Blackhawk tires are made by Sailun Group, a Chinese tire manufacturer headquartered in Shandong Province, China, that operates Blackhawk as a value-oriented sub-brand distributed primarily through independent dealers and mass retailers across North America.
Blackhawk tires are known for delivering adequate performance at prices significantly below premium brands, making them popular with budget-conscious buyers who need reliable all-season or all-terrain capability without paying for Michelin or Goodyear pricing.
Blackhawk is a brand of Sailun Group, a Chinese tire company founded in 2002 that has grown into one of the larger Chinese tire manufacturers with distribution in over 100 countries and manufacturing capacity across China, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Knowing who makes Blackhawk tires helps buyers understand the Chinese manufacturing origin and the Sailun Group corporate structure behind a brand that may not be immediately recognizable by name.
This article covers Sailun’s ownership, manufacturing locations, Blackhawk’s product range, and how it compares to other value tire brands like Ironman and Hercules.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Blackhawk Tires?
Blackhawk tires are owned by Sailun Group Co., Ltd., a Chinese tire manufacturer that developed the Blackhawk brand specifically to serve the value end of the North American and European tire markets.
Sailun Group is publicly traded in China and operates its international tire business including Blackhawk, Sailun, RoadX, Rovelo, and Maxam brands across different market segments and regions.
Blackhawk’s North American distribution reaches major tire retailers including Walmart, SimpleTire, and Priority Tire, as well as thousands of independent tire dealers. The brand has grown its US market presence significantly as value-tier buyers have become more receptive to Chinese tire brands.
When Was Sailun Group Founded?
Sailun Group was founded in 2002 in China, making it a relatively young company compared to century-old tire manufacturers like Goodyear, Michelin, and Bridgestone.
Despite its younger age, Sailun has grown rapidly through investment in manufacturing scale, technology partnerships with research institutions, and aggressive international distribution expansion.
Sailun has filed over 460 patents related to tire technology and employs more than 18,000 people globally across its manufacturing, R&D, and distribution operations.
Where Are Blackhawk Tires Made?
Blackhawk tires are manufactured primarily in China at Sailun Group’s facilities in Shandong Province, including plants in Shenyang, Qingdao, Dongying, and Weifang. Shandong is China’s dominant tire manufacturing region due to its rubber processing infrastructure and established supply chains.
Sailun also operates manufacturing facilities in Southeast Asia, specifically in Cambodia and Vietnam, giving Blackhawk production capacity outside mainland China for markets where buyers or importers have concerns about Chinese-origin goods.
Sailun operates seven manufacturing centers globally, with four in China and three in Southeast Asia, supporting Blackhawk tire production alongside its other brands. More information is at Blackhawk’s official US website.
What Tires Does Blackhawk Currently Offer?
Blackhawk’s US lineup covers passenger car, SUV, light truck, and commercial applications. The Street-H series covers passenger performance and all-season tires. The Terra-H series covers all-terrain and highway terrain truck and SUV options.
Blackhawk also produces winter and studded tires for cold-climate markets and commercial transport tires for light trucks and cargo applications. The lineup is designed to cover the most common replacement tire needs at competitive price points.
All Blackhawk tires sold in the US carry standard DOT compliance markings. Buyers can identify the manufacturing plant by the first two characters of the DOT code on the tire sidewall.
Blackhawk vs Ironman vs Hercules: Who Makes Each?
All three are value-tier tire brands competing against each other in the budget replacement tire market. Blackhawk is owned by Sailun Group of China. Ironman is owned by Hercules Tire & Rubber Company, a subsidiary of American Tire Distributors (ATD). Hercules is also owned by ATD.
Ironman and Hercules are both ATD brands, giving buyers who see either brand confidence that they come from the same US-managed distribution and quality oversight system. Blackhawk is a purely Chinese-owned brand with no US management layer beyond its distribution network.
All three are available at similar price points and target the same buyer: someone who needs reliable tire performance at significantly lower cost than Michelin, Goodyear, or Bridgestone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Blackhawk Tires
Are Blackhawk tires any good?
Blackhawk tires are generally considered adequate for everyday driving in dry and light wet conditions at their budget price point. They carry ISO, DOT, and ECE certifications and have received acceptable reviews from budget tire buyers. Like all budget tires, they perform below premium brands in demanding conditions such as heavy rain, snow, or high-speed performance driving.
Is Blackhawk a Chinese tire?
Yes. Blackhawk tires are made by Sailun Group, a Chinese tire manufacturer. The primary manufacturing facilities are in Shandong Province, China, with additional production in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Where are Blackhawk tires sold in the USA?
Blackhawk tires are available at Walmart, SimpleTire, Priority Tire, and thousands of independent tire dealers across the United States. They are also sold online through Amazon and other major e-commerce tire retailers.
What other brands does Sailun Group own?
Alongside Blackhawk, Sailun Group operates brands including Sailun (its primary brand), RoadX (performance-oriented), Rovelo, and Maxam (specialty and commercial tires). Each brand is positioned for different market segments and geographic regions in Sailun’s global distribution network.
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.