported 15-inch rim tyres, now the latest Creta N Line has come out with 18-inch rim tyres. 100% of Cretas entering the market come fitted with JK types, he added.
“It is a fact that larger rim tyres enhance the overall ride and handling experience, and all car manufacturers are focussed on doing just that for their customers. Individual car owners are going a step further, by opting to upside by an inch (replacing the original rim sizes in cars, and hence types, by an inch), which does not compromise on stability of the car, and gives the riders a sense of further improved ride experience,” he said.
He hastened to add though, that this trend, of customers resorting to upsiding their cars, is not a countrywide phenomenon. It is typical of Punjab and Kerala, two states with highest NRI populations, and metros like New Delhi and Mumbai, he shared.
Smart tyre
Explaining the concept of a Smart tyre, the JK Tyre top executive said, these tyres come with an embedded sensor on the inner side of the tyre, which conveys real time information about pressure and temperature of the tyre on a mobile app. This helps a rider optimise ride experience, safety and fuel-efficiency of the vehicle.
Puncture Guard tyre
The Puncture Guard tyres work on the self-healing concept. A special gel runs through the tyre and as soon as a puncture occurs the self-healing gel gets activated and the pressure in the tyre is maintained. Even if the puncture occurs due to a nail piercing the tyre, the nail can be removed without the need for any puncture repair.
Recent launch of Levitas Ultra
In line with the growth of the premium car segment, JK Tyre recently launched its Levitas Ultra high-performance tyres, especially designed for premium cars. Available in seven sizes ranging from 225/55/R16 to 245/45/R18, these sizes cater to over 80% of the top 20 luxury car models available in India.
Following the success of these tyres in the market, the company plans to expand the range further by introducing rim sizes from 19 inches to 22 inches in the coming years, catering to the full spectrum of premium cars.
Ranger series for SUVs
Punjab is a significant market for SUVs, and the company’s Ranger series of tyres command a substantial market share with over 30 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) to choose from. Designed specifically for SUVs, the company offers these tyres in an entire multi-terrain range, including the Ranger A/T, Ranger H/T, Ranger M/T, Ranger X-AT and Ranger HPe (for E-SUVs).
According to the company, Punjab accounts for a significant portion of the company’s sales, with the Passenger Car Radial (PCR) segment contributing 32%, Truck and Bus Radial segment 31%, and Truck and Bus Bias 21%.
JK Tyre & Industries did nationwide sales of Rs 15,000 crore last year, of which around Rs 500 crore was from Punjab alone.
