Not all Goodyear tires made in USA. The company also has plants in Canada, Germany, France, England, Poland, Luxembourg, Turkey, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, South Africa, etc. Overall, there are 48 facilities operating in 21 countries worldwide, manufacturing high-performance passenger tires, winter tires, commercial tires, etc. Some of the branches cover tire retreading and repair, and manufacture specialized tires like OTR (off-the-road), agricultural, aircraft, and more.
So, even though the company is of the American origin, Goodyear tires made in the USA are only a part of the production.
How to Identify Goodyear Tires Made in USA
You can learn about the place where a tire was manufactured from the Tire Identification Number (TIN) written on a tire sidewall. Two letters or a combination of a letter and a number right after DOT indicates a certain company and its facility that manufactured the tire. For example, DOT PJ will mean this is a Goodyear tire made in the USA, in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Plant Codes of Goodyear Tires Made in USA
- MB – Akron, Ohio;
- MC – Danville, Virginia;
- MD – Gadsden, Alabama;
- M6 – Lawton, Oklahoma;
- MJ – Topeka, Kansas;
- PJ – Fayetteville, North Carolina;
- DA – Tonawanda, New York.
There are also US-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. facilities specializing in research and development, providing tire proving grounds, innovation centers, etc.
Types of Goodyear Tires Made in USA
The US-based facilities produce:
- Aircraft tires.
- Commercial tires.
- OTR tires.
- Consumer tires.
- Passenger car tires.
- Motorcycle tires.
- Truck tires.
The Difference Between Goodyear Tires Made in USA and Other Countries
Even though the company has manufacturing facilities all around the world, the technologies, materials, and chemicals come from the USA. So, even if you buy a tire that was manufactured in China, Brazil, or Germany, you will still buy an American tire. The company is in full control of the manufacture facilities’ work and the quality of the raw materials provided, so there’s no difference except from the manufacturer code.
Goodyear Manufacturing Facilities Outside the USA
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company works internationally for a long time – the first abroad-based facility was built in Ontario, Canada, in 1910. The plant is still operating, specializing in best passenger car tires, along with another Canadian facility in Alberta that manufactures consumer tires. However, the brand is still holding the “Made in U.S.A.” label, which is important for the economic support of the country.
It was also one of the first tire companies to enter Chinese market in 1994. Keeping one of the leading places nowadays, the company has facilities in 11 countries of Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, which is their largest sector outside the North America.
Things to Know About American Tire Manufactures
Although most of the world’s leading companies has facilities in the US, there are only two truly American tire manufacturers left – Goodyear and Cooper. Other have merged or were sold to foreign tire giants like Michelin (France) and Bridgestone (Japan).
The US tire companies used to take 4 out of 5 places in TOP-5 ratings at least until 1970. Nowadays Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. stands as the only US tire manufacturer among the world’s top tire manufacturers.
