Finding car parts that are manufactured in America is not an easy task, but there are some tire brands that still make all or a portion of their inventory in the U.S.A. Basically, there are two types of tire brands available: those that are All American and those that are manufactured in America.
For example, brands such as Goodyear and Cooper are American companies which manufacture their products in the country, while Pirelli and Michelin are technically foreign brands that have factories built in the USA. The tires of these brands are produced in the eastern, central and southern areas of the U.S. Each one of these brands reflects the determination and reliability of the workers producing the tires.
However, how do you know whether your tires were manufactured in the U.S. or not? Well, most tires will have a “Made in …” stamp on them, but it’s not a general rule. Instead, in the tire industry, all tires which are sold on the tire market have a DOT code that shows when and where the tire was manufactured. There is no universal code used for USA-based factories, but based on these numbers, you can determine where a tire was manufactured.
We have created a short list for your convenience.
All American Tire Brand
These brands have their beginning in America and their products are manufactured in the country as well. While some of these brands have taken over foreign companies and have made them their sub-brands, they themselves were not bought out by foreign companies.
Goodyear
Goodyear produces tires in places such as Dansville, VA, and Topeka, KS. However, much like other tire brands, Goodyear only produces a limited amount of their stock in the U.S. You can tell where Goodyear tires are made by looking at the sidewalls of their tires and identifying the department of transportation number. Goodyear tires are seen on everything from regular consumer transports to more sophisticated racing vehicles
Goodyear also has the following sub-brands: Kelly-Springfield, Dunlop, Douglas
Kelly-Springfield
Kelly-Springfield produces tires in places like Tyler, TX, making both regular consumer and commercial truck tires. The company is owned by Goodyear, but the brand is still distinct and popular in the U.S. In 2015, Kelly is offering a 30-day test drive of its tires, helping to ensure its customers get exactly what they’re looking for.
Dunlop
Dunlop is a name familiar to most households throughout the U.S., and the company produces tires in places like Buffalo, NY. Though the brand is owned by Goodyear, it’s still unique and maintains a loyal following of retail and commercial customers. Dunlop tires are available for cars, trucks, SUVs, and commercial vehicles. There are also high-performance models for those looking for advanced tire options.
Cooper
Cooper tires are manufactured in places like Finlay, OH, and Texarkana, AR. This brand is not as well-known to most consumers as other manufacturers, but they have been making tires in the U.S. for decades. In fact, Cooper Tires is the fourth largest manufacturer of tires in the U.S. The company also happens to be the 11th largest manufacturer of tires in the entire world.
Cooper also has a number of sub-brands which are also manufactured in the country: Dick Cepek, Mastercraft, Mentor, Mickey Thompson, Roadmaster, Starfire
Hoosier
Hoosier is a specialized tire brand, which deals with designing and manufacturing racing tires. This brand is based in Indiana, operating from its original location. You can read more about Hoosier on their Wikipedia page.
Made in the USA
The following brands are technically not American brands, but they have tire manufacturing plants in the U.S. Some of the brands used to be American-owned, but international companies have brought them out. These brands have factories across the country as they have made the choice to manufacture their products here, instead of importing.
Bridgestone
Another major American producer is Bridgestone, which has production facilities in Morrison, TE, and Bloomington, IL. Although the company had approximately 52 production facilities worldwide during 2014, it maintains its headquarters in Akron, OH. The brand is one of the most popular in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
The most well-known sub-brand is Firestone.
Michelin
Michelin is a French manufacturing company, and one of the best tire manufacturing brands in the world. The company moved into the U.S. in the 1950s. In the year since, the company’s tire line contains bike, motorcycle, car, and commercial tire sizes, ensuring that everyone will be able to find the perfect match for them.
Michelin’s sub-brands include BFGoodrich, Riken, Tiger, Uniroyal, Kleber, and Kormoran.
Pirelli
This Italian tire company is among the oldest in the world. It was founded in the 1870s to manufacture prestige and racing, as well as an everyday car, truck, and SUV tires. The company has multiple factories in America. Pirelli also has numerous distribution centers.
Pirelli’s sub-brand is Armstrong Tires.
Continental
Continental is a Germany-based company, which chose to extend their factory lines to the U.S. in the 1980s. Continental has purchased General Tire and Rubber Co as well, as a sub-brand. The company deals with the manufacture of car, truck, light truck, and commercial tires, as well as bike and motorcycle tires. Continental is also well-known for manufacturing auto parts.
Yokohama
Yokohama is a Japanese tire manufacturing company, which opened factories in the late 1960s. While compared to other tire brands on our list, its brands may seem to be smaller, but it is actually one of the largest manufacturers of non-specialty tires in the world. They have two tire manufacturers in the US, one in Virginia and the other in Mississippi.
American tire manufacturers produce quality parts that you can use on your vehicles and we hope that you will help support these great companies. Be sure to check out these top brands the next time you need to upgrade the tires on your car, truck or commercial transport.
