Are you looking into getting the best tires for your car?
Your tires are a very important part of your car, which can greatly affect your driving and your safety on the road, which is why you should only aim for getting the best.
To help you do exactly that, we are providing you with a list of the top tire companies in the world, along with their backgrounds. These companies manufacture the top tire brands in the market, some of which can be quite expensive but are available at discounted prices with tire specials.
Michelin Group
Michelin is the largest tire manufacturer in the world as of 2008, eclipsing long-standing industry leader, Bridgestone. Its brands include Michelin, BF Goodrich, Riken, Uniroyal in North America, Taurus in Hungary, Kormoran in Poland and Kleber in France.
The company was established by the Michelin brothers, Edouard and Andre, in 1888 in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where its headquarters are maintained to this day. It has operations in several countries all over the world, with more than 100,000 employees and almost 20 billion euros in assets as of 2010.
Bridgestone Corporation
Makers of Bridgestone and Firestone tires, Bridgestone Corporation is the second largest tire manufacturer in the world, and the leading one in Japan. Established in 1930, it holds headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, and operates 141 production facilities in 24 countries worldwide.
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Goodyear is the top American tire manufacturer and one of the leading tire companies in the world, manufacturing not just Goodyear tires, but also Dunlop, Kelly-Springfield and various brands in other countries.
It was founded in 1898 in Akron, Ohio by Frank Seiberling, though it was named after the inventor of vulcanized rubber, and is well known for its iconic blimp that travels all over the world.
Continental AG
This German tire manufacturer founded in 1871 owns the most tire brands in the world, including Continental Tires, Barum Tires and General Tires. Aside from making tires, it also manufactures brake systems and automotive safety and communications systems, making it one of the leading automotive suppliers in the world.
Pirelli
Based in Milan, Italy, Pirelli has operations in over 160 countries and is best known for its racing tires. In fact, Pirelli was responsible for inventing the wide radial tire used by many racing and sports cars todays.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries
Sumitomo is also one of the top tire companies from Japan, with its history dating back to 1909. It holds major shares of Dunlop Tires in both USA and Japan, as well as in the United Kingdom, where it entered a joint venture with Goodyear, and also manufactures Sumitomo and Falken Tires.
Hankook Tire Group
The only top tire company based out of South Korea, Hankook dates back to 1941 and is best known for its radial tires, which it supplies to leading car manufacturers such as Ford, Toyota and Hyundai.