JK Tyre & Industries has inaugurated India's first precision Tyre Buffing and Grinding machine for Wet Grip on Worn Tyre testing at NATRAX in Pithampur, marking a significant advancement in the country's tyre safety evaluation capabilities.
The inauguration ceremony was led by Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director of JK Tyre, alongside Dr. Manish Jaiswal, Director of NATRAX, and other senior officials.
The newly installed equipment is compliant with ECE R117 regulation, which assesses vehicle safety by measuring wet braking performance of tyres worn to the legal tread depth limit of 1.6mm. The machine will facilitate preparation of worn tyre samples across three categories: C1 (passenger car), C2 (light commercial), and C3 (heavy truck/bus), supporting comprehensive safety validation across all vehicle segments.
"With the inauguration of the Precision Tyre Buffing and Grinding Machine at NATRAX, JK Tyre has taken yet another step forward in advancing tyre testing and safety innovation in India," said Dr. Singhania. He emphasized the company's commitment to innovation, technology leadership, and enhancing vehicular safety through modern engineering.
This addition strengthens JK Tyre's testing infrastructure at NATRAX, where the company has maintained a presence since 2017. The facility supports both homologation and new product development through vehicle-level testing, including handling, braking, wet grip, and noise evaluation. JK Tyre's dedicated infrastructure at the site includes two workshops, specialized equipment such as skid trailers and steering robots, and a fleet of test vehicles.
JK Tyre & Industries, part of the JK Organisation, ranks among the top 20 tyre manufacturers globally. The company operates 11 manufacturing facilities—nine in India and two in Mexico—producing approximately 35 million tyres annually. It pioneered radial technology in India with its first radial tyre in 1977 and maintains a state-of-the-art research center, the Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence, in Mysore.
The company has received recognition for its safety and sustainability practices, including the Sword of Honour from the British Safety Council and a position among India's top 30 most sustainable companies by Business World.