Kingsway Tyres scaling heights for Affordable and better Tyres for African Roads.

There are not many companies in the Kenyan economy that can boast of a 50 year legacy in business considering the challenges the half century has brought with it. However, for Kingsway Tyres Limited, it has been a story of success for the past 50 years, and hope for reaching higher heights as the years go by.

Started as a small retail tyre outlet along Kingsway Road, now known as University Way, Kingsway Tyres has cut itself a niche in the tyre industry in the country by complying with the ever changing market trends and guided by three principles as explained by the company’s Managing Director Manoj Shah.

“Three key principals have guided the company, constant dynamism, continuous momentum and comprehensive growth. These three factors have been the lifeline of the company.”

As a company started by his father, Manoj says the ability to maintain the family unit in running the business from the generation of his father till this far and by sharing the same vision and guiding philosophy, has also helped Kingsway Motors in its exponential growth in the tyre industry.

A 25% tyre market share with plans to push it to 35% in the next five years, attests to the company’s ability to stand the test of time, evolving and changing with the market trends. Kingsway Tyres has also emerged as one of the largest tyre distributors in East Africa with the largest network in the whole of East and Central Africa.

Many will agree that the picture of Kingsway Tyres always brings Michelin tyres in the mix of thoughts. Contrary to notion, Manoj says that Kingsway Tyres does not manufacture the brand of tyres nor is it the only brand that the company deals with.

Manoj however puts it that the success of the company can be attributed to its partnership deals with American, Asian and Indian tyre manufacturers in franchising and distributing their products, where Michelin falls under.

“Michelin is just one of our biggest partners as we are their sole distributors in Kenya,” he says.

The combination of Kingsway Tyres Limited and Michelin has seen the company’s clientele base on a steady rise as evidenced by a cross-section of Kingsway’s customers.

"Currently, we are now running on Michelin tyres on all our fleet, both in rear fitment and steer axle fitment with 315/80 R 22.5 XZE 2 + and Michelin/Kingsway team is regularly following the mileages/pressure and advising us. We definitely recommend these tyres to any transporter, who wishes to save costs in the long run," say Bash Hauliers Ltd.

Coca Cola Rwanda say that they have reduced their tyre costs since switching to Michelin 315/80/R22.5 tyres for their fleet adding that Michelin tubeless tyres have excellent retreadibility.

Other tyre manufacturers that Kingsway Tyres is working with are Korean Kumho Tires, the eighth largest tyre manufacturer in the world, American BF Goodrich and Indian company Apollo Tyres. Manoj gives special mention to Apollo Tyres saying that their range of products is similar to the Kenyan market.

Due to the rise in business from the Michelin tyres, the two companies have come together in establishing a retreading factory as a way of celebrating the 50^th anniversary, which is set to reduce the cost of doing business for trucks and bus operators. Truck and bus operators will now be able to return their worn out tyres and have them retreaded and save up to 60%.

“The factory will not only reduce the cost of a tyre by 60%, but will considerably reduce the amount of environmental pollution caused by worn out tyres,” adds Manoj.

The factory which is in its final phase of completion has been constructed at a cost of approximately Ksh40 million and has a capacity to retread 12,000 tyres a year. It will be the fourth of its kind in Kenya and the only retread factory in Kenya set up by a non-manufacturer. All machines at the factory are computer controlled to ensure precision operations and come with in-built maintenance and diagnostic features.

In the 5 decade journey, Manoj says that it is over the last two-and-a-half decades that Kingsway Tyres has experienced phenomenal growth, thanks to the growing Kenyan middle class.

True to this, the past decade has seen the number of motor vehicles on Kenyan roads grow exponentially as more and more people take up a motor vehicle not only as a luxury but a necessity.

Manoj continues to say that the growth of the middle class has also been one of the indicators for the company in choosing the location of the company’s TyrExpert Centres’.

The 'Kingsway TyreExpert Centers are professionally equipped modern outfits (workshops & service facilities) designed to provide not only tyres, but all related services, advise, accessories and catering virtually for any customer requirement all under one roof.

Kingsway TyreExpert Centres, the first Tyre Centres in East and Central Africa to be awarded the coveted Automobile Association of Kenya Approval are currently 17 in total across the country with Manoj saying that more will be opened in efforts to expand their clientele base.

In a business world that is now not taking ICT for granted in growth ambitions, Kingsway Tyres have not been left out in enhancing their operations using ICT.

The company’s IT Manager Abishek Diwali says they have implemented an ERP software called e-biz which has enabled Kingsway Tyres to integrate data from all departments in coordinating and enhancing provision of services across the country.

In giving back to the community, Kingsway Tyres has been involved in a number of CSR projects that involve the adoption of the bomb blast round about, sponsoring eye check-ups, visit to Don Bosco Boys and Ananda Marga Donation for HIV children.

The phenomenal growth of the parent company Kingsway Tyres Limited hassled to the establishment of Kingsway Group of Companies with interests in hospitality, services sector, real estate and advisory services.