The European Rubber Journal (ERJ) has released its 2026 Global Top 75 Tire Makers Ranking, based on tire-related sales revenue of each manufacturer for the 2025 calendar year. Amid intensified global competition and aggressive expansion by Asian tire producers, Europe-headquartered tire manufacturers have maintained their foothold in the world’s top tier, demonstrating strong operational resilience.
Top Players: Michelin Claims 7th Consecutive Crown; Three European Brands Secure Top Five Spots
Michelin has retained its title as the world’s largest tire manufacturer for the seventh year running. Its tire sales reached $24.097 billion in 2025, down 6% year-on-year. The company attributes the revenue decline to disrupted international trade caused by geopolitical tensions and global conflicts.
Ranked 4th, Continental is undergoing a major corporate restructuring. It plans to divest its automotive components and ContiTech divisions, with tire business to become the group’s sole core business segment. In US dollar terms, Continental’s tire segment revenue fell 13.1% year-on-year to $13.017 billion, largely due to exchange rate fluctuations. Measured in its local currency (euro), Continental’s tire business only edged down 0.5% in 2025.
Italy’s Pirelli posted tire sales of $7.661 billion in 2025, up 4.5% year-on-year, holding firmly onto 5th place. This modest growth was just enough to keep the Italian manufacturer ahead of Yokohama Rubber. Yokohama achieved a substantial sales increase after acquiring Goodyear’s off-highway tire business.
Revenue Overview of European Tire Manufacturers on the Ranking
Note: Data source: ERJ 2026 Global Tire Report | Unit: million US dollars
Continental’s sales figures in US dollars are converted by ERJ, using an average EUR/USD exchange rate of 1.13 for 2025 (1.08 for 2024). Calculated in euros, Continental’s tire business generated €13.798 billion in revenue in 2025, a year-on-year decrease of only 0.5%.
Prometeon (Milan): $1.353 billion in sales, ranked 26th, dropping three places year-on-year
Nokian Tyres: $1.233 billion in sales, ranked 28th, down two positions. Reported local-currency revenue rose 6.5% in 2025.
BRISA (Bridgestone-Sabanci joint venture, Istanbul): $1.056 billion in sales, climbed three spots to 35th
Petlas: $720 million, ranked 44th
Özka Lastik: $169 million, ranked 68th
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres: $89 million, ranked 74th. It is one of this year’s new entrants, supplying tires for commercial, cargo and military aircraft.
Only two new companies made it into the Top 75 this year, including Dunlop Aircraft Tyres and Inoue Rubber (Thailand).
The global tire landscape remains in constant flux. Asian tire makers keep expanding capacity and executing mergers & acquisitions to challenge established players. Nevertheless, long-established European tire giants maintain their top rankings thanks to advantages in brand reputation, OEM vehicle supply and high-end product segments. Continental’s strategic shift to focus exclusively on tires will reshape its competitive positioning within the tire sector in the years ahead.
The full ranking is published in the September/October 2026 issue of European Rubber Journal.
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