Please don't turn this thread into a political rant or the moderator will lock it like they did the Chinese Michelin subject:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/wheels-tires/308351-how-avoid-chinese-made-michelins.html

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

i'm none political

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Michelin U.S. | Michelin Tires

Scroll down to the part where they list each of the 18 U.S. & Canadian plants.

-Jim

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1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

I have never had problem with Michelins last 20 years.

I too have never had a problem with Michelins of all types.

For those concerned about ending up with tires made in China, simply go to the tirerack website and find the tire you are interested, of any make for that matter, then click on the tab below the selection labeled "specs." In the far right column will be the country of manufacture.

I might point out that there are MANY Michelin plants in the US. I'm not sure, but I expect that getting a Michelin in the size that would fit your Benz, and also made in China is remote.

I expect that there are plants in China making tires in every size available. If it's manufactured here, it will cost much less to manufacture it there including freight and taxes.

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With best regards

Al

Well, as a vendor to Michelin for many years, from what I've seen, different plants make different types/sizes. Some plants focus on tires for installation on new cars, some focus on the replacement market, and still others for larger truck tires and so on. That's what led me to my comment about the sizes in China, probably for the cars in China.

I don't doubt at all that Michelin and others make tires in China that are sent to the US, but I don't think it is all that common.

I find myself shopping for tires quite often at the Tire Rack site and am usually seeing the country of manufacture when I'm looking at other specs. I don't remember seeing a Michelin made in China.

WHOA! I found something interesting! After my last post about Michelins made in China, I poked around on the tire rack site, looking at a few sizes I'm familiar with and could find no China made Michelins from that source.

I then googled somethling like "Michelin tires made in China" and got this:

As Michelin Quality Car Tyres (175/70R13) - China Car Tyre,Passenger Car Tyres

They are claiming that their tires are "Michelin Quality," but do not show the sides of the tires. SURELY they are not selling fake Michelins! If so, they might get by with it in other countries, but it's hard to imagine getting by with it in the US. That said, of course, bribing the right people could get it done I suppose.

SURELY, the OP doesn't have any such tires.

Also, note that you can buy these tires for $25 each. Of course buying a thousand at a time might fill up your garage.

Another interesting link:

Where are Michelin tires Manufactured

Larry

I don't really have a problem with things made in China. As with any manufacturing process, If the mechanisms are in place in order to maintain quality, then it should not matter where they are made.

The problem with a lot of stuff that is made in China, is that many western companies outsource production to contract manufacturers in China for the lowest dollar. In order to win the bid, these companies have to make cuts somewhere, and the easiest place to cut is quality control which is why we end up with is junk in a box appearing on our shelves.

If Michelin wants to make tires in China, provided that they maintain quality, I don't really have a problem.

As stated in my post, my experience was when buying 14" tires for my 500SLC, that dry rotted within 3 months. I found that these tires were sitting on the shelf for 3 years before they were sold and when I tried to order a second set, I was told that they were as old.

While I have no doubt that Michelin wear like iron, and if I put 20k miles / year on my cars, I would buy them. But I have then 10 cars, that are running and insured, and I don't put many miles on any of them for that reason.

If they dry rot before they wear out, then they are not a good deal for me.

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With best regards

Al

I don't really have too much trouble with something just because it is made in China either, as long as it is of proper quality.

A tire on the dealers "shelf" for three years should not be dry rotting. If they are not outside soaking up sunlight, the dry process is not progressing hardly at all.

I agree, i would not have expected my tires to dry rot after 6 years let alone 3. In any case, if you google Michelin and dry rot, there are a lot of complaints.

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With best regards

Al

And Jeep is moving jobs to China....

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'O=00=O'
bmw 2002.
long live the legend

I'm sorry I have to take issue with this oldsinner, but I can't let it go by without sharing what I know about Michelin plants in the South.

Michelin used to be a top customer of ours back in the hey day of my career. I've been in Michelin plants in the SouthEast, the Michelin engineering headquarters in France and quite a few times in a Michelin plant in Oklahoma.

I was not in the plants in the South East enough to get to know anyone there, but I got to know a number of people in the non union Michelin plant in Norman, Oklahoma. I have been in LOTS of different plants and each one has it's own personality like people do. Most plants, union or non union don't seem to have a happy work force. Michelin has a VERY happy work force. If these people feel down trodden in any way, I sure haven't been able to tell it.

I can not comment on whether or not Michelin dry rots more or less than any other brand. If they do dry rot more, I have a guess as to why. MANY of the Michelin tires are hard rubber compound, high mileage tires. They make some gumball rubber sports car tires, but they make a LOT of long wearing tires. The hard rubber compounds are more susceptible to drying out than are softer, sports car type tires.