tires.. anyone know American made?

[partndn]

I need to buy at least 2 tires soon for my '97 4 x 4 F-150.
P265 70R17
I would like to support someone who makes their tires here in the USA. My guy who does most of my work thinks Cooper might be the only one. I have used Cooper several times, and been happy. He says they're a bit "harder" than some of the other tires, but with an F-150, a smooth ride is not really on top of my important feature list. I just want 'em to have good tread for as many miles as possible.

I'm not savvy enough with searching the web for companies and figuring out the layers of who owns who. Sometimes what we think is an American company really supports off shore labor as well as materials. I worked at an electronics manufacturing company for 17 years who, on the surface, looks like a nice little locally owned business that employs about 100 people. However, they grew from $15 million in annual sales to $75 million in annual sales without adding any employees.. because they started subbing out everything to Thailand, Singapore, and China. My point is it's hard to tell if stuff is really supported here on our home grounds.

I thought some of you might have work experience or other knowledge to help me know if I'm buying American made.
Any help?

[Explorer]

Michelin makes tires here in the US, mostly in the southeastern states. They are fairly expensive, but give high mileage. Cooper is a very good truck tire for heavier loads.

[partndn]

Thanks Explorer.. I don't think I can afford Michelins. My mechanic also tells me that Michelin does make tires in Asia, and are offered at the Walmart or BJ's wholesale club kinds of places. Not saying they're bad tires, they're probably still well made, but that's the kind of tricky thing I mean about it being hard to know what you're truly getting. There are markings on the Asian made Michelins that can identify. Unfortunately, a lot of people buy Michelins at Walmart and think they're getting the exact same tire for so much less money.

[mistletoad]

This link shows how you can tell which codes to look for when shopping for US made tires:

http://www.boilermakers.org/resource...ion_made_tires

And this one lets you look up tires and some other parts from anywhere:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/manufacture/index.html

[WildernesFamily]

I think Goodyear and Cooper may still be American made.

This blog has a good article about USA made tires, as well as how to identify where the tires are made from the markings on the tires:

http://madeintheusabyamericans.blogs...1_archive.html

The article is 2 years old, so you'll have to fact check everything to see if it's still applicable today.

[Danaus29]

The Wranglers on my van (purchased this spring) say Made in USA on them.

[salmonslayer]

I have been running Deans (Cooper) on one of my 3/4 ton pickups for a couple years now and really like them. I needed an agressive tread but didnt want the super agressive mudders with all the noise all the young guys like. I believe they are in fact American made and they are much less expensive than BFG or Michelins.

[DaleK]

A lot of my neighbours and HS friends work at the Goodyear plant in Napanee, Ontario.

[plowjockey]

Originally Posted by partndn

Thanks Explorer.. I don't think I can afford Michelins. My mechanic also tells me that Michelin does make tires in Asia, and are offered at the Walmart or BJ's wholesale club kinds of places. Not saying they're bad tires, they're probably still well made, but that's the kind of tricky thing I mean about it being hard to know what you're truly getting. There are markings on the Asian made Michelins that can identify. Unfortunately, a lot of people buy Michelins at Walmart and think they're getting the exact same tire for so much less money.

Like nearly everything else, if you want American made, you are going to have to spend more money.

B. F. Goodrich is owned by Michelin, but there are many plants in the U.S. They are expensve tires also.

[partndn]

I just saw an ad for Tire Kingdom here. Early morning hours, buy two, get two free... ? They carry Coopers. I'll have to check that out. Maybe I'll get my four afterall.
Thanks for the link to the codes. I knew there was a way to tell, but didn't have that detailed list.

[BellsBunnies]

Toyo tires are made in cartersville,Ga. Hope that helps.

[arabian knight]

Don't forget that Michelin also bought out Uniroyal, so those plants that are still making tires like in Ardmore, OK. which were Uniroyal, are now Michelin.
And many sub categories, like tires sold at K Mart etc. Are Made by regular tire manufactures.

[Lazy J]

One of my tenants works at the B.F. Goodrich plant in Woodburn, Indiana. I know they produce several brands of tires there.

[Sawmill Jim]

Kelley owned by Goodyear Goodyear Tire and Rubber Union City Tn. Know lots of people there

[Beeman]

Michelin, and once you buy a set you'll quit buying anything else. They are expensive but if you check mileage you'll be amazed. It's easy to call the company and find what tires are made here in the US. Hercules makes most of theirs here as well as the others listed.

[Cabin Fever]

I've had excellent results with American-made Goodyear Wrangler tires on my trucks. My 1999 K1500 Chevy has 230,000 miles on it and I just bought the third set of Wranglers about 15,000 miles ago.

[foxtrapper]

The list of US tire companies is large. Cooper, Goodyear, Firestone, Bridgestone, Michelin, Uniroyal, etc.

But each of those companies also has overseas plants. From carcass manufacturing plants to rubber product manufacturing plants to other vehicle tire plants, etc.

So if you are seeking a company that can guarantee you that their tire is made only in the US, and never has any parts or involvement with anything overseas, it cannot be done. No company meets that requirement.

If you want to greatly increase the likelyhood that the individual tire you buy comes from a US plant, buy locally, and inspect the tire before having it mounted. Stick with a name like Cooper, and not Dunlop or Falken or Pirelli or Nitto, etc.

[partndn]

Foxtrapper, for exactly the reasons you state, I knew it would be difficult to pin down a "guaranteed" simple made in USA blanket statement. You're right. Many of them have a lot of off shore connections.

I'm still leaning towards Cooper.

Wanted to let y'all know what I found out about the Tire Kindom sale I saw...
Called them up and yep, buy two, get two free.. on selected tires.
"Do you have Cooper 265 70R17's?"
"Yes we do, have 12 on the shelf and they are eligible for the sale program."
"So how much?"
"Well, altogether that would run you about .. click click, punch punch.. 794 dollars."
On a buy two get two deal? Good grief! "Break it down for me please."
$160 per tire. that's not out of whack much.
$3 per tire disposal fee
$16.99 per tire mounting
$29.99 PER tire 1 year road warranty deal (something they sell you that's fluff, but part of the program)
$115 alignment - I need alignment, but my guy charges around $65
$xx.xx NC NEW TIRE TAX yep, love NC and thousands of added fees like that on stuff. I forget how much it is, but it's significant

My guy that does my work will mount tires I bring in for 10 bucks apiece.

Oh well, so there you go. I knew it would not be as simple as two free ones, but dang.

I'm still shopping.

[Explorer]

Originally Posted by Beeman

Michelin, and once you buy a set you'll quit buying anything else. They are expensive but if you check mileage you'll be amazed. It's easy to call the company and find what tires are made here in the US. Hercules makes most of theirs here as well as the others listed.

Mine that I bought this morning have "Made in the USA" molded into the sidewall.

[Wis Bang 2]

Cooper has a 2nd level brand 'Mastercraft' That is what was on my Silverado when I bought it used. I priced them [17"] online at $108.00 ea.

DOT UP = Cooper Tire, Findlay, OH.