Mumbai: After conquering farms, mines and construction sites across the globe, Balkrishna Industries Limited (BKT) is now heading straight for India’s highways — and yes, this time the tyres are for everyday riders, commuters and truckers, not just giant tractors.
The global Off-Highway Tyre (OHT) specialist has officially entered India’s consumer tyre market with the launch of its new On-Highway tyre portfolio, covering two-wheelers and Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles (M&HCV). The move marks a major strategic shift as the home-grown multinational expands beyond its traditional industrial stronghold into India’s fast-growing replacement and mobility segments.
Alongside the product debut, BKT also rolled out its national brand campaign ‘Elevate Your Drive’, fronted by brand ambassador Ranveer Singh, signalling that the company is ready to swap mud tracks for metro traffic lights.
From Off-Road King to Highway Challenger
BKT’s entry into the consumer segment forms part of its long-term Vision 2030 roadmap aimed at expanding mobility solutions while maintaining engineering discipline and profitability.
Chairman & Managing Director Arvind Poddar said the move is a natural extension of the company’s purpose to support India’s evolving mobility needs with tyres engineered for real-world conditions, focusing on safety, reliability and value.
Joint Managing Director Rajiv Poddar added that the expansion is central to the company’s ambition of reaching ₹23,000 crore revenue by FY30, representing roughly 2.2× growth over FY25.
New Corporate Structure: Two Pillars, One Roadmap
Under its unified identity “BKT – Growing Together,” the company also unveiled a refreshed brand architecture featuring:
- BKT Tyres – covering the complete off-highway and on-highway tyre portfolio
- BKT Carbon – representing the carbon black and industrial materials business
The dual-pillar structure reflects BKT’s transformation into a vertically integrated mobility enterprise.
Two-Wheeler Tyres Launch First
BKT’s consumer journey begins with two purpose-built two-wheeler tyre lines:
BKT ZENOVA
- Designed for city commuting
- Focus on comfort and smooth handling
- Reliable grip for everyday urban use
BKT THYROS
- Engineered for mixed terrain riding
- Built for both on-road and off-road surfaces
- Focus on control and durability
Both tyres are Made in India, certified under IATF 16949 manufacturing standards, validated through durability trials and tested at NATRAX, Indore, including wet/dry braking, ride quality and handling checks. They also carry mandatory BIS certifications.
Commercial Vehicle Radials Coming Next
BKT will expand further into the commercial road segment in Q1 FY2026-27 (April–June 2026) with:
- m.Loadxpert (11.00R20)
- Milexpert RG (295/90R20)
These tyres are targeted at demanding applications such as cement transport, construction logistics and regional cargo movement, engineered for stability, casing strength and long service life.
Each commercial tyre undergoes:
- 138 in-process quality checks
- 20+ design verification tests
- Certification at NABL-accredited laboratories
Nationwide Rollout With Digital Service Focus
BKT plans a phased national rollout via its distributor-dealer network starting with high-demand markets.
To strengthen customer engagement, the company will introduce:
- Digital complaint-response and tracking system
- Journey Assistance Program for riders
- “Save the Casing” initiatives for commercial operators
- Loyalty platforms for end-users
The strategy aims to achieve 5% market share by FY30 through product leadership, distribution strength and consumer trust.
₹3,500 Crore Investment to Power Expansion
Supporting the expansion, BKT has committed ₹3,500 crore (USD 400 million) towards:
- Manufacturing capacity expansion
- Advanced R&D development
- Vertical integration through BKT Carbon
- Nationwide distribution growth
By FY30, the company expects revenue mix to include:
- 70% Off-Highway tyres
- 10% carbon black business
- 20% On-Highway tyre categories
The Road Ahead
For a company long known for tyres that survive mines, farms and giant earth-moving monsters, entering India’s commuter and highway segment is a bold but logical next step.
After all, if a tyre can handle a 50-ton dumper in a quarry, surviving Indian city potholes and highway heat might just be its next natural promotion.
And with India’s tyre market expanding rapidly across two-wheelers, logistics fleets and personal mobility, BKT clearly wants to ensure that the next time someone says “Made for Indian roads,” their logo is part of the sentence.
