Apollo Tyres Inaugural Bad Road Buddies Finds Traction With SUV Crowd
Perhaps the concept of the SUV, or, as a vehicle format has muddled a fair bit since the advent of the crossover. So many SUVs of today offer neither sportiness nor utility but simply are tall cars with high ground clearance. But they work. They work because we've given up on having smooth roads. They work because many of us feel squeezed or bullied in traffic by those in SUVs. They work because they give their owners a sense of safety and power in those high-seated driving positions. They work because a capable SUV in the right hands can conquer marshes, deserts and mountains. And even the less extreme ones allow for some mild off-road adventures. And this has led to a sizable community of off-road junkies.
Members of this community like to buy SUVs and there are many to pick from. In many ways, they are still quite different and yet there is one common factor to ALL them. No matter how modified or how expensive or what brand of SUVs they own, they all need a reliable set of tyres. That's exactly what, one of India's biggest tyre manufacturers, has recognised as well. Using that common element, Apollo sought to bring the off-road community together onto a common ground for what it has dubbed as "Bad Road Buddies". No, it doesn't mean people who drive badly on the road, but people who like to drive on bad roads.
As it happens, Apollo makes a range of tyres called the Apterra tyres which are specifically for SUVs. Now, instead of looking for people who use their particular brand of tyres, Apollo reached out to SUV owners and off-road enthusiasts to join the Bad Road Buddies event and offered to fit their rides with a set of new Apterra treads for the journey.
For this inaugural drive event, Apollo had selected Goa as the location with a looped route to cover over 350 kilometres in two days plus some off-roading too. Before the early-morning flag-off from the hotel in Panjim, I decided to snoop around to take a look at the cars that would be attending and what Apollo tyres they were shod with. In our safety briefing the night before, the brand had introduced us to the Apterra range comprising of five types of tyres depending on the size and use - AT, HL, HP, HT and HT2.
There was a surprising variety of vehicles that were taking part, privateers, organisers and media included. From to old Toyota Land Cruisers to highly modified Tata Xenon pick-ups and even a BMW X5, all of them on Apollo Apterra tyres. Another aspect of this event was to split and group people together in a 'Buddy' system and that included us media folks too. Luckily, my buddy for the journey was someone of many experiences with SUVs and off-roading adventures. The cars I'd be switching between over the next two days was a top-spec Nissan Kicks and the Tata Hexa AWD variant. Both unlikely contenders for the rough bits that were to come.
From Panjim, all the cars left for Dandeli in Karnataka before splitting into four separate convoys. Luckily, we were in the first convoy so we got to head out with the lead group in the Kicks and got out of the city early. The highway roads on the plains were smooth enough and the road noise from the Apterra HPs was quite muted. When we turned into the hills though, the roads became consistently bumpy, so much so that our new Nissan developed a bit of a rattle. But the ride quality wasn't affected enough to be uncomfortable and the grip through the twisties was sufficient even though we were well under the speed limits. We reached the first stop of the day just in time for lunch and waited for the other three convoys to arrive safely.
Post lunch, we headed to drive to a location known as Bison Point which is famous for its view of the Supa dam reservoir and the sunset. The fun part was the route up there which included a stretch of tarmac before turning off the main roads and onto a rocky trail for our first tryst with off-road driving. The combination of a loose surface, knobbly rocks, an incline and a heavy crossover such as the made for an interesting experience. Its AWD powertrain in 'Rough Road' mode did its best to distribute power to the wheels with traction, all of which were wearing more dirt-oriented Apollo Apterra HT2 treads. Where there wasn't enough grip, we just put the power down in first and let the 400Nm of torque lug the Hexa up the rocks. The more appropriate SUVs like the Toyotas, Fords, Pajeros, D-Max V-Cross pick-ups and Thars were able to make light work of the trail with their 4x4 drivetrains. But the surprise was to see the front wheel drive Nexon and Kicks make their way up too. Sure they had to struggle more and take a slightly different line to make sure the front wheels had something to grip and those Apterra treads did their part too. Only the BMW was left behind for fear of high-value bumps and dings.
Finally, all the convoys had made their way up to the top of the hill to Bison Point, and what a view it was - the bright blue of the Supa dam reservoir, the tiny outcrops of land masses around it, the dam itself and to the west we had the evening sun giving it all the perfect lighting. The plan was to enjoy the sunset from this stunning location and until then, the groups mingled and chatted. But there were some inevitable holiday selfies while the influencers whipped out and waved around their smartphones in a futile attempt to capture the stunning scenery. There were a rare few who even took this chance to kick back and take in the view while others parked their SUVs on rocks for an imposing Facebook display picture
The drive back was in the dark and that's when travelling in a convoy really came in handy. The organisers of the routes, Cougar Motorsports, had all the big toys and were leading our groups with a couple of cars at the back to make sure nobody got lost or left behind. Going down the bumpy dirt road was a lot easier than going up it in the Hexa and the speeds were a lot more manageable too without being tossed around a whole lot. It wasn't long before we got back on the tarmac and towards our resort for the night. Apart from one Jeep that had broken down at the top of the hill itself and was being helped out by one of the crew to get his car going, everyone was in one big convoy of nearly 40 cars.
Even the route from the main roads to the resort was a mild off-road trail in itself. Back in the Kicks, even we made light work of the bumpy ride, and the promise of good food, cool beverages and a night's sleep had quickened our pace. The first day ended in the wilderness of Dandeli, the cars dusty, a few nicks from the rocks, a scratch here or there from the flora and the drivers happy.
Part two of the journey had even more packed into it and so we were told to report at 5am to head back down the hills and towards Quepem. We exchanged our for the Hexa and headed out with the first convoy again. We rolled out just as the gentle light made its way through the thick tree branches. Caffeine was given a miss as a rolled down window and the crisp morning air was enough to blink the sleepiness away. Even among the torquey and grumbling diesel engines, we felt strangely tranquil on our descent down the mountain road. The Hexa's turbo whistle sounded like a morning bird chirping inside the cabin as it made its way around the bends as gracefully as its size would allow it.
A couple of stops in between and we found ourselves turning off the tarmac once again towards a big clearing with large Apollo banners floating in the air. It was time to get to work. Four different stages with a variety of challenges and different routes depending upon the capabilities of the cars with us. Steep inclines (for going both ways), jutting rocks, loose surfaces, tight turns and sideways articulation. Nothing too challenging for full-time off-roaders but plenty of fun for everyone including many first-timers, like me. It was a clear display of just how much difference it makes to have a true 4x4 with a low-range gearbox and lockable differentials.
The Hexa's AWD system coped well with the terrain but its long wheelbase and hefty weight with a comparatively lower ground clearance did make it more of a challenge than say an old Toyota Land Cruiser. The braver folk decided to push the limits of the Nexon and the Kicks, both of which fared surprisingly well. Their front wheel drivetrains were perhaps their only weakness as the chassis and suspension dealt with the punishment of being bounced around and the tarmac friendly Apterra HP tyres doing their best to find grip where possible.
In between all the fun, Apollo Tyres' newly signed brand ambassador, Sachin Tendulkar, made a grand entrance to join the gathering. Driving a Polaris RZR1000 Turbo, he drove up the rough path carved into the face of the hill followed by two heavily customised Gypsy off-roaders. In the press conference that followed, the cricketing icon professed his keen interest in off-roading and was later seen tackling a few obstacles on the course in a BMW X3. At the press conference, Apollo Tyres' vice-chairman and managing director Neeraj Kanwar spoke in more detail about the Apterra range of tyres and a hopeful future for the "Bad Road Buddies" community. He announced the brand's intention to make it a regular feature, perhaps in multiple locations with smaller groups and maybe even multiple times in a year. Also present was Apollo Tyres chairman, Onkar S Kanwar.
It is no unique idea for a manufacturer to create a voluntary community of people with similar interests, but by reducing the commonality to something as varied as tyres, Apollo has given Bad Road Buddies a wider appeal. It doesn't matter if you have a sub-4m compact SUV or a tricked out pick-up truck with rally lights, just slap on some of their tyres and you're welcome to join the fun. For an inaugural event, there wasn't much that went wrong or off-schedule and the people who banded together, many of them did seem to become 'Bad Road Buddies'.
Personally, I gained more respect for the cars that we call SUVs because even if they are not aimed at those who would do much more than drive through city potholes, these vehicles are built for more. These cars can be taken on adventurous trails and be tested and enjoyed, even the smaller ones. While I'd still prefer to stick to the tarmac with sweeping bends and marble-smooth surfaces, I don't think I'd mind another experience like this either. After all, interesting places seldom lie at the end of well-paved roads.
By Sonny March 21, 2019 at 06:43PM
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