Heh! Did you guys know Falken Azenis (in this country) are made by Goodyear?
They have a supply agreement. Goodyear makes Falken tires for the US market, and Falken makes Goodyear tires for the Japanese market.
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Falken History
2004 Consolidation of Falken Tire Trading LTD. and SRI Tire Trading LTD. (SRIT) and the establishment of the new company SRIT as of April 1, 2004 to export Ohtsu brand tires.
2003 Established Falken Tire Trading, Ltd. for exporting and marketing of OHTSU and Falken brand tires to overseas.
2003 The OHTSU Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. merged with Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. and consolidated the management completely.
2001 Falken introduces Azenis ST115 Ultra High Performance, low
profile, silent running tires along with the ZIEX S/TZ04 M&S rated Specialty Light Truck tire and the ZIEX ZE-512 High Performance line. Debut of brand new Web Site and implementation of a comprehensive Enthusiast Marketing Program across the Nation.
2000 Falken introduces ZIEX S/TZ-01 Specialty Light Truck tires for pickups and sport utility vehicles.
1999 Falken introduces Ultra High Performance GRß FK-451 line of tires including 20" sizes. Received the coveted "Best Buy" rating from Consumers Digest for its ZIEX ZE-502 60 and 65 series HR rated performance radials.
1998 Falken introduces GRß line of Ultra High Performance tires.
1997 Sumitomo and Goodyear Tire enter into an "off-take" agreement whereby Ohtsu begins production of Goodyear high performance tires in Japan and Goodyear initiates the development of additional new Falken tire lines in the U.S.
1996 Ohtsu starts world-wide conversion of subsidiaries to carry Falken Tire name and relocates its U.S. offices to Falken Tire headquarters to strengthen research, development and customer support activities.
1993 Ohtsu became the major shareholder (80%) Chatani (20%).
1991 The Empco name changed to Falken Tire Corporation (FTC)
1990 Ohtsu and Chatani Enterprises, Inc. jointly acquired Empco (60% by Chatani, 40% by Ohtsu).
1985 Ohtsu named Empco Corporation as distributor of Falken Tires for the United States.
1983 Ohtsu introduced the Falken tire brand into the Japanese market as its flagship brand for high performance radial tires.
1981 After the termination of the relationship with Firestone, Ohtsu became an affiliate of the Sumitomo Rubber Industry.
1976 Miyazaki Plant: The most modern tire plant in the Japanese tire industry was completed to exclusively produce radial tires for both passenger and truck applications.
1962 The name was changed to Ohtsu Tire & Rubber Company.
1961 Firestone became one of the major shareholders, contributing both capital and technology to Ohtsu.
1946 Ohtsu shifted its production from aircraft to passenger tires.
1944 The Ohtsu Rubber Industry was established as a producer of aircraft tires.
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