Who Makes Bridgestone Tires?

‍Who Makes Bridgestone Tires?

Bridgestone is a major player in the tire industry, with over 180 factory locations worldwide. These factories are spread across 26 countries, beginning in Tokyo on the back of the founder Ishibashi Shōjirō.

Today, the current Bridgestone headquarters is located in Tokyo Square Garden. Many tire brands outsource tire production, but Bridgestone is a bit different.

Bridgestone Corporation makes all of its own tires, along with tires for some of the most popular brands in the world. They have a huge network of subsidiary companies under the Bridgestone umbrella.

They have made massive acquisitions in the past to increase the marketplace, and Bridgestone is responsible for manufacturing the tires for Firestone, Daytona, and Europa.

History Of Bridgestone Tires

Bridgestone is a multinational company that was founded in the year 1889. It has been producing and selling tires for over 100 years and is also the world's largest tire manufacturer.

Bridgestone was founded by Shojiro Ishibashi in 1889 in Tokyo, Japan. The company started small but soon expanded to become a major player in Japan and around the world in the tire industry.

In 1900, Firestone was created and became a top player in the tire industry. It wasn’t until 1988 when Bridgestone acquired The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company to transform the entire business.

This extended the reach of Bridgestone by allowing them to move a lot of production into North America, Central America, South America, and Europe. Bridgestone Tire Company has been operating as a separate entity from Bridgestone Corporation since 1931.

Bridgestone operates in the United States with a massive facility in Akron, Ohio. As of 2022, Bridgestone has over 160 tire plants worldwide.

Where Are Bridgestone Tires Made?

Bridgestone has only continued to expand as they age, and they have dedicated tire production plants located on every continent. We have included an in-depth list of all the tire plants below.

This does not include any of the raw materials or diversified product plants.

Americas

The Bridgestone presence across the Americas has become quite impressive and stands as one of the best in the tire industry.

You can see all of the tire plant locations below. There have been many new United States-based plants added over the past 20-30 years to make it easier to source products for this large market.

If you are in America, there is a strong chance you are buying a Bridgestone tire built by Bridgestone in one of these USA-based factories.

Europe, Middle East, & Africa

Because Bridgestone can be found all over the world, there is also a solid presence in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This includes a plant in Russia too.

Asia

The presence in Asia is robust with plenty of locations spanning across a handful of countries. The biggest presence outside of Japan in Asia is with Thailand and China.

Japan

With Japan being the home to Bridgestone, you can expect plenty of locations across the country. There are ten dedicated tire production factories and plenty of other locations for diversified products.

Who Owns Bridgestone Tires?

The Ishibashi family currently owns the major stake of Bridgestone with 10.2% ownership. This ownership is for the entire Bridgestone Corporation and not only the tire operations.

Bridgestone Corporation and Bridgestone tires became separate when Firestone joined the picture. This led to the two brands merging into the Bridgestone Tire Company.

Types Of Bridgestone Tires

Bridgestone has been in the tire industry for over 100 years, and this has given them plenty of time to develop different types of tires. Below are the most popular tire categories offered by Bridgestone.

All-Season Tires

The Bridgestone all-season line of tires emphasize versatility and durability. You can always expect excellent performance year-round.

The Bridgestone Turanza Quiettrack is our favorite all-season tire.

LT Tires

If you drive a larger vehicle or light truck, you can opt for one of the top-rated Bridgestone LT tires. These provide excellent durability and thicker sidewall designs.

Passenger Tires

Bridgestone passenger tires are considered to be the best in their class. Their tread design is unique, and they are the only tire company that uses a silica-based compound which makes them durable, puncture resistant, and eco-friendly.

Summer Tires

Bridgestone summer tires are a popular choice for drivers because of their high heat resistance and performance. They offer a lot of features that make them a great option for drivers.

Performance Tires

Bridgestone performance tires are designed to provide a smooth ride and excellent handling. They are perfect for both everyday driving and sports driving. The tires are made with a mix of silica, silica-based polymers, and natural rubber compounds.

Touring Tires

Bridgestone touring tires have an excellent reputation for performance and durability. The tread design comes with impressive durability of over 60,000 miles and a best-in-class warranty.

Winter Tires

The rubber compound on Bridgestone’s winter tires is designed for traction on ice, snow, and slush. The tread pattern helps the vehicle maintain its speed on wet surfaces while keeping the tire firmly gripped on dry surfaces as well.