Leading two and three wheeler tyre maker TVS Srichakra has launched its its two wheeler radial tyres Protorq, which are meant for premium bikes. With this launch, the company is joining the list of a few other India tyre companies such as MRF and Ceat that have already come out with such radial tyres for motorcycles.

While the launch of technologically-advanced radial tyres is a logical expansion for the company, which is India’s largest manufacturer of two wheeler tyres, the new product segment is expected to offer strong growth opportunity in view of increasing sales of bikes in the higher CC categories -- 150 cc and above.

“The 150cc-and-above bike segment is expected to maintain strong sales growth going forward and we feel more and more such super bikes will sport radial tyres. Presently, not all such premium bikes use radial tyres. Most of them are fitted with bias tyres. But in the future, these bikes are expected to move to radial tyres,” said P Vijayaraghavan, Director, TVS Srichakra Ltd.

TVS Srichakra’s Protorq tyres will come in three sizes. Now, it has introduced only one size and other two will come in the next few months.

Protorq is meant for both replacement and OEM segments. While it has launched it for the replacement market, the company has given samples to two wheeler manufacturers for OEM fitments.

Vijayaraghavan said Protorq radial tyres were developed by inhouse R & D with technology inputs from international experts. The tyre has been made using Zero Degree Radial Belt technology and has been tested for well over a year in all terrains all over the country. “It will offer better comfort, high speed durability and reliable braking, among others,” he added.

He said the two wheeler replacement market was also seeing some strong momentum and that was expected to augur well for the company.

The company is in the process of completing its capacity expansion programme under which it is boosting total capacity to 2.5 million tyres a month from 2.3 million tyres. “It will get completed this quarter,” he added.

The company is also in the process of expanding the number of dealers during this year. It has over 3,000 dealers across the country.

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