Hercules Tire is headquartered in Findlay Ohio so would be considered a US company. When I grew up Ohio was the rubber capital. We had Firestone, Goodyear, Cooper and apparently Hercules (although it was founded in 1952 I'm not sure where it was founded). From the web:
"Several generations of the same family are or have been employees of Hercules Tire & Rubber Company. Founded by a group of independent tire dealers in 1952. Hercules provides it products to independent tire dealers and RETREADERS. The Company exists to strengthen the independent tire dealer. The tire division offers a branded program that provides a wide range of nearly 20 name brand tires and TIRE-RELATED products. Tire Dealer S Warehouse and Hercules Tire Canada are HERCULES-OWNED wholesale distribution centers that serve the local independent dealer with hercules AS well AS major brand and associate brand products. Hercules Tire & Rubber Company's main office and plant are located in Findlay. Ohio."
Of course now they are international just like most companies. They source their manufacturing from both Cooper in the US and China.
With Chinese tires, it's buyer beware - Business - Autos - msnbc.com
Section of the above article:
For many drivers, the trade spat might raise the question of how safe are tires imported from China, given that country's poor safety record on other products including toothpaste, pet food, toys and drywall.
The answer depends on whether you buy Chinese-made tires from name brands like Goodyear or Michelin, vs. Chinese-label tires or those made in China under contract for some private store labels, tests show.
Tire manufacturers, many of which have moved some production to China to save money, say that production techniques and materials are the same no matter where the tires are made, and that their Chinese tires are every bit as good as those made elsewhere in the world.
“The Chinese tires coming into this country for the most part have been safe tires,” said Roy Littlefield, executive vice president of the Tire Industry Association. “All the tires have to be tested before they come here," he said, referring to U.S. government testing and standards.
“We have same global quality standards around the world,” said Keith Price, a spokesman for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. “The standards are the same whether we make it in Oklahoma, Germany, Brazil, Indonesia, or China, the product standards are the same.”
Jim Smith, editor of Tire Review, a trade magazine, said he has seen this for himself. “Michelin is very persnickety,” he said. “At the Chinese plant you couldn’t tell if you were in China or in South Carolina. The plant has the same controls, the same machines and the same uniforms on the workers.”
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Basically they said buy the brand name you like and trust to manufacture a good tire. In Denver I've had Hercules Tires recommended to me by tire sellers. However, they aren't going to argue with you if you love Michelins. They will sell you what you want. I put Hankook tires made in South Korea on my RV. When I did my research both Michelin and Goodyear seemed to have alot of problems with their RV tires. Bridgestone had alot of good reviews but I had trouble finding six all season tires in my local area and would have had to wait until after a 1500 mile trip for the new tires so went with the Hankook based on fewer, but all positive, on-line reviews.
Michelle