Ascenso Tyres has entered South African mining market with the launch of its next-generation All-Steel Radial Off-The-Road (R-OTR) giants at Electra Mining Africa 2026 through its strategic partnership with Royal Tyres.

A global leader in the Agriculture, Forestry and Construction (AFC) tyre segment, Ascenso has established a presence in more than 100 countries since its founding in 2019. Building on this global foundation, the company is now expanding into high-performance mining with a comprehensive radial OTR portfolio covering both surface and underground mining applications, including large and ultra-large all-steel radial tyres.

The Ascenso and Royal Tyres partnership combines Ascenso’s global expertise, product portfolio, investment and engineering capabilities with Royal Tyres’ established distribution network, customer relationships and understanding of the South African operating environment. Together, the companies aim to bring global mining tyre technology and engineering expertise closer to customers in the region.

Investing in the future of mining

At the centre of Ascenso’s expansion into mining is an investment exceeding US$100 million to establish world-class All-Steel Radial tyre manufacturing capabilities. The investment covers advanced manufacturing infrastructure, specialised radial production technology, product development, testing capabilities, engineering talent, giant tyre manufacturing infrastructure and future capacity expansion in its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in India.

Ascenso’s R-OTR range currently spans sizes from 25 inches to now 49 inches, with larger sizes under development. The move into 49-inch tyres marks Ascenso’s entry into the ultra-large mining tyre segment and supports its ambition to build a comprehensive radial tyre portfolio for the earthmover sector.

The range is designed for applications including construction, quarrying and large open-pit mining operations, with further sizes and tread patterns planned as part of Ascenso’s roadmap through 2027 and 2028.  The company plans to progressively add sizes and tread patterns across mining, earthmoving and loader applications.

Engineered for performance

Ascenso has developed its Radial OTR strategy around a philosophy of premium performance at a competitive price. Its radial OTR tyres have been benchmarked against established global premium brands during the design, engineering and validation process, with the aim of delivering strong performance while offering value to mining operators.

Customer-facing engineering is also central to Ascenso’s mining strategy. The company is deploying more than 15 Field Application Engineers across key mining markets globally, working directly with mine operators to monitor tyre performance, analyse wear behaviour and understand operating conditions. Feedback from the field is then fed into Ascenso’s global R&D team to support ongoing product optimisation.

“Over the past four years, we built a strong foundation in the Agriculture, Forestry and Construction segments, and that experience taught us the value of staying close to our customers. As we expand further into mining, we are carrying that same philosophy forward by putting field engineers on the ground in every key market so that we can respond to real operating conditions in real time, not after the fact. The expansion of our range to 49-inch tyres is an important milestone in that journey,” says Yogesh Mahansaria, Managing Director, Ascenso Tyres.

For South African mining operators, the partnership with Royal Tyres provides a local route to Ascenso’s growing radial OTR portfolio, supported by Royal Tyres’ knowledge of the region’s operating conditions and customer requirements.

“Ascenso brings significant global expertise in tyre development and engineering, while Royal Tyres brings an established 87 years old understanding of the Southern African market and the demands placed on operators in the region. Together, we can give customers access to advanced radial OTR tyre technology backed by local knowledge, distribution and support. The launch marks an important step in bringing this proposition to the market and strengthening the solutions available to mining and industrial customers across Southern Africa.”