You’ve seen Atturo tires at your local shop, probably at a price that made you do a double-take. Maybe you’re wondering if that deal is too good to be true. Here’s what you need to know about who actually makes Atturo tires and whether they’re worth your money.
The American Brand That Doesn’t Own a Factory
Atturo Tire Corp. is a 100% independently owned American company based in Waukegan, Illinois. Michael Mathis founded it in 2009 after spending 12 years selling commercial insurance to import tire brands. That background gave him a unique advantage—he saw exactly which Asian factories had quality control issues and which ones didn’t.
Here’s the twist: Atturo doesn’t own any manufacturing plants. They’re what the tech industry calls “fabless”—they design and engineer tires in the U.S., then partner with manufacturers to produce them. Think of it like Apple designing the iPhone but having Foxconn build it.
This isn’t a private label situation where they just slap their logo on generic tires. Atturo creates original designs and specs, then sources production from what they call “world-class manufacturers” rather than the cheapest bidders.
Where Your Atturo Tires Actually Come From
So who makes Atturo tires in terms of physical production? Most are manufactured in Taiwan and Thailand, with a limited number coming from China.
This manufacturing strategy is deliberate. Taiwan has a long-standing reputation for quality tire production—brands like Nankang and Federal have been proving that for decades. By avoiding the “cheap Chinese trash” stereotype, Atturo positions itself as a value brand without the baggage.
The Chinese production appears reserved for lower-tech products like trailer tires, while the high-performance lines use Taiwanese and Thai facilities. It’s a smart way to manage costs on commodity products while maintaining quality on flagship models.
What Makes Atturo Different From Big Tire Companies
Atturo’s independent status isn’t just a marketing line—it shapes how they operate. Without corporate board restrictions, they can pivot quickly when they spot market opportunities.
Case in point: They created the first hybrid off-road tire (the Trail Blade X/T) back in 2014, essentially inventing a new category. They’ve also jumped into niche markets like UTV/powersports and drag racing tires that bigger brands often ignore.
Their official motto is “Performance Within Reach,” which translates to about 80-90% of a premium tire’s performance at maybe 40-50% of the price. They’re targeting enthusiasts who research their purchases and want better value than budget brands without paying premium prices.
The Trail Blade Off-Road Lineup: Where Atturo Shines
Trail Blade X/T: The Hybrid That Started It All
The Trail Blade X/T put Atturo on the map as the first commercially available hybrid off-road tire. It splits the difference between mud-terrain grip and all-terrain comfort.
Customer ratings from Discount Tire show impressive numbers:
- Dry traction: 4.8/5
- Wet traction: 4.5/5
- Tread life: 4.5/5
- Road noise: 3.9/5
That noise score is the expected trade-off for aggressive tread, though some drivers find it surprisingly quiet for how it looks. It comes with a 50,000-mile warranty.
Trail Blade ATS: The Daily Driver
The ATS is Atturo’s mainstream all-terrain option, designed for folks who need a tire that works on pavement and dirt without drama. It’s got a 50,000-mile warranty and gets solid marks for wet traction thanks to wide water channels.
The catch? It’s not Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified. It’ll handle light snow fine, but if you’re in serious winter territory, you’ll want a dedicated winter tire.
Trail Blade MTS and BOSS: For Serious Off-Roaders
These are Atturo’s hardcore mud tires. The MTS (Mud Terrain Sport) provides excellent traction in mud and gets surprisingly good wear life for an aggressive tread. The BOSS takes it further with a knife-blade tread pattern optimized for deep mud, gravel, and rock climbing, plus a heavy-duty 3-ply sidewall.
Here’s what you need to know: Neither tire carries a mileage warranty. That’s not a defect—it’s the trade-off for soft, sticky compounds that grip like crazy. If you want extreme off-road traction, you’re buying grip, not longevity.
The Street Performance Tires: Budget UHP That Performs
AZ850: The Value Performance King
The AZ850 is Atturo’s ultra-high-performance summer tire, and it’s where their value proposition really shines for muscle car and performance SUV owners.
One BMW X3M owner replaced $2,000 Michelins with AZ850s at a third of the price. His verdict? More compliant ride, less jarring, minimal road noise, and only “slightly less grippy” than the Michelins. Mustang owners echo similar praise, calling them amazing for the price.
The AZ850DR drag radial variant outperformed Nitto’s NT555R by 0.3 seconds in head-to-head testing—a significant margin in drag racing.
Like the extreme off-road tires, the AZ850 has no tread life warranty. It’s also a summer-only tire with a sticky compound that shouldn’t be used below 45°F.
The Touring Tire Situation: Choose Wisely
Atturo offers two touring all-season tires, both with 60,000-mile warranties—but they’re not equal.
The newer AZ600 (launched 2023) gets strong ratings:
- Longevity: 8.3/10
- Handling: 8.1/10
- Praised for excellent traction and sharp handling
The older AZ610 (launched 2017) shows a troubling pattern. Multiple users report catastrophic wear at around 22,000-23,000 miles on a 60,000-mile warranty tire. One reviewer called out “wear patterns that even mechanics can’t explain other than a manufacturing issue.”
The launch of the AZ600 to fill the exact same market slot suggests Atturo quietly replaced a problematic tire. If you’re shopping touring tires, skip the AZ610 and go straight to the AZ600.
The Warranty Game: What’s Actually Covered
Atturo’s warranty varies significantly by tire type. While manufacturing defects are covered across the board, tread life warranties are selective.
No mileage warranty:
- Trail Blade BOSS
- Trail Blade MTS
- AZ850 series
50,000-mile warranty:
- Trail Blade X/T
- Trail Blade ATS
60,000-mile warranty:
- AZ600
- AZ610
Here’s a critical detail for muscle car owners: If you run staggered fitments (different sizes front and rear), your rear tire warranty is cut in half. That AZ800’s 40,000-mile warranty drops to 20,000 miles for the rears.
The UTV Game-Changer: Trail Hazard Protection
Atturo’s most aggressive marketing move is their Trail Hazard Protection Program for UTV/ATV tires. It’s a free, included insurance policy that covers trail damage like popping a tire on a rock.
Coverage:
- First 12 months: 100% replacement cost
- Second 12 months: 50% replacement cost
No other brand offers this for UTV tires. It’s a brilliant solution to the biggest pain point UTV owners face—destroying expensive tires on the trail. This alone makes Atturo’s SXS tires worth serious consideration if you ride.
Performance vs. Price: The Real Value Equation
| Tire Type | Atturo Model | Performance Level | Price vs. Premium | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Off-Road | Trail Blade X/T | 85% of premium | ~40% of cost | Daily driver with weekend trails |
| All-Terrain | Trail Blade ATS | 80% of premium | ~45% of cost | Balanced street/dirt use |
| Mud-Terrain | Trail Blade BOSS/MTS | 90% of premium | ~50% of cost | Serious off-roading |
| UHP Summer | AZ850 | 85% of premium | ~35% of cost | Performance cars on a budget |
| Touring | AZ600 | 80% of premium | ~40% of cost | Comfortable daily driving |
Who Should Buy Atturo Tires
You’re a great fit for Atturo if you’re:
A budget-conscious enthusiast who researches purchases and wants 80-90% of premium performance without the premium price tag. You understand the trade-offs you’re making and you’re okay with them.
A performance buyer who gets that soft, sticky compounds mean you’re trading mileage warranties for grip. You want the AZ850DR to beat times, not last 60,000 miles.
A UTV/SxS owner who destroys tires on rocks. The Trail Hazard Protection makes Atturo nearly unbeatable in this category.
Skip Atturo if you’re:
A set-it-and-forget-it consumer who expects warranties to be ironclad regardless of maintenance or use.
Shopping for the older AZ610 touring tire—get the AZ600 instead.
Planning to use UHP summer tires in cold weather. Don’t run the AZ850 below 45°F—it’s unsafe.
The Bottom Line on Who Makes Atturo Tires
Atturo is a legitimate American design house that leverages quality Taiwanese and Thai manufacturing to deliver performance at accessible prices. They’re not trying to be Michelin—they’re offering enthusiasts a smarter way to get 85% of the performance for 40% of the cost.
The brand has proven itself through innovation (creating the hybrid X/T category) and performance (drag radials beating established competitors). They’re independent and agile, able to jump on opportunities bigger brands ignore.
The key is matching the right tire to your needs and understanding what you’re buying. High-performance tires without mileage warranties aren’t defective—they’re purpose-built for grip over longevity. If that trade-off makes sense for your driving, Atturo delivers serious value.
Just do your homework on which specific model fits your needs, and you’ll likely end up with a tire that punches well above its price point.
