How many tires are produced in the world?

About 2.4 billion new vehicle tires are manufactured worldwide each year as of 2024–2025. If you also count bicycle and other specialty tires, the total number of tires produced annually approaches roughly 3 billion. The exact figure varies with the global economy, vehicle sales, and replacement demand.

What the headline number includes—and excludes

Industry estimates for “global tire production” typically refer to new pneumatic tires for motor vehicles (passenger cars, light trucks, trucks/buses, and powered two-wheelers). This does not include retreaded tires—an important secondary market—or inner tubes. When bicycle tires and small specialty tires are added, the global count rises by several hundred million units.

The current global production estimate

Aggregating data reported by industry associations and market trackers, worldwide output of new vehicle tires in 2024 is broadly estimated at 2.3–2.5 billion units, with a midpoint near 2.4 billion. Production rebounded from the pandemic dip and has been running close to or slightly above pre-2020 levels, supported by steady replacement demand even as original-equipment volumes move with vehicle production cycles.

How the total breaks down by segment

The following breakdown shows the approximate share and order of magnitude by tire segment. Exact volumes vary year to year and by source, but the proportions are relatively stable.

• Passenger car and light truck (PCR/LT): About 70–75% of units, roughly 1.7–1.9 billion tires.
• Powered two-wheelers (motorcycles/scooters): About 15–18%, roughly 360–430 million tires.
• Truck and bus (TBR): About 8–10%, roughly 190–230 million tires.
• Off-the-road, agricultural, industrial, aircraft and other specialty: Under 2%, roughly 20–40 million tires.

Together, these categories sum to about 2.4 billion new motor-vehicle tires per year, with passenger car and light truck tires dominating unit volumes.

Where most tires are made

Tire manufacturing is global, but production is concentrated in a handful of countries that serve both domestic markets and exports. The ranges below reflect recent industry shares by unit volume.

• China: Approximately 30–35% of global tire units.
• India: Approximately 8–10%, supported by a large two-wheeler and replacement market.
• Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia): Approximately 12–16%, major export hubs.
• Europe: Approximately 8–10%, with a higher share by value due to premium mix.
• North America: Approximately 6–8%, relying heavily on imports to meet demand.
• Rest of world (Latin America, Middle East/Africa, others): Approximately 20–25% combined.

These shares fluctuate with investment cycles, trade measures, exchange rates, and shifts in vehicle production and demand.

What happens when you include bicycle and other non-motor tires?

Adding bicycle and small specialty tires increases the global total substantially. Bicycle production alone typically exceeds 100 million units per year; allowing for two tires per new bike plus replacements, that’s on the order of 300–500 million bicycle tires annually.

• Motor-vehicle tires: ~2.3–2.5 billion per year.
• Bicycle and small specialty tires: ~0.3–0.5 billion per year.
• Combined total (all tires): ~2.6–3.0 billion per year.

This broader definition pushes the annual tire count close to 3 billion, though most industry statistics focus on motor-vehicle tires.

Retreads and circularity: Important, but not “new tires”

Retreading extends the life of tire casings—especially for trucks and buses—and reduces raw-material use. While not counted in new tire output, retreads represent a large annual flow.

• Global truck/bus retreads are commonly estimated around 100–130 million units per year.
• Retreading rates vary by region, with particularly high adoption in North and South America and parts of Europe.
• Recycling advances—such as recovered carbon black via tire pyrolysis and bio-based polymers—are gradually entering mainstream supply chains.

Retreads and recycling don’t change the “new tire” production figure, but they materially affect total tire throughput and environmental impacts across the product life cycle.

Trends shaping production in 2025

Several forces are influencing how many tires are produced and where:

• Electrification: EVs tend to use higher-load, lower-rolling-resistance tires and may increase replacement frequency for certain use cases, altering mix more than total units.
• Regional shifts: Capacity additions in India and Southeast Asia continue, while China remains the largest producer and exporter; trade actions and tariffs can redirect flows.
• Sustainability: Stronger demands for recycled and bio-based content, traceable natural rubber, and decarbonized manufacturing are reshaping sourcing and processes.
• Vehicle parc growth: A larger global fleet underpins steady replacement demand even when new-vehicle sales soften.
• Commodity volatility: Natural rubber and petrochemical feedstock price swings can influence short-term production runs and inventory strategies.

The net effect is stable-to-moderate growth in unit volumes, with faster change in product mix and supply-chain geography.

Outlook

Barring a major economic shock, industry forecasts generally point to low single-digit annual growth in global new tire output over the next five years. That implies a rise from roughly 2.4 billion units today toward the mid–2.6 to high–2.7 billion range by decade’s end, with continued outperformance in Asia and ongoing investment in higher-value segments.

Summary

Worldwide, manufacturers produce about 2.4 billion new motor-vehicle tires per year as of 2024–2025. When bicycle and other small tires are included, the annual total approaches roughly 3 billion. Passenger car and light truck tires account for the majority of units, China is the largest producer by volume, and the market’s near-term trajectory is one of steady, modest growth shaped by electrification, regional capacity shifts, and sustainability priorities.

Are any tires manufactured in the US?

Yes, several tire brands manufacture tires in the USA, including the American companies Goodyear and Cooper, as well as foreign brands like Michelin, Bridgestone, and Yokohama, which operate manufacturing facilities in the United States. To check if a specific tire is made in the USA, look for the Tire Identification Number (TIN) on the tire’s sidewall and check the DOT code for plant codes that correspond to US locations.
 
American Brands with US-Made Tires

• Goodyear: The classic American brand has several US-based factories. 
• Cooper: A century-old American company with numerous manufacturing plants in the United States. 

Foreign Brands with US-Made Tires
Many global tire manufacturers have factories in the USA and produce tires domestically for the American market. 

• Michelin: The French company operates multiple factories in the United States, such as in South Carolina. 
• Bridgestone: The Japanese-owned company has several production facilities across the US. 
• Yokohama: This Japanese brand has manufacturing plants in the U.S. 
• Continental: The German brand has some US production facilities. 
• Pirelli: This Italian brand, now owned by a Chinese company, also has a presence with US-based production facilities. 

How to Check for Tires Made in the USA

• Tire Identification Number (TIN): Look for this number on the tire’s sidewall. 
• DOT Plant Codes: The TIN includes codes that indicate the manufacturing plant. You can find a list of these codes to identify if the tire was made in the USA. 

How many tires are made each year?

Global tire production was about 3 billion units in 2019 and was forecast to exceed 2.8 billion units by 2026 according to Smithers reports, though other sources cited figures such as 2.7 billion in 2022. The production of tires is steadily growing, driven by increasing demand, particularly in emerging markets like Asia.
 
Key Figures for Recent Years

• 2019: Approximately 3 billion tires were produced globally. 
• 2021: Smithers reported 2.35 billion tires were produced. 
• 2022: Total global industry tire volume was seen approaching 2.7 billion units. 
• 2026: A report forecast global tire production to reach 2.80 billion units. 

Factors Influencing Production

• Demand in Emerging Markets: Opens in new tabRapid growth in developing countries, especially in Asia, fuels demand for new tires. 
• Mature Markets: Opens in new tabNorth America and Europe also contribute to the market through growth in premium and high-performance tires. 
• Raw Material Consumption: Opens in new tabTire manufacturing is a large consumer of raw materials, and global consumption is showing continued growth. 

Who is the largest tire producer in the world?

The world’s largest tire producer, in terms of sales revenue, is Michelin, followed by Bridgestone and then Goodyear, according to Tire Business rankings and Statista. However, when considering the sheer volume of tires produced, LEGO is the largest manufacturer of small, rubber tires for its toy sets, producing hundreds of millions annually, a quantity that surpasses the volume of tires made by any of the major automotive tire companies, such as Michelin, according to Loaded Magazine.
 
Largest Tire Manufacturers by Revenue 

• Michelin . Opens in new tabis the largest tire maker by revenue, according to multiple industry sources.
• Bridgestone . Opens in new tabranks second in the industry by sales revenue.
• Goodyear . Opens in new tabis the third-largest tire manufacturer globally by revenue.

Largest Tire Manufacturer by Volume (of small tires) 

• LEGO: produces the highest number of small, rubber tires annually, as recognized by Guinness World Records, which are used in its toy sets.
• LEGO’s production volume exceeds that of Michelin, which focuses on larger, full-sized automotive tires.

Is Lego the world’s biggest tire producer?

Yes, Lego is the world’s largest manufacturer of tires by volume, producing over 318 million tiny rubber tires annually for its toy sets, a figure that significantly surpasses major automotive tire companies like Michelin or Goodyear. The company holds this distinction by producing tires for its numerous vehicle-themed playsets, a volume recognized by Guinness World Records https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/100909-largest-tyre-manufacture -per-annum in 2012.
 
Why Lego is the largest tire manufacturer

• High Production Volume: Lego produces hundreds of millions of small tires each year, far more than any other single company in the world. 
• Popularity of Vehicle Sets: Many Lego sets include vehicles that require these miniature tires, driving the immense demand for them. 
• Efficient Manufacturing: The company is highly efficient at producing these tires on a massive scale to meet global demand. 
• Historical Recognition: Lego’s status was officially recognized with a Guinness World Record https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/100909-largest-tyre-manufacture -per-annum in 2012 for being the largest tire manufacturer. 

Key distinctions 

• By number vs. by weight/volume: Opens in new tabLego is the largest by the number of tires produced, not by the total weight or volume of rubber used in tires compared to traditional manufacturers.
• Toy vs. real vehicles: Opens in new tabLego’s tires are designed for toys, not for real-world vehicles, but they still qualify as tires by definition.