As part of Manufacturing Month, we’re highlighting the different sectors that make up South Carolina’s manufacturing industry. This week, we’re celebrating our tire manufacturers.
South Carolina’s tire industry started in 1973, when Michelin announced plans for a new tire plant in Greenville County. The project set a state record for a single foreign investment and helped establish an industry that would become a major part of our state’s economy.
Now, 53 years later, South Carolina has earned its place as one of the top places in the world to produce tires. We’re America’s number 1 tire exporter, shipping approximately $2 billion worth of tires in 2025. That’s 43% of all U.S. tire export sales, or roughly four out of every 10 export dollars.
Home to Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, and Giti Tire, South Carolina has 11 tire manufacturing plants producing about 144,000 tires every day. Spread evenly over 24 hours, that’s roughly 100 tires every minute.
The industry’s economic impact is massive, with 19,000 skilled workers and a $9 billion annual economic impact. To everyone working in tire manufacturing, thank you for keeping this industry and our economy rolling. Want to learn more about career paths in tire or automotive manufacturing? Visit https://scfuturemakers.com/clusters/automotive/.
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