Ascenso Tyres has poured $100 million into a new plant that will churn out 49‑inch all‑steel radial mining tyres. The move makes it only the second Indian brand, after BKT, capable of producing these giant off‑highway tyres, and one of just five non‑Chinese makers worldwide. CEO Dhaval Nanavati said the company’s experience in agriculture and construction taught it how crucial it is to stay close to the customer on the ground – a philosophy now being applied to mining.
49‑inch radials can take 27.5 tonnes per tyre, beating the 25‑tonne limit of traditional bias‑ply designs. The radial construction also lets machines run faster and more efficiently, slashing cycle times and the total cost of ownership even though the tyre itself carries a 50‑100% price premium over bias‑ply.
In the Indian off‑highway segment, BKT and Emerald dominate the radial niche. Global players like Bridgestone and Michelin are largely Chinese‑produced, so Ascenso’s domestic line could change the supply chain for mining fleets across the country.
India’s National Critical Mineral Mission and the amended MMDR Act have spurred a boom in coal, iron ore, bauxite and limestone output across Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The domestic demand for 49‑inch tyres is roughly 3,000 units a year – a market that has long been served almost entirely by imports.
With 95% of its current output exported, Ascenso now projects a 15‑20% share of its revenue coming from India by 2030, driven by the new radial line. For operators, a locally made tyre reduces logistics costs and the cost of downtime, even if the sticker price is higher.
Production lines at the Panodi facility are in the final stages of construction, and the company expects the first 49‑inch tyres to hit the market within the next 12–18 months. Buyers should watch for the rollout of the 63‑inch variants and the eventual pricing once the plant is fully operational.