CEAT’s new plant in Sri Lanka launches ‘Gripp’ high performance tyres

Friday, 12 June 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Rolls out first four sizes of new range of motorcycle tyres

Four new high performance tyres with sophisticated features and attention grabbing good looks have been launched in Sri Lanka by Asian Tyres Ltd., the new motorcycle tyre plant commissioned recently by CEAT Kelani Holdings.

Branded Gripp, the four tyre sizes fit nearly 30 models of motorcycles from popular brands on Sri Lanka’s roads, significantly enhancing the CEAT product portfolio in the two-wheel segment.

The Gripp 3.00-18 (TT) tyre fits models such as TVS Star Sport, TVS Star City, Hero Dawn, TVS Metro, Yamaha YBR, Hero Achiever, Hero Glamour, Hero Passion Pro and Bajaj Caliber Croma, the company said.

The 3.00-17 (TT) Gripp tyre is manufactured for Bajaj’s Platina, XCD 125, Discovery 100, Boxer and Discovery 112, and TVS’ Jiva, Star LX and Victor GLX motorcycles.

The Gripp 100/90 – 17 (tubeless) tyres fits the Honda CBR Stunner and Honda Unicorn, TVS Flame SR 125 and Flame DS, Yamaha SZ-X and Bajaj’s Pulsar 135LS, Discovery DTS, and Pulsar 150.

The fourth new tyre size, the Gripp 100/90 – 18 (tubeless) is intended for the Honda Unicorn ES and Hero Karizma ZMR.

All of these tyres have a unique directional block tread pattern that ensures free tyre rolling, with sturdy blocks for excellent grip, the company said. Deep shoulder grooves ensure outstanding water pumping even while cornering, while maximum treadarc width delivers exceptionalhandling and stability at high speeds. An improved tread compound also contributes to enhanced grip on wet and dry surfaces.

Set up within the CEAT Kelani complex at Kelaniya, the new Asian Tyres Ltd. plant is a state-of-the-art facility for the manufacture of motorcycle tyres for the local and international markets. It has an initial capacity of 162,000 tyres a year in 17 sizes, some with all-new tread patterns that deliver improved performance in local conditions.

As a member of CEAT Kelani Holdings, the new plant is expectedto increase the value of import substitution that CEAT has already achieved, enhance export earnings and further consolidate the company’s market share in the motorcycle tyre segment.

CEAT Kelani currently accounts for 17% of the motorcycle tyre market in Sri Lanka, in addition to its market shares of 30% in the radial segment, 52% in the Truck/Light Truck category, 48% in the 3-Wheeler segment and 73% in the agricultural tyre segment.

A global tyre brand present in 110 countries and now headquartered in India, CEAT is an acronym that stands for Cavi Electrici Affini Torino, or Electrical Cables & Allied Products of Turin, with origins that date back to 1924 in Italy. A National Business Excellence Award winner in 2010, 2011, and 2012 and a National Quality Award winner in the ‘Manufacturing – Large’ category in 2013, CEAT – Kelani Holdings is a successful Indo-Sri Lanka joint venture between the RPG Group of India and Kelani Tyre Sri Lanka.