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4X4Dodger's avatar
4X4Dodger
Explorer II
May 28, 2016

The China-Bomb debate Put to rest

Almost every week or more a thread appears with someone with a tire question. And just as predictably the China Bomb experts come out and start decrying all Chinese made tires.

Then usually they recommend MAXXIS tires. Maxxis are held in almost religious high regard by some here and they claim are NOT made in China.

This is usually followed by several others who also recommend Maxxis.

I personally have no doubt that Maxxis are good tires. As are Goodyears, Kumho, Cooper and many other brands. But I don't beleive they are SIGNIFICANTLY better than any other.

I have tried in many of these posts to bring some perspective on Chinese manufacturing which I know quite well from my professional life. I also try to bring some facts to bear on the subject.

So in an effort to arm myself with more facts I was doing some research on Tire Manufacturing in China and came across a very interesting article in a Tire Industry Publication Called Tire Review.

The chart below appears in that article clearly showing that MAXXIS is part of one of the largest tire manufacturers in China. Note also the inclusion of several western tire manufacturers who also manufacture in China.

From Tire Review Magazine 10/1/2015 David Shaw



Now for a little context: The article I cite was written about the tire Industry IN China ie it centered mostly on the Chinese Domestic market. It did cover the issue of exports also. But it's main focus was the Domestic Chinese market.

The article goes on to explain that there is currently a shakedown taking place in the Chinese Tire industry with some new US tariffs being applied (due to alleged Dumping) and new regulations on the industry by the Government of China. Here is a quote:

"U.S. duties aside, probably the biggest factor in the Chinese tire industry crisis is the slew of new legislation being issued by the Chinese government and managed through the CRIA. China is set to become the most-heavily regulated country in the world for tire manufacturing."

and...According to the article China dominates the GLOBAL market for tires.

I hope this takes a few steps towards normalizing the debate on this site about China Bombs and how great Maxxis are.

The FACT is that some great tires are made by many companies in China, by Chinese, American and European companies.

So please lets just stop the China Bomb rants and stop encouraging folks who have tire questions to replace all the tires that came on their new trailers. It's a waste of money and there is no evidence of any kind that it is either necessary or desirable.

As you can see those revered MAXXIS are owned by a Chinese firm and are manufactured in China as well as some other Asian countries.

234 Replies

  • dclark1946 wrote:
    Michelin LT tires. The salesman indicated that option was now available due to tire quality issues with import ST tires.

    Perhaps the China tire industry has made quality improvements in the last year or so but in my mind the jury is still out on that and as long as I can purchase LT tires for my trailer that is what I will use. I have never had an LT tire fail and I have had several tire explosions with Chinese manufactured tires.


    I've read here several times about LT tires vs. ST. I would like to make the switch myself, however it seems not everyone's TT is able to have LTs? What would prevent me from taking the wheels to a tire shop and getting them switched to LT? Is it only certain size wheels that can have LT tires? Maybe I'm misunderstanding (definitely not a tire expert here), but what factors would allow me (or prevent me) from upgrading (other than $ of course).

    My TT is single axle, so only 2 tires plus spare. This particularly causes concern as a blowout on a single axle would be pretty ugly. So I've been pretty meticulous about tire pressure, checking at stops etc. Still, not mind not quite at ease.
  • dclark1946 wrote:
    Sorry to disappoint but you have not put the China Tire Bomb to rest.

    There is plenty of real world data out there that many of us have experienced that says otherwise. If you are really an expert in import tires you should know that it is not the country that makes the difference but the consistent quality of materials and manufacturing processes that determines tire quality....



    Perhaps you care to post your "real world data"?

    The truth of the matter is you have no "real world data" to support your position.

    The truth is pretty much EVERY car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, tractor or any other mode of transportation that uses pneumatic tires HAS tires that have been MADE IN CHINA.

    It has been this way for at a min of 10-20 yrs..

    If it were true that all China tires are badly made then I would suspect that there would be a considerable amount of vehicles on the side of the road with blow outs..

    The truth is there isn't.

    Blowouts happen, it has been that way since the Model T and it isn't going to change with some majic potion of a mythical better manufacturer..
  • Sorry to disappoint but you have not put the China Tire Bomb to rest.

    There is plenty of real world data out there that many of us have experienced that says otherwise. If you are really an expert in import tires you should know that it is not the country that makes the difference but the consistent quality of materials and manufacturing processes that determines tire quality.

    It was just a few years ago that a Chinese tire manufacturer was caught leaving out critical materials on passenger tires and people were getting injured or killed. I know China is capable of high quality products but unless you are careful on who your supplier is you may not get consistent quality.

    I have noticed that the tires coming on new trailers are never any brand that you will recognize and if you check later it is some other unheard of brand.

    When I was an RV show a few months ago I was looking at a new Airstream trailer and noticed that it had Michelin LT tires. The salesman indicated that option was now available due to tire quality issues with import ST tires.

    Perhaps the China tire industry has made quality improvements in the last year or so but in my mind the jury is still out on that and as long as I can purchase LT tires for my trailer that is what I will use. I have never had an LT tire fail and I have had several tire explosions with Chinese manufactured tires.
  • Continued: Here are some quotes taken from some very reliable tire industry folks regarding tire manufacturing in China.

    These quotes echo exactly what I have said on this forum many times in response to the misinformation, myth and scare tactics of those who write so often here about tires made in China.

    “The Chinese tires coming into this country for the most part have been safe tires,” said Roy Littlefield, executive vice president of the Tire Industry Association. “All the tires have to be tested before they come here," he said, referring to U.S. government testing and standards.
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    “We have same global quality standards around the world,” said Keith Price, a spokesman for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. “The standards are the same whether we make it in Oklahoma, Germany, Brazil, Indonesia, or China, the product standards are the same.”

    Jim Smith, editor of Tire Review, a trade magazine, said he has seen this for himself.

    “Michelin is very persnickety,” he said. “At the Chinese plant you couldn’t tell if you were in China or in South Carolina. The plant has the same controls, the same machines and the same uniforms on the workers.”