LEGO is the world's largest tire manufacturer by volume.

LEGO officially claimed the title of the world's largest tire manufacturer in 2012 after a formal audit by Guinness World Records. While the tires are miniature, they meet the technical definition of a tire because they are made of a durable rubber compound and are designed to fit onto a wheel. The company produces approximately 318 million tires annually, which far exceeds the output of traditional automotive giants.The journey began in 1962 with the release of LEGO set number 400. Before this, LEGO bricks were mostly static, and children had to build makeshift wheels out of existing rectangular bricks. The introduction of the specialized rubber tire revolutionized the play system and quickly became one of the most common elements in the LEGO inventory.Every tire is manufactured with high precision at LEGO factories in Denmark, Mexico, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. They are made from a specific compound called styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), which provides the realistic grip and elasticity found in full-sized vehicle tires. This material ensures the tires are long-lasting and safe for children while maintaining consistent friction levels on various surfaces.In comparison, major commercial tire manufacturers like Bridgestone or Michelin typically produce around 170 million to 200 million tires per year. Although LEGO tires are not road-legal for actual cars, the sheer volume of production remains unmatched in the manufacturing industry. This fact highlights the incredible scale of LEGO's global supply chain and its dominance in the toy market.