China's Tire Industry Bids Farewell to Low Prices, 180 Billion Reshapes Global Landscape

2025 financial report data revealed, China's tire industry submits a milestone performance report: Zhongce Rubber leads by a landslide with 44.956 billion yuan in revenue, Sailun Group and Linglong Tires follow closely with 36.792 billion yuan and 24.642 billion yuan respectively, Pullman Chishan, Double Coin, Guizhou Tire, etc., collectively cross the 10 billion threshold. Only the above leading companies' combined revenue approaches 180 billion yuan. Twenty years ago, 10 billion was the ceiling; now the 10 billion army rises powerfully, marking the industry's accelerated shift from "small, scattered, and chaotic" to "large and strong", transforming from "chaser" to "peer" on the global track.

Technological Breakthrough: From Handicraft Workshops to Radial Revolution

The starting point of China's tires was not splendid. In 1958, Hangzhou Haichao Rubber Factory initially only made rubber shoes; in 1976, the predecessor of Triangle Tires, Weihai Tire Factory, started with difficulty. The real turning point came in the 80s and 90s, with Pullman Chishan, Zhongce, and Triangle successively building radial tire production lines, allowing China's tires to step onto the technical starting line at the same level as foreign investment for the first time. Entering the 21st century, private forces like Sailun emerged, laying the groundwork for breaking through with "Liquid Gold". From rubber shoes to radial tires, China's tires completed a technical triple jump over more than sixty years.

Global Deployment: From Product Export to Capacity Export

Technological breakthroughs allow enterprises to "stand up", while global layouts enable everyone to "go out". In 2012, Sailun went to Vietnam to build a factory, becoming a pioneer in going global; Linglong planted a flag in Thailand the same year, and pioneered the "Southeast Asia - Europe - South America" global triangular layout; Double Star took controlling interest in Korea Kumho, quickly obtaining access tickets to the international high-end market. Today, overseas capacity has become a growth pole, Linglong's overseas sales revenue accounts for nearly half, Zhongce accelerates collaboration among multiple country bases. From product export to capacity export, China's tires are reconstructing the global supply chain.

Value Leap: Launching the Battle for High-End and Intelligent Manufacturing

For a long time, "Made in China" in the tire industry was equivalent to low-end and cheap. Now, Zhongce's "Chaoyang No. 1" breaks the high-end monopoly of foreign investment; Linglong enters the list of Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, etc., eight of the world's top ten automakers choose Linglong, new energy equipment sales rank first for consecutive terms. In the intelligent manufacturing field, Guizhou Tire was shortlisted for the "Lighthouse Factory" in 2025, production efficiency increased by 68%, quality defects reduced by 57%, proving that China's tires can not only be made well but also made smartly.

After 10 Billion: Three Major Tracks Decide the New Landscape

10 billion is a watershed, but compared with Michelin and Bridgestone's annual revenue exceeding 200 billion, China's tires still have room to catch up. Future competition will revolve around three main lines: First, globalization upgrades again, building factories overseas becomes a "must-answer question", supply chain resilience determines share; Second, continuous breakthrough in high-end, leveraging new energy advantages to overtake on a different lane in the EV field; Third, intelligent manufacturing fully penetrates, realizing evolution of quality and customization capabilities.

10 billion is just a new starting point, after 10 billion there is still 100 billion. The direction is clear, the road is open, the new era for China's tires to reshape the global landscape has just begun.