JK Tyre in Italy: OTR tyres for port handling and heavy-duty applications
Best Lift is the exclusive distributor of JK Tyre OTR tyres in Italy. We are not resellers: we follow the brand across the Italian market, from choosing the right size through supply to monitoring the tyres in service.
JK Tyre is an Indian manufacturer present in industrial markets worldwide. Its OTR range covers two families of duty cycles that, in heavy handling, have very little in common: terminal handling and high-capacity special applications.
Port Champion: the range for port handling
Port Champion is developed for reach stackers, high-capacity forklift trucks, empty container handlers and terminal tractors. In a terminal a tyre works standing still under load as much as it does on the move, over long shifts and on yards that forgive nothing: what it needs is cut resistance and resistance to heat fatigue, not speed.
Case in point. In April 2026 the trade press documented a Kalmar DRG 450 reach stacker working at a logistics terminal in Lombardy, fitted with JK Tyre Port Champion 18.00-25 supplied by Best Lift.
Giant sizes for pick and carry cranes and travel lifts
Pick and carry cranes and travel lifts are a world of their own. A pick and carry crane travels with the load raised: the tyre takes dynamic and lateral stress at the same time, with sidewall loads that earth-moving duty hardly ever produces. A travel lift moves hulls at walking pace along quays and slipways, in a salt-laden environment, where stability under static load and long service life are what count.
Case in point. JK Tyre VEM 045 27.00-49, 54 PR tyres fitted to a pick and carry crane during overhaul. Other sizes available include 21.00-35, 24.00-35, 33.00-51 and 36.00-51.
How we choose the size
We do not just supply the tyre. We assess capacity, duty cycle, type of surface and expected annual hours before recommending a size and a ply rating. If the machine is being overhauled, refitting is the right moment to review the tyre choice as well: changing it later means machine downtime.
Frequently asked questions
What does the 54 PR marking mean?
PR stands for ply rating and indicates the strength of the carcass: the higher the value, the greater the load the tyre can carry at the specified pressure.
Which size fits a high-capacity pick and carry crane?
In the higher-capacity special applications the most common size is 27.00-49. The choice depends on capacity, outreach and working surface.
Which size fits a reach stacker?
The most common size is 18.00-25, the one on the Kalmar DRG 450 reference described above.
How long does delivery take?
It depends on the size and on stock availability. Contact us with the machine and the size for a precise answer.