Business news

MOGILEV, 2 October (BelTA) – The Bobruisk-based tire manufacturer Belshina has made the largest tire in the company’s history. The new tire boasts a carrying capacity of over 100 tonnes, Belshina representatives told BelTA.

With the rim diameter of 63 inches, the new tire is over 4m high and weighs 5.7 tonnes. It is designed for haul trucks used by the mining industry with air temperatures from 55C below zero to 45C above zero. The tire tread pattern ensures maximum contact with the road and even weight distribution in addition to lower heat buildup, lower wear of the tread pattern. Metal cord is part of the design and is supposed to increase the carrying capacity and the lifespan of the tire for extremely large trucks.

According to Belshina representatives, the tire has been made thanks to the new equipment acquired as part of the investment project to start manufacturing solid metal cord tires with the rim diameters of 57 and 63 inches. The project’s implementation will allow increasing the product range and the output volume of such tires for BelAZ trucks (with the carrying capacity of up to 450 tonnes) and foreign mining vehicles. Only a handful of companies in the entire world make such tires.

Several other tires will be made soon. They will have to go through benchmark testing and industrial testing. Once their quality parameters are confirmed, the tires will be slated for batch production.

Founded in 1972, Belshina was converted into a public joint-stock company (OAO) in 2002. Belshina is one of Europe’s top tire makers. The company offers over 350 standard sizes and models of tires. Belshina trades with more than 75 countries. The main domestic consumers include Belarus' largest enterprises such as BelAZ, MAZ, MTZ, MZKT, Gomselmash, and Amkodor.