New Front Steer Tires

[Glennman]

real deal - made in Japan. most tires are made in plants all round the world. one guess is they will keep a production line going where it makes the most financial sense based on production and other operational factors. no. matter, these are made there and have been for the past 8 years. The oldest still look new. Going to the ten year rule.

I've changed my mind from the Ironman tires to the Sumitomo tires. They're nearly the same price on Amazon with free delivery as the Ironman ones that are way cheaper, but then have a hefty delivery charge, bringing the price up to almost the same. The Sumitomo tires probably just inflate the price and say it's with free shipping. As far as where they're made, I'm sure US tires have hefty environmental bureaucratic costs attached to each tire, so they end up costing more, even though they don't have to ship them over the ocean. So, you're probably paying for that instead of the actual rubber. There are probably inflated costs attached to everything from handling the rubber compounds to the final product that don't exist in other countries. I don't know this to be a fact, but I can only imagine it being a thing. Thanks. (Sorry, I meant Blackhawk tires, not Ironman)

[luvrbus]

The 315/80/22 have a hefty excise tax of $53.00 for each tire sold in the US,I have friends that buy the 315's in Mexico to shirt that tax, tires are made using the same  process only the compound is different, I don't know what compound Toyo used in their bus tires but you could smell the difference. If you want sticker shock price the 365/22.5 Prevost and Newell used on the tag and steer axles, Michelin is the only manufactures that makes that tire, a close friend paid Prevost over $12,000.00 for 4-365's and 4-315 Michelins installed it's crazy, you can spend over 100 bucks now having each tire mounted and installed ,this is his second set. Sumitomo is large tire manufacture 4th or 5th in the world, they just were never popular here in the US even sold under the US Dunlap brand they own,I notice all the new trucks from Freightliner come with Hankook tire now and Peterbilt have Bridgestone     

[Glennman]

Just to close this discussion, my new Sumitomo front tires just arrived today. They are made in Japan. I paid around $675 each including shipping. I plan to take my other tires and wheels off this weekend and take them to the tire store to have them mounted. They look really nice. I hope they perform as good as they look. Thanks everyone for all the great advice.