What are the latest trends you are witnessing in the off-road segment? What can you tell us about the growing customisation in this area?

Bauma is indeed a great opportunity to showcase our products. One thing we need to understand is that the applications in the off-road segment are becoming increasingly customised. If you look at the machinery today, OEMs are now also focusing on customising their machines for specific applications. I’m personally a little surprised by the level of customisation happening.

What happens now is that when customers go for specialised, customised applications, the tyre plays a very important role in meeting the overall performance. Earlier, people were okay with standardised tyres, but now customers may want features like more tread depth, patterns for more traction, or tyres that run cooler and need to be a bit wider. There’s a lot of technology involved, and we have to understand these needs in depth.

What differentiates us is our understanding of what customers are looking for. Through our R&D centre in Mysore, we have 250 scientists and engineers working around the clock. It’s not just about product design, but also about material science, new compounds, and sustainability. We focus on giving the best performance through innovations in material science, compounds, and product design, while ensuring faster time-to-market. We also rely on simulation-based validation to expedite the process since we don’t have the luxury of a full year for product validation anymore.

Right now, we’re focused on launching five new products. For example, the L5, which has a deeper tread for work loaders. Then there's a product designed specifically for wide-body dump trucks. We also have our unique VEM product, which is designed for extreme off-road conditions where regular tyres could be damaged by boulders and other obstacles. This tyre runs at slower speeds, minimising the risk of damage while still delivering good performance.

Another interesting feature we’ve developed is a wear indicator on the side of the tyre, which measures tread depth. This is important for customers because it tells them when the tire has worn down, helping them manage tire life better.

Automation is another big trend. We see more and more self-loading concrete mixers and automated machinery in use. Customers don’t want to operate vehicles in the traditional way, and our products are designed to support this shift. We offer a wide range of tyres for different applications, with over 300 off-road specific tyres in the US alone. We also provide more than 1,000 different STUs across markets, which show our comprehensive approach to meeting varied needs.

What about the strategy for 2025? How do you see the market evolving?

Looking ahead, our strategy is to continue understanding customer requirements and developing products that create the right value. We aim to offer cost-effective solutions without compromising on performance. Our approach is not just about providing good products, but also ensuring that these products offer optimal value for money.

In terms of market trends, we expect a gradual shift from bias to radial tyres. Currently, around two-thirds of the market is bias, but we already have a strong presence in that segment. We’ll continue to strengthen our network and product offerings, expanding our reach in both OEMs and replacement markets.

We stand out by offering a complete range of products and staying in close touch with OEMs. We also understand the localisation requirements for various markets, especially as CKDs come in from different countries. This is particularly important in sectors like RMC applications, which are seeing phenomenal growth. Our products are designed to meet these unique needs.

How about the outlook for the off-the-road (OTR) segment in 2025?

The OTR segment should experience a good rebound. While we saw some slowdown earlier this year due to the general elections and projects being delayed, we expect the final quarter of the financial year to be strong. There’s a lot of potential in the mining, construction, and mechanisation sectors, and as labour costs rise, more companies are looking to mechanise their operations. We are actively partnering with machinery manufacturers to offer better value propositions.

What’s your take on the future of technology in the tyre industry?

Technology is certainly the way forward. One key innovation we’re working on is the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which started in cars and has expanded to trucks and buses. We’ve made it more accessible with a Bluetooth-enabled sensor that connects to a mobile device, allowing customers to monitor tyre temperature and pressure. We’re also moving towards embedding sensors inside the tyre, improving accuracy and performance.

We’re always looking ahead. For example, we’ve made significant strides in our testing capabilities at our COE (Centre of Excellence). We not only test our own products but also provide testing services for other OEMs. We’re also seeing more demand for advanced mining tyres, which require more specialised testing and development. Our focus is on delivering quality products that not only meet the demands of today’s market but are also ready for the future.

Finally, how do you see the future of the OTR segment in India?

The OTR market in India has a lot of potential, especially as mining and infrastructure projects continue to grow. With mechanisation on the rise, we’ll see an increased demand for high-quality tyres. The market will evolve with a shift toward radials, particularly in mining applications. However, bias tyres will still play an important role in certain segments due to their cost-effectiveness and application-specific benefits. As always, we’ll continue to innovate and adapt to meet the needs of the market.