Falken tires are made by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., a Japanese tire manufacturer headquartered in Kobe, Japan, that operates Falken as its performance-oriented brand for North American and global markets.
Falken is known for its strong presence in motorsport, particularly its long-running association with Formula Drift competition in the United States, and for delivering performance-focused tire technology at prices below the Michelin and Bridgestone premium tier.
Falken is the North American performance brand of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, a publicly traded Japanese company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange that also owns the Dunlop tire brand in many global markets outside North America.
Knowing who makes Falken tires helps buyers understand the Japanese engineering behind the brand and how it connects to the larger Sumitomo Rubber industrial group.
This article covers Falken’s ownership, founding, manufacturing locations, its current tire lineup, and how Falken compares to Hankook and Continental.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Falken Tires?
Falken is owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., a publicly traded Japanese company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ticker 5110.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries is part of the broader Sumitomo Group, one of Japan’s largest industrial conglomerates, though the tire company operates with significant independence as a separately listed entity.
Falken Tire Corporation is the US subsidiary that handles North American marketing, distribution, and motorsport partnerships. The Falken brand was established specifically to give Sumitomo Rubber a distinct high-performance identity in markets where the Sumitomo brand was less recognized.
When Was Falken Founded?
Sumitomo Rubber Industries was founded in 1909 in Kobe, Japan, as a joint venture with Dunlop Rubber Company of Britain, initially producing Dunlop-branded tires for the Japanese market.
The Falken brand was created in 1983 by Sumitomo Rubber specifically to compete in the performance tire market under a distinct name. Falken was introduced to the US market in 1985 and established its motorsport presence through grassroots racing sponsorships that grew into professional Formula Drift partnerships.
Sumitomo Rubber acquired full ownership of the Dunlop tire brand in key markets and has operated both Falken and Dunlop alongside its core Sumitomo-branded industrial tire business ever since.
Where Are Falken Tires Made?
Falken tires are manufactured at Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ global production network, which includes plants in Japan, the United States, and other countries.
Sumitomo Rubber operates a manufacturing facility in King, North Carolina, which produces Falken and other Sumitomo Rubber tires for the North American market. This US plant reduces import logistics and allows the company to respond more quickly to North American demand changes.
Additional Falken production takes place at Sumitomo Rubber plants in Japan (primary headquarters and R&D manufacturing) and in Thailand, Indonesia, and South Africa for regional markets. The full Falken lineup is at Falken’s official US website.
What Tires Does Falken Currently Offer?
Falken’s US lineup covers performance, all-season, and truck/SUV tire categories. The Azenis FK510 is the brand’s flagship ultra-high-performance summer tire, consistently earning strong test results in European and American comparison tests.
The Sincera SN250 covers grand touring all-season applications. The Wildpeak AT Trail and AT3W are popular all-terrain truck and SUV options that have earned strong reviews from off-road driving publications and owners.
Falken’s motorsport program has driven performance tire development, and the brand’s Azenis series benefits directly from Formula Drift competition experience in tire compound and construction development.
Falken vs Hankook vs Continental: Who Makes Each?
All three compete in the mid-range to performance tire market but from different companies. Falken is owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries of Japan. Hankook Tire is a South Korean company publicly traded on the Korea Exchange. Continental AG is a German company that is one of the world’s largest tire and automotive parts manufacturers, publicly traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Continental competes at the upper-premium tier with Michelin and Bridgestone. Falken and Hankook both target the performance-oriented mid-range buyer who wants better than budget performance without paying Michelin prices.
Of the three, Falken has the strongest motorsport identity in North America through its Formula Drift presence. Hankook is the official tire supplier to the Formula E electric racing series. Continental leads in European automotive OEM relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Falken Tires Are Made
Are Falken tires made in the USA?
Some Falken tires are manufactured in the United States at Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ plant in King, North Carolina. Others are produced at international facilities in Japan and other countries. The specific country of manufacture is indicated on the tire sidewall DOT code.
Is Falken a good tire?
Falken tires earn consistently strong reviews in their segment, particularly the Azenis FK510 for dry and wet performance and the Wildpeak AT Trail for all-terrain capability. They are generally considered a strong value option in the mid-range performance tier, offering competitive performance at prices below premium brands like Michelin and Bridgestone.
Does Sumitomo own Dunlop?
Sumitomo Rubber Industries owns the Dunlop tire brand in markets including Japan, Europe, and many other regions. Dunlop tire rights in North America are held by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company through a separate licensing arrangement. This means Dunlop tires sold in the US and Canada are a Goodyear product, while Dunlop tires sold in Europe and Asia are a Sumitomo Rubber product.
When did Falken start racing in Formula Drift?
Falken Tire has been involved with Formula Drift since the series launched in the United States in 2004, making it one of the founding sponsors and longest-running partners of American professional drifting competition. The motorsport program directly funds Falken’s performance tire development for street applications.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.