You’re shopping for tires and spotted Crossmax at a price that seems too good to be true. Before you hit “buy,” you need to know exactly who’s behind this brand and whether that bargain will save you money or cost you safety. Here’s everything you need to know about who makes Crossmax tires and what that means for your wallet and your car.
The Short Answer: It’s Complicated
Horizon Tire Inc., a California-based distributor, owns the Crossmax brand. But here’s the twist: Horizon Tire doesn’t actually manufacture anything. They’re a private-label brand marketer, which means they slap their name on tires made by someone else.
So who’s doing the actual manufacturing? That’s where things get messy. Historical evidence points to Shandong Linglong Tyre Co. in China, but recent user reports suggest production has shifted to a Michelin-affiliated plant in Thailand. Multiple tire owners have posted photos showing “Made in Thailand” stamps on their sidewalls, with some claiming Michelin produces them for Horizon.
This isn’t shady – it’s just how the private-label game works. Think of it like store-brand cereal: the box says “Walmart,” but a major manufacturer actually makes it.
Why You Can’t Find Professional Reviews
Ever wonder why Tire Rack and Car and Driver haven’t tested Crossmax? It’s not an oversight.
Private-label tires exist specifically to prevent direct price comparison. Retailers love them because you can’t walk into a competitor’s shop and demand a price match on a tire they don’t carry. It’s the “highest profit margin tire” on the rack.
Professional testers like Consumer Reports or automotive magazines choose tires based on market popularity and technological innovation. They’re not wasting resources testing a retailer-exclusive budget brand when they could benchmark the latest Michelin or Bridgestone.
This information vacuum forces you to rely on user reviews and retailer specs – which, spoiler alert, aren’t always accurate.
The Manufacturing Mystery: China vs. Thailand vs. France
Let’s clear up the confusion once and for all.
The Linglong Connection (Likely Historical)
Multiple sources confirm Horizon Tire originally sourced tires from Shandong Linglong, one of the top 20 global tire makers. Linglong isn’t some sketchy factory – they’re a massive Chinese manufacturer with decent reviews for budget tires.
But here’s the kicker: in 2015-2016, Horizon and Linglong got into a nasty legal battle involving fraud claims and contract disputes. That kind of corporate divorce usually means finding a new supplier.
The Thailand Hypothesis (Most Likely Current)
User reports consistently mention Thailand. One buyer wrote: “Crossmax are not made in China. They are made in Thailand by Michelin for Horizon tire. Great tires for the money.” Another confirmed: “I have crossmax and there are stamps on the tires stated made in Thailand.”
This makes perfect sense. Michelin operates massive manufacturing facilities in Thailand, and they’ve got a long history of producing Tier-2 brands like Uniroyal and Riken. Manufacturing for Horizon would be a typical contract job for them.
The France Myth (Just Wrong)
Some retailers claim Crossmax tires are “made in France.” This is provably false. Not a single owner reports seeing “Made in France” on their sidewalls.
What likely happened: lazy retailers saw “Michelin” in the supply chain and conflated the manufacturer (Michelin) with Michelin’s headquarters country (France). It’s sloppy marketing, nothing more.
What You’re Actually Buying: The Performance Breakdown
Let’s talk real-world performance based on thousands of user miles.
The Good Stuff
Price is the obvious winner. Crossmax tires cost 40-60% less than name brands. We’re talking $70-90 per tire instead of $150-200. That’s real money.
Ride comfort and noise are shockingly good. Review after review praises the “super quiet” ride. One CHTS-1 owner said they “absorb bumps much better than my old Yokohama Geolanders.” Another noted “minimal road noise” after 8,000 miles.
This isn’t an accident. The tires feature multi-pitch tread patterns and silent groove designs specifically engineered for quiet highway cruising. For a budget tire, that’s impressive.
Fuel efficiency gets a boost too. The low rolling resistance design means better gas mileage. One reviewer saw their MPG improve by 1 after switching from OEM tires.
The Deal-Breakers
Winter performance is dangerous. Let’s be blunt: these tires are terrible in snow and ice. One owner reported: “Very bad tires for winter. I bought four, and the car doesn’t stop in the snow.”
Even Crossmax’s own marketing admits they’re “not ideal for very deep snow or ice.” If you live anywhere that sees winter weather, these are a hard pass. The “all-season” label is technically accurate for rain and dry pavement, but it’s marketing spin for snow capability.
Quality control is inconsistent. Most long-term reviews are positive – owners report 30,000+ miles with minimal wear. But there are enough “my tire bubbled after three months” complaints to suggest the defect rate is higher than premium brands.
You’re not buying a universally bad tire. You’re taking a statistical gamble that your specific set wasn’t made on a Friday afternoon.
The Crossmax Lineup: What’s Available
CT-1 (Passenger Car Touring)
This is the core model for sedans and coupes. It carries a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty and a 600 A A UTQG rating – that’s actually excellent for a budget tire.
The CT-1 delivers a quiet, comfortable highway ride with good wet traction. It’s perfect for commuters in mild climates. Just don’t expect it to handle a Michigan winter.
CHTS-1 (SUV/CUV Highway)
The most-reviewed tire in the lineup, and user sentiment is overwhelmingly positive for three-season use. It’s rated 600 A B for UTQG.
Long-term owners report 30,000 miles with barely any tread wear. The asymmetric tread pattern provides stability, and the multi-pitch design keeps highway noise low.
The CHTS-1 is a solid budget choice for SUV owners who stick to pavement and don’t see snow.
AT-1 (All-Terrain)
This is where things get interesting. The AT-1 looks like a serious off-road tire with aggressive lugs and a switchback pattern. It carries a 50,000-mile warranty and a 560 A B UTQG rating.
But here’s the reality: it’s an aesthetic all-terrain tire, not a performance one. It’s “surprisingly smooth on the road” with “low road noise” – which is great for daily driving but tells you it’s not a hardcore mudder.
The critical issue? No 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) rating. That means it’s not certified for severe snow service. Compare that to the General Grabber A/TX, which costs only $20-30 more per tire and carries the 3PMSF rating for true all-weather capability.
If you want the aggressive look for your truck but spend 99% of your time on pavement, the AT-1 delivers. If you actually need off-road and winter traction, spend the extra money.
How Crossmax Stacks Up Against the Competition
Let’s be real about what you’re comparing.
The choice isn’t Crossmax vs. Michelin Pilot Sport. It’s Crossmax vs. Tier-2 value brands from major manufacturers like Uniroyal (owned by Michelin) or General Tire (owned by Continental).
| Tire Model | Brand Owner | Treadwear Warranty | UTQG Rating | Street Price (Estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crossmax CT-1 | Horizon Tire | 60,000 miles | 600 A A | $70-90 |
| Uniroyal Tiger Paw A/S | Michelin | 65,000-70,000 miles | 600 A A | $90-110 |
| General Altimax RT43 | Continental | 75,000 miles | 640 A B | $100-120 |
On paper, the Crossmax matches the specs. The difference is brand backing. Uniroyal and General give you the warranty support and quality consistency of a major manufacturer for an extra $20-30 per tire.
Is that worth it? Depends on your risk tolerance.
Who Should Buy Crossmax Tires?
Perfect For:
Sun Belt commuters. If you live in Southern California, Texas, Florida, or anywhere that doesn’t see snow, the CT-1 or CHTS-1 is an absolute steal. You get premium-level comfort and quietness at budget pricing.
Aesthetic truck owners. Got a truck or SUV and want the aggressive all-terrain look without paying BFG KO2 prices? The AT-1 gives you that visual appeal with a quiet on-road ride for 50% less money.
High-mileage drivers on a budget. If you’re racking up 20,000+ miles a year and just need reliable, quiet highway tires, Crossmax delivers impressive value.
Hard Pass For:
Anyone in the Snow Belt. This is non-negotiable. The poor winter traction reports make these tires a safety risk in snow or ice.
Risk-averse buyers. The quality control gamble is real. If you value peace of mind and reliable warranty service, spend the extra $80-100 for a full set of Tier-2 name brands.
Serious off-roaders. The AT-1 looks tough but lacks the 3PMSF snow rating and sidewall strength for real trail use. Get a General Grabber A/TX or similar instead.
The Bottom Line: Know What You’re Buying
Who makes Crossmax tires? Horizon Tire owns the brand, but manufacturing likely happens at a Michelin facility in Thailand (with historical production in China through Linglong).
The more important question: should you buy them?
If you’re in a warm climate, stick to highways, and want maximum comfort for minimum cost, Crossmax delivers genuine value. Thousands of users have racked up 30,000+ miles with excellent results.
But if you face winter weather, need serious off-road capability, or can’t stomach a slightly higher defect risk, spend the modest premium for a Tier-2 brand from a major manufacturer. That extra $100 buys you peace of mind and proven warranty support.
The Crossmax gamble pays off for the right buyer in the right conditions. Make sure you’re that buyer before you click “purchase.”
