Whenever a tire question comes up on DR1 a predictable response revolves around "cheap Chinese tires" like "cheap Chinese motos" about motos.
Seems that like motos, Chinese tires are evolving. While 5 years ago Chinese motos were, indeed, poor quality the quality of the same Chinese motos are now much better quality. In fact, today almost all Japanese bikes under 250cc are made in China and are of high quality.
I'm working on a big project with a sequel that may be based in China. I have a former high school classmate who has become a significant "liaison" power between certain US industries & their counterparts in China, and he's created a handsome business with it. His contacts there are very deep.
I thought his expertise was limited to beverages (he's a former Pepsi executive) and higher education (his family started a solid, small liberal arts university in Atlanta many years ago.) Nope. He has one more industry he works with: tires.
We had a chat about Chinese tires this afternoon. From what I got out of the conversation, seems that the tire industry has changed greatly in China the last 7 years. He brokered the deal between two giant Chinese tire manufacturers and one of the largest, oldest US tire manufacturers (a household name), specifically in:
The Chinese manufactures are:
There may be more, but those are the two companies he works with.
Both have large, super-modern computerized huge factories, are ISO9001 certified and have been manufacturing new-tech tires for 3-4 years. My friend says they make tires of equal quality as the US brand their technology utilizes and wouldn't hesitate at all in putting them on his vehicles.
I checked around with a local contact in the tire business, and both lines are available in the DR, Sunny and HiFly (Hengfeng).
I'm not suggesting people go right out and buy Chinese tires, because one has to have total confidence in tires as they are the #1 safety feature of your car. I AM saying that it may not be completely accurate to dismiss all Chinese tires as "cheap" when that may not be the case anymore.
I will be buying a set of tires for our new (to us) SUV soon, and may test the Hifly's as they are available locally at a decent price. The van needs two 10-ply TL tires, and I may try Sunny's.
I'll let you know how they work out.
Just for your enlightenment.
Caveat Emptor
Seems that like motos, Chinese tires are evolving. While 5 years ago Chinese motos were, indeed, poor quality the quality of the same Chinese motos are now much better quality. In fact, today almost all Japanese bikes under 250cc are made in China and are of high quality.
I'm working on a big project with a sequel that may be based in China. I have a former high school classmate who has become a significant "liaison" power between certain US industries & their counterparts in China, and he's created a handsome business with it. His contacts there are very deep.
I thought his expertise was limited to beverages (he's a former Pepsi executive) and higher education (his family started a solid, small liberal arts university in Atlanta many years ago.) Nope. He has one more industry he works with: tires.
We had a chat about Chinese tires this afternoon. From what I got out of the conversation, seems that the tire industry has changed greatly in China the last 7 years. He brokered the deal between two giant Chinese tire manufacturers and one of the largest, oldest US tire manufacturers (a household name), specifically in:
- Transfer of manufacturing software
- Transfer of iso9001 protocols & software
- State-of-the-art Manufacturing equipment
- Access to specific raw materials
The Chinese manufactures are:
There may be more, but those are the two companies he works with.
Both have large, super-modern computerized huge factories, are ISO9001 certified and have been manufacturing new-tech tires for 3-4 years. My friend says they make tires of equal quality as the US brand their technology utilizes and wouldn't hesitate at all in putting them on his vehicles.
I checked around with a local contact in the tire business, and both lines are available in the DR, Sunny and HiFly (Hengfeng).
I'm not suggesting people go right out and buy Chinese tires, because one has to have total confidence in tires as they are the #1 safety feature of your car. I AM saying that it may not be completely accurate to dismiss all Chinese tires as "cheap" when that may not be the case anymore.
I will be buying a set of tires for our new (to us) SUV soon, and may test the Hifly's as they are available locally at a decent price. The van needs two 10-ply TL tires, and I may try Sunny's.
I'll let you know how they work out.
Just for your enlightenment.
Caveat Emptor