BKT and Feld Motor Sports Celebrate Ten Years of Monster Jam Partnership and Extend Commitment until 2031

Since
2014, the leading Off-Highway tire company has been the Official and Exclusive
Tire Manufacturer of Monster Jam, the most unexpected, unscripted, and
unforgettable motorsports experience for families and fans in the world
BKT
and Feld Motor Sports, partners in this world of motorsports, are
celebrating their first decade of Monster
Jam partnership, undoubtedly one of the most spectacular events in
motorsports. Since 2014, BKT has played a key role in supporting the
extraordinary performance of the Monster Jam trucks, which captivate spectators
worldwide, by providing high-quality tires specifically designed to meet the
exhilarating challenges of all stunts and racing competitions. Recently, the two powerhouse companies
reconfirmed their commitment to the partnership until 2031.
During this ten-year-long
cooperation with Feld Motor Sports in Monster Jam, BKT has developed a series
of competition-specific tires, pursuing a path of ongoing evolution. Since the
onset of this exciting partnership, each tire model has been continuously
enhanced and optimized, culminating in the FL
354 pattern. This is the fourth tire
generation specifically designed for Monster Jam, marking the topmost
result based on years of experience, feedback from Feld Entertainment and
drivers, and an ongoing commitment to innovation. All development stages have
focused on particular tire features, which have been further enhanced during
the latest changes and improvements. So, let us find out how. The tire width
has been reduced by about 60 mm to make sure that there is enough space to
avoid any contact with vehicle parts or any damages to the shock absorbers when
the truck touches the ground after a stunt, taking into account the increased
deflection at the moment of the ground impact. To ensure better rolling, the
tire shape has been more ‘rounded’ while maintaining the same overall tire
diameter. The tread depth has been increased in the central area for improved
traction and durability. Further tire development has involved a decrease of
the tread depth in the shoulder area to reduce sinking into the ground,
especially while cornering. In the current tire version for Monster Jam, extra
blocks have been added to the pattern in the support zone under the shoulder
area. The purpose of this addition is to provide enhanced traction after the
truck lands in tilted condition, or even on two wheels on one side, enabling it
to rapidly regain the position.
Designed to cope with
intense mechanical stress and impacts by ever more extreme stunts during the
competitions, FL 354 embodies BKT's commitment to providing cutting-edge, and
highly performing technologies. BKT's goal has always been to balance advanced
performance with safety. This balance has been achieved by means of a rigorous
feedback cycle, testing, and ongoing finetuning, supported by thorough research
and development activities. Each new iteration has been a step forward in BKT's
mission to pushing the limits and provide Monster Jam drivers with the best
possible experience, even while facing the most extreme stunts that constantly
force the limits of tires.
Monster Jam trucks are
currently fitted with BKT tires that are
nearly 1.7 meters high and weigh 211 kilograms. These tires are kept at an
inflation pressure of about 1.6 bar to ensure a number of abilities and
benefits, such as shock absorbing when landing after jumps and stunts as well
as increasing the footprint to improve traction and reduce slippage.
These innovative solutions,
which have been originally designed for Monster Jam trucks to enhance their
performance, can now be successfully transferred to optimize the performance of
agricultural and industrial vehicles. This shift from the extreme competition
arena to practical fields such as agriculture, OTR, and industrial sector not
only demonstrates the versatility of BKT’s technologies, but also their
positive impact on both efficiency and productivity. What has been designed to
meet the extreme challenges of Monster Jam competitions can now be adapted to
improve tires that are used daily in all Off-Highway applications, thus
bringing tangible benefits to operators.
Mr.
Dilip Vaidya, BKT President and Director Technology:
"I am proud to say that our relentless commitment to research and
development enables us to conceive and produce cutting-edge tires that are
specifically designed for Monster Jam and also able to successfully tackle any
challenge off the road. At BKT, it is a top priority making sure that our
customers receive outstanding products of excellence. We constantly strive to
exceed all expectations, providing tires that stand out for performance and
reliability on any type of terrain and in any condition."
Mr.
Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director of BKT: "We are excited to
celebrate the 10th anniversary of our partnership with Feld Motor Sports and
Monster Jam! For us, Monster Jam represents much more than just an event; it is
an exciting adventure in the world of motorsports, where BKT is by the side of
fans in every corner of the world. We know that many of our customers love
Monster Jam, and we share the same passion for adrenaline and fun. This
partnership is our way of being close to them even during their leisure
moments, letting them experience unforgettable thrills along with their
families. We will continue to set our sights higher and higher, by innovating
and inspiring on this extraordinary motorsport journey!"
The 10-year partnership
with Feld Motor Sports has enabled BKT to consolidate its presence and visibility in the world of off-road sports, thus
adding to promote the brand internationally.
Ms.
Juliette Feld Grossman, Chief Operating Officer, Feld Entertainment:
“We’ve worked really closely with BKT to create optimal tires for Monster Jam
so that we can deliver the absolute best performance for our fans worldwide,”
said Juliette Feld Grossman, Chief Operating Officer, Feld Entertainment.
“There are probably more BKT tires in the world than any other tire because
those BKT tires are on the millions of diecast trucks owned by fans around the
globe.”
Mr.
Bill Easterly, Vice President of Fleet Operations /Development, Monster Jam:
“For more than a decade and growing, BKT and Monster Jam have partnered to
produce the most technologically advanced Monster Jam truck tire specifically
designed to withstand the grueling punishment of the tremendous forces applied
during our competition. With the
unprecedented extension of our partnership, we will continue to advance our
leadership in the global monster truck industry together. BKT and the Monster Jam development team will
continue to develop new tire technology to ensure the safety and well-being of
our drivers while advancing the performance of Monster Jam.”
Ten years of shared success
and shared challenges - a long-lasting and fruitful partnership that is set to
keep going towards the horizon of the future. BKT and Feld Motor Sports have
recently reconfirmed their commitment till 2031, thereby consolidating their
strong and deep bond. This decision had been inspired by the achievements over
the years and the shared clear vision of innovation and progress. The goal is
plain: rising above expectations, challenging the boundaries of the
exceptional, and taking this competition to ever-new heights.