JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has inaugurated India's first precision tyre buffing and grinding machine for wet grip testing of worn tyres at the National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) facility in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh. The installation represents a significant advancement in the country's road safety infrastructure and tyre performance evaluation capabilities.
The ceremony, held on Monday, was attended by Dr Raghupati Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director of JK Tyre, alongside Dr Manish Jaiswal, Director of NATRAX, and senior officials from both organisations.
The newly installed equipment complies with ECE R117 regulations, which assess a tyre's wet braking performance when worn to the legal tread depth limit of 1.6 mm. This system enables precise preparation of worn tyre samples across multiple vehicle categories, including C1 (passenger car), C2 (light commercial vehicle) and C3 (heavy truck/bus) segments, facilitating comprehensive Wet Grip on Worn Tyre (WGWT) testing at the NATRAX facility.
"With the inauguration of the Precision Tyre Buffing and Grinding Machine (Wet Grip on Worn Tyre) at NATRAX, JK Tyre has taken yet another step forward in advancing tyre testing and safety innovation in India," said Dr Raghupati Singhania. "It reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation, technology leadership, and enhancing vehicular safety through modern engineering and contribution to build world-class testing infrastructure."
The installation bolsters JK Tyre's existing testing ecosystem, supporting both homologation requirements and new product development initiatives. The company has maintained a partnership with NATRAX since 2017, leveraging its advanced facilities for comprehensive vehicle-level testing, including handling, braking, wet grip and noise evaluation.
JK Tyre has made substantial investments in dedicated infrastructure at the NATRAX campus, which includes two workshops, a skilled technical team, and advanced testing equipment such as a skid trailer, steering robot and noise measurement systems. These capabilities are supported by a fleet of test vehicles, enabling thorough performance assessments across various testing scenarios.
The development marks a significant milestone in India's journey towards self-reliance in automotive testing and underscores the growing sophistication of the country's tyre manufacturing and safety evaluation capabilities.
UK evidence shows wet-grip performance is the most common area where tyres fail independent label checks, underlining the need for rigorous, transparent testing of worn-state traction. Guidance for winter also prioritises wet-grip selection on the label, reinforcing how tread depth and compound affect stopping distances on soaked roads. Strengthening WGWT capability in India supports safer tyres at home and for export markets.
The company has been active across safety and sustainability in 2025, including launching an ISCC Plus-certified passenger tyre with high sustainable material content, and securing international financing linked to capacity and efficiency upgrades. Those moves, paired with deeper validation at NATRAX, point to a tighter integration of R&D, compliance and scale manufacturing.
Tagged with: wet grip testing, worn tyre performance, ECE R117 compliance, NATRAX India, tyre homologation, C1 C2 C3 classes, tyre safety India, JK Tyre testing
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