Tires are made in many countries around the world and knowing where they are made and by what company can signify their quality. We use these products on most wheels including bicycles, wheelbarrows, and, of course, cars. American tires are known for being dependable and durable, but there are brands made elsewhere that are also very competitive.
Each tire has a code stamped on it as mandated by the U. S. Department of Transportation. Product distributors and stores have books that list these codes, revealing the brands and where they are made. There is also a database available to the public through the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Goodyear, Cooper and Denman are all American-based companies, although Goodyear has become international. All make their products in the U. S. The well-known Michelin company, is French, but also purchased Uniroyal-Goodrich in the late 1980's. And, Bridgestone in Japan recently purchased Firestone. All manufacturer in the U. S., mostly in the Midwest.
There are more than 450 plants for these products worldwide, producing more than one billion products each year. This industry uses more rubber than anything else. There are five steps to building a tire and different plants or areas of individual plants are used for each. Building begins with compounding and mixing, then the components are prepared and the tire is built. It is then cured and the final finish is applied.
Old worn tires have traditional been a nightmare, as people didn't know how to dispose of them. They often were and still are found on the side of roads or in abandoned lots and on farmland. But, innovative individuals and companies are coming up with a variety of uses for them. Worn out ones are being broken down and remodeled into playground covers, shoes and even dog chew toys. Creative people have developed them into garden pots and they can always be used football teams for drilling obstacles, for go-kart and motor sport guards, and for horse training obstacles.
When you replace your American tires, you can look up information on the web or hotlines in the phonebook to locate what to do with your old ones. If you have them replaced by a tire shop, they will dispose of the used ones for you.
Find out what the best american tires are for your automobile, including information on buying the best american tires.
Posted under Cars
This post was written by Christopher Song on March 5, 2011
