Let's talk about Chinese Tires

So I found out that Carmax threw two new HiFly tires on my Focus. I didn't really think about it until I noticed that it had the tread of a Performance Summer Tire than that of an All-Season. The other tires (I'm not sure are factory or not) are Coopers and they are definitely all season.

So I did some research and found out that HiFly are Chinese tires. I'm not overly concerned because I did find reviews of the same tire in other countries and they seem mostly positive. Still, I'm weary of Chinese made stuff.

I am looking into finding another set of wheels and some snow tires for the winter.

These are the tires: http://www.hiflytire.cn/products_detail/&productId=b8032205-2560-4931-8cff-0dc4a45bcfbd.html

They work just fine on the back of a drift car

I've had new BCT S600's on my civic when I bought it. Black, round, held air. Rubbed a curb on a parallel park and got a sidewall bubble. The other three didn't even last 2 summers.

I replaced the one with the cheapest 2 ply sidewall at the local tire super store. Also Chinese, hemisphere. Not bad, after a year of use, it is now a full size spare.

I've had chinese summer tires on the wagon for almost 5 years now, and they do just fine. Sure, they aren't as grippy as some of the other options out there, and they do tramline a bit more than a good tire, but otherwise they've been fine. I wouldn't have bought these tires were it my choice, but they came with the rims and ended up being good enough to run. Just about down to the wear bars, so I'll probably replace them this winter. No bubbles or anything.

My trailer has Goodyear Marathons on it, made in China of course. Probably have Chinese tires on at least one of my vehicles as well and have had them on previous cars as well. For the most part they seem to be decent.

I put a set of the cheapest Chinese all seasons on my E21 BMW when I bought it. Not many options in a 13" wheel anyway. They must have been built with a special compound that turned into Teflon when it got wet, no traction whatsoever in the wet. They only lasted about 15k miles and the Kumho Solus k21's I replaced them with were a vast improvement in every category.

You realize near all tires are made in China right?

They're fine. Aside from just being sucky tires they're fine safety wise. Quick wear is probable as well.

I have a lot of experience mounting crap tires like that. Make sure they are balanced to 70+. A lot of those tires are not quite round and may not balance well. Usually replace with something not crappy to fix.

The Coopers are probably made in China too. The reason I stopped buying them.

I think this is about generic Chinese tires, rather than name brands that happen to be made in China.

I forgot to mention I did one autoX on the BCT's. It was interesting.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: So I found out that Carmax threw two new HiFly tires on my Focus. I didn't really think about it until I noticed that it had the tread of a Performance Summer Tire than that of an All-Season. The other tires (I'm not sure are factory or not) are Coopers and they are definitely all season. So I did some research and found out that HiFly are Chinese tires. I'm not overly concerned because I did find reviews of the same tire in other countries and they seem mostly positive. Still, I'm weary of Chinese made stuff. I am looking into finding another set of wheels and some snow tires for the winter. These are the tires: http://www.hiflytire.cn/products_detail/&productId=b8032205-2560-4931-8cff-0dc4a45bcfbd.html

there aren't many American owned tire companies anymore … even Firestone is Asian owned … so whether they're from China or Korea .. not much difference to me

Chinese-made Goodride SV308's on my SX4. I didn't buy them, as there's so many other options out there, but they're not bad. Actually semi-decent in snow. Probably have to replace them at 35,000 miles (estimated) and the driving isn't that spirited.

I've had a couple sets of tires that were made in China without major issues. I don't necessarily care where the name brands make their tires, but some of these brands I've never heard of make me nervous. That said, a lot of times research shows that the same factory makes a bunch of different brands, and kumho used to be an unknown brand also.

slowride wrote: I've had a couple sets of tires that were made in China without major issues. I don't necessarily care where the name brands make their tires, but some of these brands I've never heard of make me nervous. That said, a lot of times research shows that the same factory makes a bunch of different brands, and kumho used to be an unknown brand also.

as was Bridgestone, and Toyo … etc

interesting info … so few American owned tire companies I counted 4 that I had heard of (and one doesn't make tires for the street)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tire_companies

Continental makes tires about an hour from my house here in SC...believe it or not!

The high end Metzler Tourances on my motorcycle are made in China. They seem fine.

Got some ohtsus on my one prism. Strangely, they were cheaper than Chinese, and they're Japanese!

nedc wrote: Continental makes tires about an hour from my house here in SC...believe it or not!

there are lots of tires made in this country … just not many companies that are American owned

It doesn't have to do with country of origin as much anymore. Chinese tires aren't all crap, they make good tires everywhere and crap tires everywhere.

Plus the ownership of these tire companies are so convoluted, they all have partnerships and part ownerships of one another. Example, Ohtsu is a huge conglomerate that owns a bunch tire companies, it is also a brand sold by discount on the bottom end of the price range, and just about anytime you read x company owns x company, it's probably already outdated.

Most major tire companies will make tires wherever there is capacity for them.

Your tires probably suck but probably aren't unsafe.

My friend has Sailuns on his X5. They're pretty good all-season tires. Same with Westlakes. We have cheapo Douglas tires on our Echo, and they perform decently. They're good for daily drivers, not so much for performance driving.

I ended up with a set of no name Chinese tires on my Malibu when a local shop "ran out" of Continentals that were on sale. I got the price fixed but was stuck with them and in the first rain the car was undrivable. I wanted to give him a South African Necklace but they had gone out of business shortly thereafter. The set I have on my truck at work aren't terrible. They are roundish and hold a fair air pretty well.

Wally wrote: I wanted to give him a South African Necklace...

Is that like a pearl necklace?

In reply to pres589: Goodride, that was the name of my terrible tires. Thank you, I really couldn't remember.

I couldn't care less what the country of origin was, I just know the goodrides were the worst tires I've ever owned and the Kumhos were decent for the price. The Kumhos were made in Korea btw.

Trans_Maro wrote:

They must be good.

In reply to G. P. Snorklewacker:

Not even close

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: ... Still, I'm weary of Chinese made stuff.

I'm pretty sure China makes stuff just as good as anywhere, it's just that we demand far cheaper, then complain about the consequences.