Where are BFGoodrich tires produced?
3 Answers
BFGoodrich is a brand under Michelin Tires, currently with factories in both Shanghai and Shenyang. Below is relevant information about the BFGoodrich brand: Introduction: BFGoodrich is the only globally marketed brand under the Michelin Group besides the Michelin brand itself, officially entering the Chinese market in 2004. Products: The products feature strong traction, excellent grip, flexible steering control, and stylish tread designs, positioned as tires suitable for moderate off-road use. Honors: The brand has won the Baja 1000 championship 22 times, including 20 consecutive victories. It has also achieved 250 victories in the U.S. SCORE off-road championship and won the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup 11 times.
I just checked into the background of BFGoodrich, and this brand is actually Michelin's own subsidiary. Its factories are spread across the globe: the old plants in Alabama and Indiana, USA, specialize in manufacturing off-road tires; the base in Clermont-Ferrand, France, focuses on technical R&D; the Cuautitlán factory in Mexico supplies the North American market exclusively; and the South Carolina plant also produces race-grade tires. I heard that the Brazilian factory has now started making truck tires. When buying, you should check the sidewall code—the ending letters 'US' indicate made in the USA, while 'FR' stands for French-made. Although they come from different origins, Michelin's quality control standards remain consistent.
During my time in auto parts, I researched BFGoodrich. After becoming part of Michelin, it primarily relies on North American production lines. Its largest manufacturing base is in South Carolina, USA, specializing in the KO series all-terrain tires. The French factory excels in producing competition tires, like those championship-winning tires for the Dakar Rally. Now the Mexican plant also shares some production tasks. Interestingly, the rubber compound formulas are slightly adjusted for different production locations - the French version emphasizes wet performance, while the US version focuses on tear resistance. When purchasing, checking the DOT code is the most reliable method.
