NAICS 326211 Quarterly Industry Report
Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading)
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 326211Sector: 32Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 326211 delivers business owners, acquirers, and financial advisors data-driven valuation insights for the tire manufacturing sector, drawing on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5] and the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6]. The report aggregates transaction multiples, financial benchmarks, and market trends specific to NAICS 326211 establishments, supporting buy-sell agreements, succession planning, SBA-financed acquisitions, and litigation support engagements.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the tire manufacturing (except retreading) industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) (NAICS 326211) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing tires and inner tubes from natural and synthetic rubber. Products include passenger car tires, light truck tires, commercial truck and bus tires, aircraft tires, agricultural tires, off-the-road (OTR) mining and construction tires, motorcycle tires, and industrial forklift tires. According to the U.S. Census Bureau[5], roughly 112 establishments operate in this classification, employing over 43,000 workers in a capital-intensive manufacturing sector dominated by global producers with U.S. production facilities.
Manufacturing processes include rubber compounding and mixing in Banbury internal mixers, calendering of rubber sheets for body plies and inner liners, steel belt cutting and splicing, bead wire winding and forming, green tire building on automated drum machines, curing in segmented mold presses under controlled temperature and pressure, and post-cure finishing including trimming, inspection, and uniformity testing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] tracks production occupations including Banbury mixer operators, tire builders assembling components on building drums, curing press operators managing vulcanization cycles, and quality inspectors performing X-ray, uniformity, and dynamic balance testing.
Per the SBA Office of Advocacy[7], the tire industry operates through two primary demand channels: original equipment (OE) supply to vehicle assembly plants and replacement tire sales through dealers and retailers. Replacement demand provides more stable revenue since tire wear drives regular purchasing regardless of new vehicle sales cycles. Natural rubber pricing, synthetic rubber feedstock costs, and steel cord prices represent the primary raw material cost variables.
What's Included in This Industry
- Valuation multiples benchmarked to tire manufacturing operations
- Revenue and EBITDA trends for domestic tire production facilities
- SBA lending data and financing terms for NAICS 326211 businesses
- Comparable transaction data from recent tire company acquisitions
- Industry risk factors including raw material costs, import competition, and tariff exposure
- Workforce composition and labor cost benchmarks for tire production operations
- Regional market analysis covering major tire manufacturing locations
- Capital expenditure benchmarks for curing presses, building machines, and mixing equipment
- Demand channel analysis across OE and replacement tire markets
- Owner compensation and discretionary earnings benchmarks
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 326 |
| Industry Group | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 3262 |
| NAICS Industry | Tire Manufacturing | 32621 |
| National Industry | Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) | 326211 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 326212 | Tire Retreading | Tire retreading establishments classified separately when rebuilding worn tires by applying new tread rubber to used casings rather than manufacturing new tires from raw materials |
| 326291 | Rubber Product Manufacturing for Mechanical Use | Rubber product manufacturers for mechanical use producing rubber hoses, belts, gaskets, and seals from similar rubber compounding processes but for non-tire applications |
| 326299 | All Other Rubber Product Manufacturing | All other rubber product manufacturers producing miscellaneous rubber goods including rubber gloves, mats, and molded products distinct from tire production |
| 326220 | Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing | Rubber and plastics hose and belting manufacturers sharing rubber compounding technology and producing automotive and industrial products alongside tire industry supply chains |
| 336320 | Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing | Motor vehicle electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers producing tire pressure monitoring systems and sensors integrated into tire-wheel assemblies |
| 423130 | Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers | Tire and tube merchant wholesalers distributing manufactured tires through wholesale channels to dealers, retailers, and fleet operators as the primary go-to-market pathway |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | 9.4% | 11 |
| 2 | Georgia | 8.6% | 10 |
| 3 | Tennessee | 8.6% | 10 |
| 4 | Illinois | 7.7% | 9 |
| 5 | Indiana | 5.1% | 6 |
| 6 | South Carolina | 5.1% | 6 |
| 7 | Iowa | 5.1% | 6 |
| 8 | Ohio | 5.1% | 6 |
| 9 | Arkansas | 4.3% | 5 |
| 10 | California | 4.3% | 5 |
% Of Establishments
0%
9%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
8
Total SBA Loans
$2.8M
Total Loan Volume
$350K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.25%
Average Interest Rate
80
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Tire manufacturers qualify as small businesses under the SBA size standards[8] for NAICS 326211, which set the threshold at 1,500 employees, among the highest in the rubber products sector. The SBA 7(a) loan program[9] supports acquisitions of niche tire production operations and working capital for rubber compound inventory, while the CDC/504 loan program[10] provides long-term fixed-rate financing for curing presses, tire building machines, mixing equipment, and facility expansions. Given the industry's capital intensity, SBA programs primarily benefit specialty and niche tire producers rather than the global multinational manufacturers that dominate production volume.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Bank | 8 | $2.8M | $350K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 326211?
NAICS 326211 covers manufacturers producing new tires and inner tubes from natural and synthetic rubber. Products include passenger car tires, light truck tires, commercial truck and bus tires, aircraft tires, agricultural tires, OTR mining tires, and specialty tires. Per the U.S. Census Bureau[11], the classification excludes tire retreading, which falls under 326212.
How is the tire manufacturing industry structured?
Global multinational producers dominate U.S. tire manufacturing, operating large-scale plants with high capital investment in mixing, building, and curing equipment. A smaller tier of domestic specialty manufacturers produces niche tires for agriculture, aviation, military, and industrial applications. Production splits between OE tires shipped to vehicle assembly plants and replacement tires distributed through wholesale and retail channels. Replacement demand is roughly three times OE volume.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 326211?
The SBA classifies a tire manufacturer as a small business if it employs fewer than 1,500 workers. Per the SBA size standards table[8], this is among the highest employee thresholds in manufacturing, reflecting the capital-intensive nature of tire production. Special procurement rules also apply for government tire contracts.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 326211?
Code 326212 covers tire retreading as the most directly related classification. Code 326291 addresses mechanical rubber products sharing compounding technology. Smaller 326220 covers rubber hose and belting. Code 326299 captures other rubber products. Per the Census Bureau[11], the new tire versus retreaded tire distinction is the primary boundary between 326211 and 326212.
What industries interact most with tire manufacturers?
Vehicle assembly plants purchase OE tires under supply contracts. Tire wholesalers (423130) distribute replacement tires to dealers. Auto parts retailers (441330) sell tires to consumers and fleets. Agricultural equipment dealers supply farm tires. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], replacement tire demand provides more stable revenue than the cyclical OE automotive market.
What specific activities fall under NAICS 326211?
Covered activities include rubber compounding and mixing, calendering of body plies and inner liners, steel belt cutting and splicing, bead wire fabrication, green tire building on drum machines, vulcanization in segmented mold curing presses, and post-cure uniformity testing and dynamic balancing. Inner tube production from rubber is also included.
Are tire manufacturers eligible for SBA loans?
Yes, tire producers with fewer than 1,500 employees qualify for SBA financing. The SBA 7(a) program[9] covers niche tire business acquisitions and working capital, while the CDC/504 program[10] finances curing presses, building machines, and mixing equipment. SBA programs primarily serve specialty manufacturers given the capital scale of mainstream tire production.
Where are tire manufacturing operations concentrated in the U.S.?
Tire production historically concentrated in Ohio and the upper Midwest, with newer plants in the Southeast including South Carolina, Mississippi, and Tennessee attracted by lower labor costs and state incentives. Per the Census Bureau[12], the geographic shift southward reflects investment patterns by both domestic and foreign tire producers establishing U.S. manufacturing capacity.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA Office of Advocacy advocacy.sba.gov
- [8]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [9]SBA 7(a) loan program sba.gov
- [10]CDC/504 loan program sba.gov
- [11]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [12]Census Bureau data.census.gov
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