Are Your Tires Really American-Made? Here’s How to Find Out
When buying new tires, many people prefer American-made products, believing they offer higher quality and better craftsmanship. But did you know that just because a tire is made in the U.S. doesn’t mean the company behind it is American?
Many global tire manufacturers, including Michelin, Bridgestone, and Yokohama, have production plants in the U.S. In contrast, some brands that started as American companies are now owned by foreign corporations. For example, BFGoodrich is now part of Michelin (a French company), while Firestone is owned by Bridgestone (a Japanese company). Today, Goodyear and Cooper are the two remaining American-owned tire brands.
How to Check Where Your Tires Were Made
If you’re curious about where your tires were manufactured, take a look at the sidewall. You’ll find a DOT code that tells you exactly where they came from.
Look for the Tire Identification Number (TIN) right after the letters “DOT.” The first two characters (letters and/or numbers) represent the factory code, which identifies the manufacturing location.
For example:
- M6 = Goodyear factory in Lawton, Oklahoma
- MB = Goodyear factory in Akron, Ohio
Want to find out where your tires were made? Check out a full list of DOT codes here.