Winter specialist: BKT Ridemax IT 697 (M + S)

BKT develops specific tyres for the colder months of the year, solutions designed not only to deal with muddy or snowy surfaces but also to provide maximum performance in normal conditions on dry soil. It gives these products a tread pattern and compound that maintain the tyre’s characteristics even at low temperatures and provide traction and grip on wet, snowy or slippery terrain.

The latest BKT winter range is the Ridemax IT 697 (M + S). The off-highway tyre specialist describes this as the “the perfect solution to operate in the harsh conditions typical of winter.” It developed this radial tractor tyre to provide maximum performance on muddy and snowy surfaces as well as on dry soils, thereby adapting to the different needs of modern subcontractors and farmers.

“Thanks to the tread incisions and the special compound developed to maintain the characteristics of the tyre even at the coldest temperatures, Ridemax IT 697 (M + S) guarantees traction and grip on wet and slippery terrain, also ensuring driving comfort and stability,” states BKT. “It also guarantees an extraordinary grip for all operations on icy and snowy roads, without any need for snow chains.” Ridemax IT 697 (M + S) is currently available in 12 different sizes.

According to the manufacturer, it designed this winter tyre to ensure a longer product life cycle than equivalent solutions: BKT’s own testing shows that Ridemax IT 697 (M+S) can support over 4,000 working hours, compared to 3,000 hours for a standard tyre on the rear axle.

The Ridemax range includes fitments aimed at tractors operating in both agricultural and industrial transport applications. BKT says it develops Ridemax tyres to be stable at high speeds, to support heavy loads in order to reduce transport cycles, and to minimise rolling resistance.