Tires are among the most critical components of a vehicle, and as vehicle needs evolve, so do tire technologies. While top tire brands continuously compete in performance and innovation, some buyers are guided by values beyond performance—such as supporting their local economy.
Buying from local tire businesses helps develop the industry and provides jobs to emerging talent. However, identifying truly American-made tires has become increasingly difficult.
Once, purchasing American-branded tires meant you were directly supporting domestic manufacturing. Today, many brands—despite their American roots—have outsourced production globally. While this move streamlines operations and enhances reach, it has left buyers struggling to determine which tires are actually made in the United States. If supporting American manufacturing is important to you, here’s how to identify locally produced tires.
How To Know If Your Tire Was Made In America
Not all non-American-owned tire brands are manufactured abroad—many produce tires in the U.S. To find out where your tire was made, locate the letters “DOT” on the sidewall, followed by two characters (letters or a letter-number mix). Then follow these steps:
-
Visit the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) NHTSA Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing (vPIC) website.
-
Under “MID: Manufacturer Information Database,” click on vPIC MID.
-
Next to “Equipment Plants,” check the relevant boxes.
-
Select “Tires” from the Equipment Type dropdown.
-
Input the DOT code from your tire—e.g., “CH” for Pirelli’s Hanford, California plant.
-
Click Search to view the manufacturing location, including country, state, and city.
If you want a shortcut, here’s a breakdown of tire brands and the known U.S. manufacturing codes.
Goodyear
Founded in Akron, Ohio, in 1898, Goodyear remains headquartered there but has expanded with operations in Belgium and Shanghai. It now runs more than 55 manufacturing facilities globally, so not all Goodyear tires are American-made.
Still, Goodyear operates multiple plants across the U.S., including Ohio (MB), Oklahoma (M6), Virginia (MC), Alabama (MD), North Carolina (MM, PJ), Kansas (MJ), Illinois (MN), Texas (MP, PL), and Tennessee (MK). The company also produces brands like Douglas (sold at Walmart) and Kelly Tires. Over the years, Goodyear has introduced innovations like tire propellers and self-regenerating EV tires, though not all were successful—such as the experimental glowing tires.
Cooper
Cooper, established in Findlay, Ohio, in 1917, joined forces with Goodyear in 2021. It maintains domestic manufacturing in Findlay (UP), Georgia (3D), Mississippi (U9), and Arkansas (UT). Cooper tires offer affordability and strong performance, often competing with premium brands like Bridgestone.
The brand has seen recalls recently, particularly for off-road models, but its subsidiaries—Mastercraft, Mickey Thompson, and Roadmaster—are still popular. Mastercraft prides itself on its U.S. manufacturing, while many Mickey Thompson tires (like the Street Radial Tire P275/60R15) are also made domestically.
TreadWright
Based in Houston, Texas, TreadWright is the only brand on this list that’s fully manufactured in the United States. Operating for over 40 years, it leads the non-commercial remolded tire market in the region. The company has won awards for its eco-conscious approach, such as the 2016 Green Company of the Year.
Using Mold Cure tech, TreadWright remolds quality tires from brands like Toyo and Bridgestone. The process is efficient—cutting oil use by two-thirds and relying on mostly recycled content—while ensuring performance up to 50,000 miles. TreadWright designs its tires to handle all terrains, mud, and rough road conditions.
Foreign Owned Tire Brands That Are Made In The United States
Foreign brands also manufacture tires in the U.S. using local talent. If you prefer not to manually check DOT codes, here are some foreign-owned companies with confirmed U.S. operations.
German brand Continental manufactures in Illinois (6B, A3), Ohio (A9), Kentucky (AD), North Carolina (AC), and South Carolina (VY). Italian brand Pirelli operates in Hanford, California (CH), Madison, Tennessee (CK), and Rome, Georgia (JR), though they tend to be pricey.
Japanese company Yokohama produces tires in Salem, Virginia (CC), while French tire giant Michelin runs plants in South Carolina (4M, M3, B6, B9) and Alabama (B7). Firestone, a more affordable option, has a historic plant in Des Moines, Iowa.
You can also consult the AFL-CIO’s Union-Made in America Tires list, which includes foreign-owned brands such as Dunlop, Goodrich, Titan Tire, and Kelly Springfield.
Want to support American jobs and communities with your next tire purchase? Use the DOT code lookup method to check where your tires are made and choose brands that align with your values. Visit our website for more consumer tips and product insights.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on publicly available data and manufacturer disclosures as of the time of writing. Manufacturing locations and DOT codes may change over time. Readers are encouraged to verify details with official sources or directly with tire manufacturers before making a purchase decision.
