For decades, farmers across the Prairies have relied on Fountain Tire for more than just tires. From Brandon to Lethbridge and Camrose to Dawson Creek, the company has been part of the fabric of farming communities since the tire retailer opened its first store in Wainwright, Alta., nearly 70 years ago.
Now, Fountain Tire is expanding that support by adding the versatile BKT agricultural tire series to its lineup.
Known globally for its quality and innovation, BKT has the kind of tire that Canadian farmers have been asking for: durable, high-performing and now available through Fountain Tire.
“BKT has such an amazing reputation,” says Jess Cords, managing owner of the Fountain Tire store in Brandon, Man. “Our customers have been asking for years when we would start carrying their tires.”
BKT’s addition to Fountain Tire is the result of a relationship built over time. The tire retailer first partnered with BKT about five years ago through its Off-The-Road (OTR) and industrial product lines. They were “blown away” by the response from consumers, recalls Michael Fritz, director of product and pricing at Fountain Tire.
Since then, BKT has steadily grown its agricultural presence south of the border, becoming one of the top two or three players in the U.S. market.
When the opportunity came up to bring the brand’s farm lineup to Canada, Fritz says Fountain Tire felt confident it had found a proven product and partner whose values aligned closely with its own commitment to farmers.
BKT addition brings more options and savings for farmers
BKT’s current agricultural equipment offerings include the popular Agrimax and Trac lineups for tractors, harvesters, implements and agro trucks. Among these options, Fritz says BKT is known for delivering tier-one quality without the tier-one price.
“BKT offers comparable quality to top brands such as Michelin and Firestone, but at 70 to 80 per cent of the price,” Cords says. “That’s more money in the pockets of farmers. Farmers today are paying attention to what they’re paying and how these tires are performing over time.”
Cords explains that a tier-one tire for him is one that delivers both field performance and long-term durability, with few warranty claims due to issues such as cracking that can lead to costly downtime.
Cords says that another part of BKT’s appeal comes from its investment in technology. The company’s lineup includes both bias and radial tires, but its more notable advancements are in the VF (Very High Flexion) and IF (Increased Flexion) designs. These tires allow heavier loads at lower pressures, which means better fuel economy and less soil compaction.
“We see BKT not just competing but outperforming in some areas and that is impressive. It’s exciting to bring that to our customers,” says Fritz.
Tires for agriculture’s harsh Canadian winters
BKT’s investment also involves developing products with Canada specifically in mind. One of the most anticipated is the RideMax Frost, a winter agricultural tire engineered with specialized rubber compounds and tread features designed to maintain flexibility and traction in below zero conditions, ensuring reliable performance on snow and ice.
“Not a lot of companies are building winter ag tires. The fact that BKT is already investing in that space shows their commitment to farmers,” says Fritz.
BKT’s responsiveness in designing, testing and delivering new products was a major factor in Fountain Tire’s decision to expand their partnership with BKT.
Both Cords and Fritz note that Fountain Tire carefully considers big changes to its product lineup. Including BKT was a deliberate decision to provide farmers across Canada with more choice, better value and confidence that their equipment will keep working as hard as they do.
“Farmers don’t just want a tire,” says Cords, “they want the right tire. One that delivers performance, durability and value. That’s exactly what BKT brings to the table.”
Visit commercial.fountaintire.com to learn more about the BKT lineup at Fountain Tire.
