Do counterfeit tires exist?

There are many thematic forums on the internet trying to reveal the topic of tire counterfeiting. The authors of the conspiracy theory are trying to find signs by which one can distinguish a counterfeit from an original. Today, we will analyze how realistic this is and what one should really be afraid of.

To begin with, it should be noted that counterfeit tires in the classical sense are not common. This is primarily due to the fact that tire production is a sufficiently voluminous process that requires significant resources and labor. To produce a tire, it is not only necessary to assemble all the components, but also to vulcanize the tire in a mold. This is where the main issue lies. The production of molds is a complex process, and tire manufacturers do not make molds themselves, but rather order them from third-party companies, of which there are not many in the world. In this regard, it is not easy to order a mold from another manufacturer without having the right to do so.

It is much easier to make a tire look similar in terms of design, with a similar name. There are many such cases. At the same time, it is not a fact that the tire is bad, not at all. It's just that it cannot be compared to the original from a premium manufacturer in terms of its characteristics. This is important to consider.

Of course, it should be taken into account that some process of peeking at competitors and borrowing technologies is natural, but it is better to choose tires based on the following parameters:
- A large manufacturer,
- The presence of international quality certificates,
- A large diversification of production lines by tire type,
- The results of independent testing organizations,
- Own research laboratories.

All of the above list corresponds to many companies in the tire world, and it's not just the largest manufacturers. We have already mentioned a Chinese manufacturer that also meets all of the above criteria.