When buying new tires, there are many things to consider, but quality is often number one. For many people, the quality of American-made tires is important.
If you want to buy tires made in the USA, most global tire makers have manufacturing facilities in America. But if you are looking for American companies, there are only two genuine US brands: Goodyear and Cooper. Also, many major foreign tire companies have plants in the US, including Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, Bridgestone, and Yokohama. Read on to find out how to check whether your tires were made in an American manufacturing plant.
How to identify tire brands made in the USA
When working out where a tire was made, there’s one place to look – the sidewall. Here you’ll find the DOT code, which tells you everything you need to know about the tire! Including where it was made.
Tires have DOT codes that tell you many things, from the type of tire to when it was made. They also include a plant code which tells you exactly where they were made.
You will see the Tire Identification Number (TIN) after the letters “DOT.” The first pair of letters and/or numbers in DOT codes are the plant codes. You can then check the code with the help of this list.
You’ll also find that some tires have “Made in USA” (or another country) molded onto their sidewall.
NOTE: You’ll find that plant codes don’t use the following letters: G, I, O, Q, S, and Z because they look very much like the numbers 0, 1, 5, and 2. The TIN is usually in compact bold letters/numbers, so authorities removed these letters to avoid confusion.
NOTE: According to the US Government Publishing Office, new three-character plant codes will become mandatory from April 13, 2025. Until then, manufacturers can use both two- and three-character codes.
Tires made in the USA: All-American tire brands
The tire industry, like many others, changes a lot, so companies that were founded in the USA may not be American-owned now. This means that there are very few all-American brands anymore.
For example, BFGoodrich, originally an American company, was bought by the French manufacturer Michelin, and Firestone is now part of the Japanese brand Bridgestone. Although such brands can still be called American, they belong to foreign companies.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is an American company that was founded by Frank Springfield in 1898. The company specializes in passenger, commercial, light truck, SUV, racing, and other types of tires made in both the USA and overseas. The company was named after Charles Goodyear – the inventor of vulcanized rubber, a revolutionary tire-making technology.
Goodyear runs 48 facilities in 21 countries worldwide, including 17 USA-based manufacturing facilities. The company also owns about 1,100 tire and auto service spots, in addition to tire retreading centers and plants. Goodyear earned the title of the world’s largest tire company twice – in 1916 and 1999. According to its official website, it brings in over $15 billion in sales annually. This is not counting used Goodyear tires.
Goodyear USA Tire Plant Codes
- M6 – Lawton, Oklahoma
- MB – Akron, Ohio
- MC – Danville, Virginia
- MD – Gadsden, Alabama
- MJ – Topeka, Kansas
- MK – Union City, Tennessee
- MM, PJ – Fayetteville, North Carolina
- MN – Freeport, Illinois
- MP, PL – Tyler, Texas
Goodyear Subsidiaries
The main sub-brands of the Goodyear are:
- The Kelly Springfield Tire Company – American-made tires
- Dunlop Tyres – tires for North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe
- Douglas Tires – tires for Walmart stores in the USA
- Debica – tires for Poland
- Fulda – tires for Germany
- Sava – tires for Slovenia
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire and Rubber Company started in 1914 in Akron, Ohio. The company was formed by a merger between the M and M Manufacturing Company and The Giant Tire & Rubber Company. The company got its current name in 1946, but as of 2021, it was purchased by Goodyear, making it a subsidiary of the tire giant.
Cooper specializes in automobile, light and medium truck, motorcycle, and racing tires. They have over 60 facilities worldwide. They have plants and technical centers on three continents, with their main centers in Findlay (Ohio, for their American-made tires), Melksham (England), and Kunshan (China).
Cooper USA Tire Plant Codes
- 3D – Albany, Georgia
- U9 – Tupelo, Mississippi
- UP – Findlay, Ohio
- UT – Texarkana, Arkansas
Cooper Subsidiaries
The company’s sub-brands include:
- Dick Cepek – off-road tires for trucks, SUVs, 4x4s, etc
- Mastercraft Tires – all types of tires from passenger to light truck
- Mentor Tires – all-season, winter, and summer tires for passenger vehicles
- Mickey Thompson tires – racing and high-performance tires for street/off-road use
- Roadmaster Tires – commercial tires
- Starfire Tires – budget-oriented quality tires
- Avon Tyres – all types of tires (for Europe)
- Dean – commercial truck tires (Asia)
Top-5 foreign companies with USA manufacturing plant
While these companies might not be American-owned, they have plants in the USA, providing American jobs and American quality.
The largest foreign tire manufacturers offering American-made tires are:
- Michelin
- Pirelli
- Continental
- Bridgestone
- Yokohama
Michelin
Michelin (Michelin North America in USA) is a French tire manufacturer that started its USA activity in 1950. They make tires for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, heavy-duty trucks, farm equipment, and planes. The company has facilities in the following states:
- Alabama
- Indiana
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
The tire giant owns 67 plants in 16 countries, including 19 facilities in 16 North American locations.
Michelin also owns the following brands:
- BFGoodrich
- Kleber
- Kormoran
- Riken
- Tigar
- Uniroyal
Michelin USA Plant Codes
To find Michelin tires made in the USA, search for these plant codes:
- 4M, M3 – Greenville, South Carolina
- B6 – Spartanburg, South Carolina
- B7 – Dothan, Alabama
- B9 – Lexington, South Carolina
To find plant codes of Michelin’s subsidiaries, you can use this list.
Pirelli
The Italian-founded tire manufacturer, Pirelli, is now a subsidiary of ChemChina – a Chinese enterprise. They manufacture passenger, used SUV tires, light-truck, classic car, prestige car, and racing tires. The New York Stock Exchange first listed Pirelli in 1929 making it the first Italian commercial company in the USA. More intense activity in America started when Pirelli bought Armstrong Tire in 1988.
Overall, Pirelli owns 19 plants in 13 countries and a network of about 10,000 distribution centers in 160 countries. At the moment, used Pirelli tires are an excellent choice for cars.
Pirelli USA Plant Codes
To find tires made in the USA by Pirelli and Armstrong Tire Corporation, look out for the following plant codes:
- CH – Hanford, California
- CK – Madison, Tennessee
- JR – Rome, Georgia
Continental
Continental AG is a Germany-based tire and auto parts manufacturer, making tires for automobiles (passenger, truck, commercial, etc.), motorbikes, and bicycles. Its USA business expansion started when Continental bought General Tire and Rubber Company in 1987.
They manufacture tires in the following states:
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Texas
Continental USA Plant Codes
To identify tires made in the USA by Continental and General Tire, search for these factories:
- 6B, A3 – Vernon, Illinois
- A9 – Bryan, Ohio
- AC – Charlotte, North Carolina
- AD – Mayfield, Kentucky
- VY – South Sumter, South Carolina
Bridgestone
Bridgestone Corporation is a major Japanese tire manufacturer. The company makes passenger, off-road, commercial, truck, motorbike, bicycle, and other types of tires. Their presence in the USA was established in 1967 when the Bridgestone Tire Company of America was started, allowing them to track and improve sales in America.
In the early 1980s, the corporation purchased its first North American factory, the Firestone plant in Tennessee. Later, in 1988, they bought the whole company, increasing their manufacturing facilities in the USA dramatically.
Bridgestone USA Plant Codes
You’ll find USA-made Bridgestone and Firestone tires made at the following plants:
- 0B, W2, Y2 – Wilson, North Carolina
- 1C, HY – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- 2C, 4D, 5D – Morrison, Tennessee
- 2M, 3M – Bloomington, Illinois
- 7X, 8X, 9X – Graniteville, South Carolina
- 8B, VE, YE, YU – Des Moines, Iowa
- D2, E3, W1, Y7 – Lavergne, Tennessee
- YD – Decatur, Illinois
Yokohama
Yokohama Rubber Company is a Japan-based tire manufacturer. They produce passenger, light-truck, high-performance, commercial, and off-road tires. The company got its current name during its USA business expansion in 1969.
Yokohama US Plant Codes
When searching for tires made in the USA at the Yokohama plant, look for this code:
- CC – Salem, Virginia
Differences between American-made and foreign-made tires
Most international tire brands will have consistent manufacturing processes, meaning there is usually no difference between domestic and foreign facilities of a single brand. Since tire brands control their production in all countries, the results are the same. Major companies will use the same materials, manufacturing technology, and equipment in all their facilities. Specialists conduct the same tests to the same standards.
However, every company has its own techniques for achieving certain tire features. So, if you compare American-made tires from different manufacturers, you will definitely find differences.
Frequently asked questions
What brand of tires are made in USA?
If you’re on the hunt for tires proudly made in the USA, you’re in luck. Several brands boast manufacturing plants here, including American brands Goodyear and Cooper Tires. As well as American-owned companies, many international companies make their tires in the USA. These include Michelin, Pirelli, and Bridgestone. To check where your tires were made, check the plant code on the sidewall.
Are all Cooper tires made in USA?
No, not all Cooper Tires are made in the USA, but the company has a strong reputation for quality, and a good portion of its tires are manufactured in the USA. They have plants in Georgia, Ohio, Mississippi, and Arkansas. However, it’s important to note that not all Cooper tires are made in the USA. Like many major companies, Cooper has diversified its manufacturing bases and now produces tires in other countries. So, while you can find many Cooper tires that are proudly American-made, the brand does produce some tires outside the United States. You can check the DOT code on a tire’s sidewall to ensure you’re getting American tires.
Are Goodyear tires still made in the USA?
Yes, Goodyear tires are indeed still made in the USA! Goodyear, one of the oldest and most renowned tire brands globally, continues to manufacture many of its high-quality tires on American soil. With plants in nine states, including Alabama, North Carolina, and Ohio, Goodyear is committed to maintaining a significant manufacturing presence in the U.S. However, they do also make tires overseas, so it’s a good idea to check the plant code on the sidewall to make sure you’re getting the best tires made in USA.
Is Bridgestone made in USA?
Yes, many Bridgestone tires are made in the USA. Bridgestone, a global leader in the tire industry, has eight manufacturing facilities across the country. While it’s a Japanese headquartered company, Bridgestone has made a significant investment in American manufacturing to serve the U.S. market effectively.
What light truck tires are made in the USA?
Many light truck tires are made in the USA. You have some solid options that combine homegrown manufacturing with top-notch performance. Brands like Goodyear, Michelin, and Cooper Tire take the lead in producing high-quality light truck tires right here in the United States.