JK Tyre & Industries Managing Director Anshuman Singhania

JK Tyre is preparing to step up exports from India to the United States as a long-awaited Indo-US trade agreement moves closer to completion, even as the company continues to serve the American market through its Mexico subsidiary to navigate existing tariff structures.

Speaking at the company’s FY26 third-quarter media briefing, Managing Director Anshuman Singhania said that JK Tyre expected tyres made in India to secure a favourable position compared with imports into the US from Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries once the agreement is signed.

“We expect to be either at par or in a better position. Once there is clarity on the duty structure, we will step up exports from India to the US,” he said, adding that clarity on the agreement was expected shortly and that the company would study the fine print before acting.

For now, JK Tyre maintains its presence in the US through JK Tornel, its Mexico-based subsidiary, where passenger car tyres attract almost zero duty into the American market. Earlier, around 3-4 percent of the company’s total revenue came from exports to the US, a share that could be reinstated depending on the final contours of the trade deal.

The company is also closely watching progress on a separate trade agreement between India and the European Union, which it believes could further improve export prospects for Indian tyre makers once signed by all member countries.

A strategic hedge

JK Tornel’s role in the company’s export strategy has become more prominent amid trade uncertainties. The Mexico arm allows JK Tyre to continue servicing the US market while India-US trade terms remain under negotiation.

Singhania made it clear that JK Tyre is ‘not giving up’ on the US market. Instead, it is using geography and duty structures to its advantage while awaiting clarity that could make India a viable export base again.

The management noted that, at times, strong domestic demand makes it more prudent to prioritise India over exports to the US. However, with additional capacities coming on stream, JK Tyre expects to have greater headroom to participate more aggressively in overseas markets.

While export strategy is evolving, the company’s current momentum is firmly anchored in the domestic market.

JK Tyre reported strong traction across both OEM and replacement segments, supported by festive demand, GST-led formalisation benefits and positive rural sentiment. Domestic volumes grew 16 percent year on year.

Replacement volumes rose 11–12 percent, while OEM volumes grew between 24 percent and 27 percent, reflecting robust demand from vehicle manufacturers.

A key driver has been the rebound in the commercial vehicle (CV) segment, which had remained subdued for nearly 18 months. JK Tyre, which commands one of the highest market shares in this category, is seeing renewed traction as freight movement and trucking activity improve.

The passenger vehicle OEM segment is also witnessing healthy momentum, contributing to overall growth across segments.

Market shifts

Singhania highlighted a visible shift in market demand towards premium tyres and larger rim sizes. The company is positioning itself to benefit from this trend by expanding its passenger car radial (PCR) portfolio and developing multiple sizes for export markets, particularly Europe.

The company has secured new OEM approvals to supply tyres for electric vehicle variants such as the Hyundai Creta EV and Tata Punch EV. The newly launched Renault Duster also features JK Tyre’s 18-inch Ranger HPE tyres.

The executive indicated that premiumisation and EV-linked demand are becoming structural drivers in the passenger vehicle tyre segment.

The company has announced an investment of INR 11.3 billion to expand capacity in truck and bus radials (TBR), PCR and other segments across multiple locations. This will increase overall capacity by nearly seven percent.

This follows a recently completed INR 15 billion expansion in PCR tyres that increased capacity by around 26 percent. On this expanded base, the company will now add another 4-5 percent capacity in passenger vehicle tyres.

Company Executives noted that this capacity addition would provide additional headroom to cater to both domestic growth and export opportunities once trade conditions become favourable.

The recent merger of subsidiary Cavendish Industries (CIL) into JK Tyre, completed in December, is expected to significantly improve operating efficiency and financial flexibility.

With the integration, JK Tyre now has full access to capacities at the Laksar and Tripura plants. While these capacities were earlier consolidated operationally, company officials said that the merger would now allow better realisation of large-scale synergies.

JK Tyre will also leverage its marketing and service network for CIL products. Importantly, the parent company’s higher credit rating will result in lower interest costs for working capital and term loans previously availed by CIL, which had an A+ rating.

The company expects overhead savings, interest cost reductions and operational efficiencies to support faster expansion.

Material outlook

Addressing concerns around commodity price volatility, Singhania said that the raw material basket saw a decline of nearly one percent during Q2 and Q3.

Going forward, raw material prices are expected to remain range-bound within 1–2 percent. Even if there is a marginal rise, JK Tyre believes strong demand conditions will allow it to pass on costs without disturbing margins.

“We do not see anything that may disturb the apple cart,” Singhania said.

He also announced that the company had earned a Silver rating in the latest EcoVadis ESG assessment, placing it among the top seven percent of companies globally.

The company said this recognition reflects its performance across sustainability pillars and aligns with its vision of becoming a green company by 2050.

A record quarter

JK Tyre reported its highest-ever consolidated quarterly revenue of INR 42.35 billion in Q3 FY26, up 15 percent year-on-year. EBITDA stood at INR 5.83 billion with margins expanding sharply to 13.8 percent, a rise of 470 basis points year on year.

Profit after tax surged 3.7 times to INR 2.9 billion compared with INR 570 million in the same quarter last year. Domestic volume growth stood at 16 percent while export volumes grew nine percent, even though overall export revenues were described as flattish due to geopolitical uncertainties.

JK Tornel reported a 21 percent rise in turnover to INR 6.16 billion from INR 5.07 billion a year earlier.

Company officials attributed the margin expansion to operating leverage, execution focus and benign raw material prices.

Singhania indicated that demand visibility for 2026–27 remains strong with particular optimism for the first half of FY27. All segments including OEM, replacement, domestic and exports are expected to see growth.

For JK Tyre, the convergence of strong domestic demand, expanded capacity, merger synergies and potential trade advantages could determine whether India re-emerges as a meaningful export base for the US and Europe.

Not as a return to the past, executives suggested, but as a fresh opportunity built on scale, efficiency and a more premium product mix.

Bridgestone Americas has secured a spot on the Forbes 2026 Best Brands for Social Impact list for the third year running, claiming the number 20 position. This represents a dramatic ascent of 71 places compared to the previous year’s ranking. The company’s standing is particularly notable as it surpassed all other tyre manufacturers as well as businesses in the auto repair and maintenance sectors, underscoring a strong and favourable public perception.

The company’s longstanding approach to community engagement has been driven by key alliances with organisations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Nature Conservancy and United Way. Since 2015, these efforts have translated into the donation of nearly 100 passenger vans to Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide, the planting of over eighty-five thousand trees and total contributions exceeding USD 45 million. Additionally, Bridgestone team members contribute more than 3,000 hours of volunteer service each year to support vital local programmes.

Beyond these efforts, the Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, established in 1952 by Harvey Firestone, Jr., operates as the largest corporate foundation within the United States tyre industry. It provides annual grants to national and local nonprofits whose missions align closely with the company’s operational footprint and its strategic direction as a sustainable mobility provider. Funding priorities also include employee matching gifts for causes related to diversity, education, mobility and employment access, with many grant recipients selected through a teammate-driven process designed to broaden participation in the company’s philanthropic impact.

Now in its fourth year, the Forbes list identifies the top 300 brands nationwide based on consumer perception. Developed in collaboration with HundredX, the ranking evaluated nearly 5,500 unique brands through surveys of more than 200,000 individuals. The assessment measures how the public views a brand’s trustworthiness, social stances, sustainability efforts and commitment to community support, reinforcing Bridgestone’s elevated standing in this year’s results.

Sara Correa, Chief Marketing Officer, Bridgestone West and Bridgestone Americas; Head of Bridgestone Americas Business Services, said “This recognition is a testament to every Bridgestone employee, customer and partner who is committed to driving meaningful impact in the communities where we move, live, work and play. The mission of our company has always been serving society with superior quality and a core belief that what’s good for society is good for business.”

Giti Tire has kicked off an exciting new chapter in motorsport by securing the role of Official Race Tyre for the Lotus Cup China, with the season commencing at the Sepang International Circuit. The races will see competitors utilising the GitiCompete GTR1 in the 240/650R18 and 300/650R18 sizes, setting the stage for a season defined by precision and endurance.

Spanning five rounds from April through December 2026, the championship has drawn significant participation, with 17 teams, 58 drivers and 44 cars registered. This year’s calendar represents a major milestone for the series, as it unfolds across one of Asia’s most technically challenging venues where the demands on performance, reliability and safety reach their peak.

At the core of this competitive effort is the GitiCompete GTR1, a high-performance slick purpose-built for racing environments. Engineered to deliver unwavering confidence on track, it combines advanced tread compounds and an optimised contact patch for superior grip and stability during high-speed cornering and heavy braking. Its ability to maintain consistent handling under extreme temperatures, coupled with efficient heat management for sustained performance over long stints, gives drivers the precise steering response needed to push to the limit.

Motorsport serves as a vital proving ground for Giti’s broader innovation efforts. Every lap at Sepang generates critical data on wear patterns, heat cycles and grip under stress – insights that are directly channelled into the company’s research and development. This real-world feedback allows Giti to refine compounds and structural designs, elevate safety and performance benchmarks and accelerate the creation of next-generation products.

Race Schedule

Date	Location
3– 5 April 2026	Sepang International Circuit
8–10 May 2026	Shanghai International Circuit
26–28 June 2026	Ningbo International Circuit
9–11 October 2026	Wuhan International Circuit
18–20 December 2026	Zhuhai International Circuit

Oak Group Holdings has secured the acquisition of Exhaust, Tyres and Batteries (ETB), a UK automotive service provider formerly owned by Bridgestone. This purchase introduces a significant new distribution channel for the expanding company while marking a strategic shift in its operational reach.

With ETB now fully integrated into the portfolio, Oak gains four warehouses spanning Wales, the Midlands and the Southwest of England. These additions bolster the firm’s existing wholesale network and extend its geographical presence across key regions. The deal also grants Oak direct access to consumers through ETB’s established fast-fit network – a first in the company’s 45-year history – allowing its technology-driven and brand-focused service model to enter the fast-fit sector.

The two companies' brand portfolios are well matched, allowing for a smooth transition to the current tyre brands presently under the Oak Group banner, which include Davanti, Envoy, Landsail, Linglong, Delinte and Aptany, ensuring continuity and strengthening the combined offering, said the company.

Peter Cross, Commercial Director, Oak Group Holdings, said, “2026 marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Oak. This milestone acquisition demonstrates the strength of our business, our continued investment and our long-term commitment as a wholesaler operating in what has been a turbulent and challenging market in recent years. We are very excited to welcome ETB colleagues to the Oak Group. We know the ETB team has vast experience and our values are closely aligned in terms of the importance of customer service in every aspect of what we do.”

TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, is highlighting the significant safety risks posed by under-inflated or degraded motorcycle tyres when bikes are brought back into use after winter storage. With motorcyclists across Great Britain preparing for the return to the road, the organisation stresses that thorough tyre inspections are essential. This urgency is underscored by troubling casualty data: in 2024, a total of 340 motorcyclists lost their lives on British roads, while over 5,400 suffered serious injuries and more than 10,000 sustained slight injuries. Fatalities rose by eight percent between 2023 and 2024, even though traffic increased by only four percent.

The core of TyreSafe’s warning lies in the hidden effects of prolonged inactivity. Even if tread depth appears sufficient, tyres can lose air pressure and structural integrity while a bike remains stationary. Unlike cars, motorcycles depend entirely on two small contact patches for grip, braking and stability, leaving almost no room for error. This makes the consequences of neglect particularly severe, especially in critical moments such as braking into a bend or riding on wet roads.

The impact of under-inflated or degraded tyres manifests in several noticeable ways. Riders may encounter a wallowing sensation during cornering, vague or heavy steering, reduced handlebar feedback and increased stopping distances. Irregular wear patterns and diminished fuel efficiency can also emerge. As pressure drops, excessive tyre flex generates internal heat, accelerating structural damage and raising the risk of sudden failure. Tread distortion further compromises grip, particularly in wet conditions where aquaplaning becomes a greater danger.

Visible sidewall cracking indicates that rubber compounds have hardened and lost flexibility, diminishing the tyre’s ability to maintain grip and absorb road forces. For a motorcycle, where balance and control hinge entirely on tyre integrity, such cracking can signal an imminent risk of grip loss or failure. Deep or widespread cracks warrant immediate replacement. Even occasional use during storage helps preserve flexibility and pressure stability, making meticulous inspection especially critical for seasonally ridden motorcycles.

TyreSafe urges road users to embrace the simple ACT protocol: regular checks of air pressure, condition and tread depth.

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “After months off the road, many riders are eager to get back out and enjoy their bikes – but tyres may not be in the same condition they were at the end of last season. Under-inflation can make a bike feel heavy, vague or unstable in corners, while degraded rubber reduces grip – especially in the wet. With casualty numbers rising, riders can’t afford to overlook something as fundamental as tyre safety. A simple check before the first ride could prevent a serious incident.”

Craig Carey-Clinch, Director of the National Motorcycle Council, said, “Motorcyclists depend completely on their tyres for grip, braking and stability. When tyres are under-inflated or deteriorated, the changes in handling can be subtle at first – but in an emergency situation, those differences can be decisive. Carrying out thorough tyre checks before the first ride of the season is one of the simplest and most effective ways riders can reduce avoidable risk.”