JK Tyre & Industries has inaugurated India’s first precision tyre buffing and grinding machine designed for Wet Grip on Worn Tyres (WGWT) testing. The equipment, installed at NATRAX in Pithampur, is intended to strengthen the country’s capacity to evaluate the safety performance of worn tyres in line with international standards.

The inauguration event was attended by senior representatives from JK Tyre and NATRAX, including Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director of JK Tyre, and Dr. Manish Jaiswal, Director of NATRAX.

The new machine is compliant with ECE R117, which assesses tyre safety by measuring wet braking performance at tread depths close to the legal minimum of 1.6 mm. It will support the preparation of worn tyre samples across passenger car (C1), light commercial (C2), and heavy truck and bus (C3) categories, enabling WGWT testing at NATRAX for a wide range of vehicle segments.

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Photo source: JK Tyre & Industries

“With the inauguration of the precision tyre buffing and grinding machine (wet grip on worn tire) at NATRAX, JK Tyre has taken yet another step forward in advancing tire testing and safety innovation in India,” said Dr. 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 adds to JK Tyre’s existing testing activities at NATRAX, where the company has been operating since 2017. The firm maintains dedicated facilities at the site, including workshops, specialised equipment and a fleet of vehicles used for handling, braking, wet grip and noise evaluations.

According to the company, the investment supports ongoing efforts to expand domestic tyre testing capabilities and contributes to broader industry initiatives aimed at improving tyre performance and supporting the automotive sector’s development.

To learn more, proceed to JK Tyre & Industries' website.