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Brand Finance's latest global tyre brand report confirms that scale and momentum are telling two different stories in 2026. Michelin has held onto its position as the world's most valuable tyre brand for a ninth straight year, with its brand value climbing 17% to $10.3 billion. The French manufacturer also kept its title as the sector's strongest brand, posting a Brand Strength Index score of 93.2 out of 100 — the only tyre brand worldwide to hold a AAA+ rating. The achievement pushed Michelin into the top 10 strongest brands across all industries for the first time, and made it France's strongest brand overall this year.
Bridgestone stayed in second place among the world's most valuable tyre brands, with its value rising 6% to $8.8 billion, while Continental Tires held third at $3.9 billion. Collectively, the top 25 tyre brands are now worth a combined $42.3 billion, up 9% year-on-year, a gain achieved despite ongoing geopolitical friction, supply-chain strain and stiffer competition industry-wide.
While Michelin led on absolute value, Giti Tire recorded the fastest brand growth of any major player, with its brand value jumping 38% to roughly $1.5 billion. China's Sailun trailed close behind with 37% growth to $1.2 billion, underscoring how quickly Chinese manufacturers are closing the gap with established Western and Japanese brands. Other Chinese names — including Linglong, Triangle Tyre, Sentury Tire and newcomer Double Coin — also continued building their international presence, per the report.
Giti's rise reflects sustained investment in R&D, expanded manufacturing and testing capacity, and a push into higher-margin segments such as electric-vehicle tyres. The brand's products are now sold across more than 130 countries through a network of over 100,000 retail outlets, and it operates five manufacturing plants and five research and testing centres globally. Giti has also picked up original-equipment approvals for EVs, including fitments on BMW's iX1 and iX2, and a high-performance collaboration with BYD's Yangwang brand.
Separately, Apollo Tyres recorded the largest increase in Brand Strength Index score among the world's top 25 tyre brands, signalling that perception and reputation metrics — not just balance-sheet value — are shifting in the sector as manufacturers compete for market share in an increasingly EV-driven, price-sensitive global market.
The report illustrates a broader pattern seen across many industries this year: legacy leaders retain the biggest brand values through scale and reputation, while faster-moving challengers post outsized percentage growth by expanding into new markets and capturing demand in fast-growing categories like electric vehicles. For marketers and brand strategists, it's a reminder that sustainable brand growth increasingly depends on being present in the categories customers are moving toward, not just defending existing share.
