Radialisation in India - Current Status and Future Trends As per ATMA, (2011-12) report, rate of

radialisation in India is actually an index of the status of road development, vehicle engineering, and the
economy in general. Notwithstanding the problem areas, constraints and limitations, the tyre
companies have kept pace with the technological improvements that radialisation signifies and offer
state-of-the-art product (tyres), comparable to the best in the world.

Radialisation in India - Current Status and Future Trends As per ATMA report, radialisation rate in India
indicates the status of road development, vehicle engineering, and the economy in general. It signifies
and offer state-of-the-art product (tyres), comparable to the best in the world.

As per information provided by Dr Andreas Esser, Continental AG’s CV Tyres Business Unit head,
adialisation is relatively low in India compared to most markets and its speed is average and relatively slow in
comparison to China. In India, the market is gradually developing taking in consideration the needs of the
customers. It is expected that by 2019, there will be approximately 50 percent radialisation and in another 5-
10 years it will come close to 100 percent in India. This change also requires changes in infrastructure.

Opportunities :
 India continues its steady economic ascent, estimating an annual growth rate of around 8% annually
(www.motorindia.in,8th, Sept., 2008). Of course, there are restraining factors for radialisation, but at
the same time opportunities are plentiful.
• Among other factors that limit the pace of radialisation is the road condition. Transport congestion
with stop and go, low average speed, poor average distance per day, etc., are the other deterrents.
Maintenance of certain vehicles, geometry maintenance and size of rims may not be favourable to
radials as tyres are to be more sensitive to misalignment. This can create uneven wear and reduce
the mileage potential. Further, radialisation may be affected by the rising input and fleet
maintenance costs.
• However, overloading used to be rampant everyday in the trucking industry, and regardless of the
tyres used, overloading will cause tyre damage, shorten tyre life, crack rims, and cause accidents due
to poor vehicle handling. Overloading also damages the road infrastructure over time. It was not
uncommon in India for a vehicle with a maximum load capacity of 9 tonnes to carry up to 13 tonnes.
It is estimated that a 30% reduction happens in the life of the highway.
• On the other hand, opportunities for radialisation start with the legal environment, the right road
infrastructure which is being strengthened and improved transportation facilities.
• With the Supreme Court‘s judgment of November 2005 against overloading of trucks and goods
vehicles, it is expected that there will be a lot of re-positioning in different tyre segments, and we
can foresee a push towards ‗radialisation‘ of truck tyres. The scenario will encourage the trucking
industry to increase the use of radials. Greater acceptance and fitment of radial tyres by OEMs will
act as catalysts and is expected to bring about the transformation in radialisation of the truck and
bus segment in India.
• The increasing number of multi-axle vehicles (MAVs) is considered another important factor that will
give an impetus to radialisation in the CV (Commercial Vehicle) segment. MAVs are capable of
carrying at least 50% more loads compared to normal trucks. This will help reduce the turnaround
time as it suits the Indian habit of loading extra weight of goods i.e. overloading tendency.
• An additional need to help with the smooth transition for radialisation is the need to provide the
right level of information andtraining to both dealers and end users. For dealers, it would mean
ensuring that the products are matched by the right level of service and technical know-how. For
end-users, generating the right awareness by providing personal education on the benefits and
usage of radial products will be the key. In India, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world
today, radialisation is almost complete as far as the passenger car tyres segment is concerned, and is
starting to gain momentum in the truck and bus tyres segments. India‘s tyre industry has grown
rapidly, and is estimated to be around Rs.43,000 crore in 2011-12, (ATMA, 2011-12) and a sizable
percentage of new investment in India‘s tyre industry will be spent on improving the radial tyre
segment, both for passenger car, as well as for truck and bus. As per industry estimation more than
half of all truck tyres in the world are radial truck tyres. The Asian rate of radialisation is also up at 50
per cent. Markets like Thailand and China, this radialisation rate is upward of 30 per cent. India alone
accounts of seven per cent of the world truck tyre consumption. It is just a matter of time since
radial technology provides tangible benefits to the consumer; radialisation in India has poised to join
the radial revolution. This technology will pave the way towards achieving sustainable mobility in the
country. This is one technology which benefits the individual directly and at the same time helps
conserve the environment and precious natural resources.