Who makes more tires: LEGO or Hot Wheels?

LEGO makes more tires. The LEGO Group is widely recognized—by Guinness World Records among others—as the world’s largest tire manufacturer by unit count, producing hundreds of millions of tiny rubber tires each year for its bricks and sets. Hot Wheels, while it produces an enormous number of wheels for die-cast cars, mostly uses hard plastic one-piece wheels; only a small subset features separate rubber “tires,” so by the tire definition LEGO comes out ahead.

Why LEGO tops the list

LEGO has been producing elastomer tires for its toy vehicles for decades, and the scale is enormous. Guinness World Records has cited LEGO as the largest tire manufacturer by number of tires produced annually, noting figures in excess of 300 million tires in the early 2010s. Although these tires are tiny compared with automotive tires, the record is based on unit count, not size or weight, which is why LEGO’s production volume dominates the category.

The numbers we know

Public figures commonly referenced include LEGO producing more than 300 million tires in a single year (e.g., 2011), with annual output remaining in the hundreds of millions since then. The critical nuance is definition: a “tire” in this context refers to a separate rubber-like component, not an integrated plastic wheel. This is why LEGO’s dedicated tire pieces are counted as tires, whereas most toy-car wheels are not.

What about Hot Wheels?

Hot Wheels, a Mattel brand, manufactures an extraordinary number of die-cast cars—often cited at around half a billion vehicles per year globally. Most Hot Wheels models use one-piece plastic wheels (rim plus tread molded together), which aren’t categorized as separate rubber tires. A smaller premium line called “Real Riders” does use rubber tires, but these represent a fraction of total Hot Wheels output, leaving the brand far behind LEGO when counting rubber tires by units.

Why the definition matters

In automotive and manufacturing contexts, a tire is a separate component—typically rubber—that fits around a wheel. Applying that definition, LEGO’s small elastomer pieces qualify as tires, while integrated plastic wheels on most die-cast toys do not. By this standard, LEGO leads the world in tires produced by volume, even though those tires are miniature.

Key facts at a glance

The points below summarize the most relevant, widely cited information and how industry definitions shape the answer.

• LEGO is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest tire manufacturer by unit count, producing hundreds of millions of rubber-like tires annually (e.g., more than 300 million in 2011).
• Hot Wheels produces hundreds of millions of cars annually, but the vast majority use one-piece plastic wheels; only select lines use separate rubber tires.
• By “tires” (separate rubber components), LEGO makes more than Hot Wheels. By “wheels” (of any material), Hot Wheels likely makes more overall wheels, but that is a different metric.

Taken together, these facts explain why LEGO leads on tire count while Hot Wheels excels in sheer wheel production for die-cast vehicles.

Bottom line

LEGO makes more tires than Hot Wheels by unit count because LEGO produces separate rubber tires in massive volumes, while most Hot Wheels use integrated plastic wheels that aren’t counted as tires.

Summary

LEGO is the world leader in tire production by units, thanks to its tiny rubber tires for toy sets. Hot Wheels makes an enormous number of wheels for die-cast cars, but only a small portion are rubber tires. Under the standard definition of a tire as a separate rubber component, LEGO produces more tires than Hot Wheels.

Does Lego make the most tires?

Yes, the Lego Group is the world’s largest tire manufacturer by volume, producing hundreds of millions of small rubber tires annually for its toy sets. This title was officially recognized by Guinness World Records, though it contrasts with major tire makers like Michelin, who produce far larger tires. Lego also makes an effort to be sustainable, using recycled materials like fishing nets and engine oil in its new tire compounds. 
Lego’s Tire Production

• Scale: Lego produces over 300 million tires each year, a number that far surpasses traditional tire manufacturers. 
• Guinness World Record: The company’s large annual volume of tire production earned it the title of “largest tire manufacturer per annum” from Guinness World Records. 
• Vehicle Inclusion: The high volume of tires is due to the fact that nearly half of all Lego sets include wheels, from cars to construction vehicles. 

Sustainable Tires 

• Recycled Materials: In an effort to be more eco-friendly, Lego has started using recycled materials for its tires.
• Material Source: These new tire compounds are made from old fishing nets, ropes, and engine oil.
• Environmental Impact: This initiative significantly reduces the carbon footprint of Lego’s toy production.

What company manufactures the most tires?

LEGO
By sheer volume of units produced each year, the world’s biggest tire manufacturer isn’t a company like Michelin, Bridgestone, or Goodyear. The title belongs to LEGO! 😲 Yep, the toy company produces over 300 million tiny rubber tires annually for its LEGO sets, far more than any other manufacturer in the world.

Who is the largest producer of car tires?

Leading Tire Manufacturers by Sales Volume

• Michelin. As of 2022, Michelin holds the largest share of the global tire market, accounting for 15.1% of sales.
• Bridgestone. Bridgestone, a Japanese multinational, closely follows with a 14.2% share of the global tire market.
• Goodyear.
• Continental.
• Sumitomo Rubber Industries.

What toy company makes the most tires?

LEGO manufactures hundreds of millions of tiny tires every year, making it the largest tire producer on the planet—more than any car company!