Bridgestone Corporation is a Japanese multinational company that specializes in the manufacturing of rubber and polymer products, mainly tires. The company was founded in 1931 and has since grown into one of the world's largest tire manufacturers, with operations in over 150 countries.

The journey of this corporation began in 1930, when Nihon Tabi Company, the predecessor of Bridgestone, started to produce the first tires. After research and development, Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. was established in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, one year later. Since then, Bridgestone has quickly occupied the Japanese market, with sales exceeding 10 billion yen in 1951, expanded overseas in 1965 with a plant in Malaysia, and moved to the US in 1967.

Bridgestone is well-known for its high-quality tires that are designed to provide superior performance and safety for every category of vehicle. They tailored their products to suit their customers, diverse as they may be, and excelled in every tire they worked on. It is estimated that the company distributed more than 25 million tires each year, sharing as much as 20 percent of the market share.

Overall, Bridgestone's tires are highly regarded for their quality, performance, and safety, and the company continues to innovate to meet the changing needs of drivers and industries around the world.

Detailed information:

Headquarters: Chuo City, Tokyo, Japan

Founded: 1931

Website: www.bridgestone.com

Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. is a Japanese tire manufacturer that produces and sells a wide range of tires under several different brands, including the Sumitomo brand. The company was founded in 1909 in Kobe, Japan, and has since become a globally recognized brand.

Sumitomo tires are known for their high quality, excellent performance, and durability. The company invests heavily in research and development to ensure that its tires incorporate the latest technologies and materials to provide superior handling, stability, and traction in various weather conditions and on different road surfaces.

In addition to the Sumitomo brand, the company also produces tires under other well-known brands, including Falken and Dunlop. Sumitomo Rubber Industries has a global presence, with manufacturing facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and other countries around the world.

Sumitomo Rubber Industries is committed to sustainability and has implemented various initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, such as developing eco-friendly tires and implementing sustainable manufacturing practices. Overall, Sumitomo tires are a reliable and popular choice for customers who value high-quality, long-lasting tires that provide excellent performance in a variety of conditions.

Detailed information:

Headquarters: Kobe, Hyogo

Founded: 1909

Website: www.sumitomotire.com

Falken is a brand of high-performance tires owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, the previous tire brand. Founded in 1983 and expanding to North America in 1985, Falken positioned itself as a high-performance tire brand.

Falken was born as a high-performance brand of Ohtsu Tire Co., with its first product being the Falken FX-06C. Two years later, the company introduced its tire to the US market, and after three years, to Europe. In the following years, the Falken team introduced a number of high-performing tires and competed in race competitions like the N1 6h Endurance Sugu 400km and the Rallye de Portugal. After receiving global awareness, Falken opens its US headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Since then, Falken has developed nearly 50 different types of tires that fit all categories of cars on the market.

Falken Tires is known as a leader in high-performance tire technology for cars, trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. Thanks to award-winning Advanced 4D Nano Technology, Falken developed a rubber compound that achieves a complex balance of high-performance capability, year-round traction, and long tread life. Falken's most popular vehicle fitments are luxury vehicles, like the Audi S5, BMW M4, or Ford Mustang GT.

Detailed information:

Headquarters (global): Kobe, Japan

Headquarters (US): Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Founded: 1983

Website: www.falken.tires

This is another top-tier tire brand, Yokohama. Established in 1917, Yokohama is the first Japanese tire manufacturer to be granted ISO9001 certification in recognition of quality assurance.

With more than a century of development and expansion, Yokohama appears to be one of the world's leading corporations in the tire industry. The company owns two manufacturing plants and a research and development center right here in America. Together, the company shares a 4% market share and is ranked 8 globally (according to nikkei.com).

Even though Yokohama is an enormous company in the automobile industry, they are committed to making the world greener. They are 100% committed to eco-friendly products and manufacturing plants and will plant 1.3 million trees at production and sales locations globally by 2020. By the time of this writing, 89.9% of Yokohama products meet the standards for minimizing environmental impact.

Yokohama tires are known for their cost-effectiveness. Their designs have many positive reviews and get a rating of 4 out of 5 stars at Tire Rack. Though it is sometimes outperformed by more premium tires, Yokohama is still the number one choice for those who want a cheaper price without having to compromise much on quality.

Detailed information:

Headquarters: Minato City, Tokyo

Founded: 1917

Website: www.yokohamatire.com

Toyo Tire is a global tire manufacturer based in Japan. The company was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Osaka, Japan. Toyo Tire produces a wide range of tires for passenger cars, light trucks, commercial trucks, and off-road vehicles.

The company has a solid commitment to research and development, with a number of research centers around the world dedicated to advancing tire technology. Toyo Tire's innovative products include tires with advanced tread designs, unique compounds, and other features that enhance performance, durability, and safety.

Toyo Tire has a global presence, with manufacturing facilities and sales offices located in North America, Asia, Europe, and other regions. The company's products are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Detailed information:
Headquarters: Itami City, Hyogo
Founded: Aug 1945
Website: www.toyotires-global.com

(Note: Toyo has multiple websites for different regions)

Founded in 1949, Nitto Tire is a company of passion and innovation. Nitto's motto is to listen to car enthusiasts and create products that they want.

Nitto Tire was founded in Japan in 1949 and gained popularity for producing affordable, high-quality tires in the aftermath of WWII. Despite offering mass-produced tires at lower prices, Nitto never compromised on the quality of its rubber and tire production. Toyo acquired Nitto in 1979, and it has since become a subsidiary company of Toyo Tire.

Nitto now operates as a North American tire subsidiary of Toyo, competing in the less expensive tire segment. The introduction of Nitto in the American market has resulted in a 21% increase in Toyo's sales in the last decade.

Detailed information:

Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

Founded: 1949

Website: https://www.nittotire.com/

Founded in 1946 as a manufacturer of bicycle tires and tubes in Osaka, Japan, the Shinko Group has evolved into a thriving manufacturer of rubber products. In 1998, the company acquired motorcycle tire technology and molds from Yokohama Rubber Co. and began producing these products under the Shinko Tire brand.

With manufacturing based in South Korea and design based in Japan, the company has successfully blended Japanese engineering and design principles with South Korean production and quality control standards. The Shinko Team, formed by the merger of the Shinko Company of Japan and the Shinko Company of Korea, is dedicated to bringing customers top-quality tires and tubes, leveraging the combined expertise of both companies.

Their products have earned industry certifications such as the KS (Korean Standard), E-Mark, and ISO 9001 and are subject to intensive testing and evaluation. Today, Shinko Tires produces approximately 200,000 motorcycle tires per month and has established an enviable reputation for excellence in 60 countries.

Detailed information:

Headquarters: Isehara-shi, Kanagawa-ken

Founded: 1946

Website: shinko-tire.jp/

Website USA: shinkotireusa.com

Dunlop is a well-known tire brand that has been in existence since the late 19th century. The company was not originally founded in Japan but was founded by John Boyd Dunlop in 1888 and was acquired by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., a Japanese company, in 1985.

Since the acquisition, Dunlop has continued to produce high-quality tires that are renowned for their performance, durability, and safety. The brand has a strong reputation for innovation, and Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. has invested heavily in research and development to ensure that Dunlop remains at the forefront of tire technology.

One of Dunlop's most notable achievements in recent years has been the development of the SP Sport Maxx GT 600, which is a high-performance tire designed for sports cars. This tire is known for its exceptional grip and handling at high speeds, making it a popular choice for enthusiasts and racing teams alike.

With a continued focus on sustainability and innovation, Dunlop and Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. are poised to remain major players in the tire industry for years to come.

Detailed information:

Headquarters: Akron, Ohio, United States

Founded: 1888

Website: www.dunlop.eu

IRC tires are actually a brand name of Inoue Rubber Co., Ltd., a Japanese corporation that makes rubber tires for motorcycles, bicycles, and other types of tires. Founded in 1926 in Nagoya, Japan, the brand has now become well-known worldwide, with a couple of manufacturing facilities in Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

The corporation started in Japan under the name Inoue Rubber Co. with the sole purpose of manufacturing bicycle tires. Five years later, in 1933, they started exporting tires overseas under the brand name IRC, and after countless developments, they began to expand to manufacturing motorcycle tires in 1952. They then established a number of joint ventures in Asia with different names to serve the purposes of R&D and manufacturing. They now have facilities around the world, but the original company was founded in Japan.

IRC Tires has a long history of innovation and competitive tires for the bike and motorcycle sections. Inheriting new technology from the R&D department at Inoue Rubber, they incorporate a number of modern techniques into the tires, namely RBCC compound, a material that provides incredible wet-weather traction, four-layer tires, which give IRC 30% more puncture resistance than standard tires, and many more.

Detailed information:

Headquarters: Nakamura-ku, Nagoya

Founded: 1926

IRC Motorbike website: ircmoto.com

IRC Bike website: ircbike.com

This company only produces one type of tire specifically, and yes, it is Panaracer is the number one company in producing bicycle tires.

Panaracer is a well-known brand that specializes in manufacturing high-quality bicycle tires for various types of bikes. The company was founded in Japan in 1952 as a cycle tire factory in Osaka and has since expanded its operations worldwide.

Panaracer tires are known for their excellent grip, durability, and puncture resistance. They offer a wide range of tires, including road, gravel, mountain bike, and touring tires. Some popular models include the Panaracer GravelKing, the Panaracer Fire XC Pro, and the Panaracer Pasela. Panaracer also places a strong emphasis on sustainability, with a focus on reducing waste and using environmentally friendly materials in its products.

Overall, Panaracer is a trusted and reputable brand in the cycling industry, and its tires are a popular choice among cyclists of all levels.

Detailed information:

Headquarters: Tamba City, Hyogo

Founded: 1952

Website: panaracer.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panaracer_world/

Instagram followers: 22,5k