BKT rolls out ATV tire at SEMA

LAS VEGAS — India's Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has released a tire designed specifically for the ATV market, the AT 171.

The Indian-based tire maker showcased the tire among its portfolio of mining and agricultural tires at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. 

Company officials said the decision to build the tire was made when its agricultural customers began using its ag tires for ATV applications, which the company couldn't support.

The AT 171, designed for on- and off-the-road applications with ATV, has the ability to move with agility and traction on wet or muddy terrain, thanks to the special directional and extra-deep tread design.

BKT said the tire's other distinctive features are its self-cleaning properties along with cut-and-chip resistance. According to the company, the robust casing features superior durability, ensuring an extended product life-cycle.

The release of the new tire is part of BKT's strategy to increase sales globally by 20 percent. Sales have increased around 17.5 percent thus far in 2017, according to Arvind Poddar, chairman and managing director of BKT, who attended the SEMA Show.

"We think we can get to 18- to 20-percent [growth], considering that most of our capacity is already accounted for," Mr. Poddar said.

BKT sees great growth potential in the ATV, lawn and garden and small equipment segment, Mr. Poddar said, but the company's focus continues to be to provide high-quality, high-performing tires for the mining and agricultural segments.

"We'll never be the cheapest tire in the market," Mr. Poddar said. "But we offer a superior product with outstanding quality that performs well in numerous applications."

Tires on display at the BKT booth included:

• Agrimax V-Flecto, which was launched internationally at the SIMA trade show earlier this year. It is BKT's first product designed with NRO (narrow rim option) technology. It is designed to withstand maximum load with unchanged inflation pressure at any speed;

• Agrimax Force, size IF 900/60 R 42, specifically developed for high power tractors (over 250 HP);

• Agrimax RT 600, a tire for grassland and harvesting applications and sprayers;

• Multimax MP 522, a multipurpose tire whose applications include digging and loading operations in size 400/80 R 24;

• Multimax MP 527 specially designed for telehandlers; and

• Giant Trax presented in size 10-16.5 and engineered for skid- steer loaders operating on rough surfaces.