Ironman tires
Hercules' entry-level brand for basic transportation. Typically $55–$160 per tire.
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Ironman is a budget brand created by Hercules Tire and Rubber of Findlay, Ohio in the mid-2000s to compete with the flood of low-cost imports. Hercules has been owned since 2014 by American Tire Distributors, the largest tire wholesaler in the country, which is why Ironman tires appear at so many independent shops. The tires themselves are built under contract in Asia, mainly Thailand, Vietnam and China.
The lineup covers the essentials. The iMove Gen 2 AS is an entry-level all-season touring tire with a 50,000-mile warranty, and the RB-12 is an even cheaper basic all-season. The All Country family covers trucks and SUVs with the All Country H/T for highway use, the All Country A/T for light off-road duty and the All Country M/T for mud. The Polar Trax is a studdable winter tire.
Ironman tires are priced among the lowest in the market, often half the cost of a premium tire in the same size, and they come with a short mileage warranty and a road-hazard program through Hercules. The honest verdict is that these are adequate tires for low-speed, low-mileage use: a work truck, a commuter that never sees highway speeds for long, or a car you are about to sell. Wet braking, noise and tread life all trail the mid-tier brands by a clear margin.
Ironman models worth buying
| Model | Type | Mileage warranty | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iMove Gen 2 AS | All-Season Tires | 50,000 mi | $65 | Older sedans and compacts that need cheap, safe all-season tires. |
| All Country A/T | All-Terrain Tires | 50,000 mi | $120 | Work trucks and farm vehicles that need all-terrain tread without a premium price. |
| All Country M/T | Mud-Terrain Tires | None | $190 | Budget off-road builds and trail rigs that do not see many highway miles. |
| All Country H/T | Highway Truck & SUV Tires | 50,000 mi | $110 | Older pickups and SUVs used for local errands and light hauling. |
| RB-12 | All-Season Tires | 45,000 mi | $60 | The cheapest name-brand option for a car that just needs to pass inspection. |
| Polar Trax | Winter Tires | None | $80 | Drivers who need a studdable winter tire for the least money. |
Strengths
- Among the lowest prices available from a US-based brand
- Widely stocked at independent shops through American Tire Distributors
- Road-hazard protection through Hercules on many models
Weaknesses
- Wet braking and tread life clearly behind mid-tier brands
- Made under contract in Asia with variable plant sourcing
Ironman as a company
Ironman is a North American replacement-tire brand sold only through independent tire dealers and retailers in the United States and Canada, supplied from the nationwide distribution-center network of its parent, American Tire Distributors. Most Ironman tires are imported from partner plants in Asia, with China, Thailand and Vietnam commonly named, while Hercules states that some production comes from partners inside the United States. There is no Ironman-owned plant and no Ironman retail chain.
Ironman is a brand marketed inside ATD, which publishes no brand-level figures at all, so production, market share and rank are null. The employee figure of about 5,000 is group-level for American Tire Distributors and dated 2024, i.e. before the 2024-25 Chapter 11 restructuring and asset sale, so it is indicative only. ATD is private: the last widely cited group revenue was roughly USD 5 billion for 2019 and no current figure or operating margin is published, so revenue and margin are null. Ironman's launch year cannot be pinned down, with sources variously saying 2005, 2008 or simply the mid-2000s, so grundat is null; the parent Hercules brand dates to 1952. Ownership today is Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. under ATD, and ATD itself has been owned since May 2025 by an entity formed by its former creditors, the pre-sale legal entity having been renamed Oldco Tire Distributors. Where each Ironman line is made is not published in detail.
Ironman through the years
- 1952The Hercules Tire & Rubber Company, the owner of the Ironman brand, was founded by a group of independent tire dealers who wanted a brand of their own.
- 1960Cooper Tire began manufacturing Hercules-branded tires, starting a US supply relationship that lasted for decades.
- 2014American Tire Distributors acquired Hercules Tire & Rubber on 31 January, bringing Ironman inside the largest tire distributor in the United States.
- 2022Hercules marked its 70th anniversary by rebranding both of its brands; Ironman got new typography, a new icon and the tagline Tires to Trust as the affordable, get-back-on-the-road option.
- 2024Ironman's parent ATD filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in October, its second bankruptcy in six years.
- 2025An entity formed by a group of ATD creditors acquired substantially all of ATD's assets in May, so Ironman is now owned by its parent's former lenders.
Did you know?
- Ironman and Hercules come from the same company and are deliberately split: Hercules is sold as premium value, Ironman as the cheap, always-in-stock choice for a driver who just needs to get back on the road.
- Neither brand owns a factory. Hercules says Ironman tires are built by partner plants in the United States and abroad, and Hercules-branded tires were made by Cooper Tire, now part of Goodyear, from 1960 onwards.
- Ironman's parent, American Tire Distributors, went through Chapter 11 twice in six years, in 2018 and again in October 2024, and is now controlled by the creditors who bought its assets in May 2025.
Ironman tires: common questions
Who makes Ironman tires?
Ironman is a brand of Hercules Tire and Rubber, which is owned by American Tire Distributors. The tires are manufactured under contract at plants in Thailand, Vietnam and China. The factory is identified by the DOT code on the sidewall.
Are Ironman tires safe?
Yes, they meet all US DOT requirements and are sold through reputable dealers. They are not high-performance tires: wet braking distances are longer than mid-tier and premium tires, and they wear faster. Keep them properly inflated and allow extra following distance in rain.
How long do Ironman tires last?
The iMove Gen 2 AS is warranted for 50,000 miles and owners typically see 35,000 to 45,000 miles. The All Country A/T is also warranted for 50,000 miles. The mud-terrain and winter tires have no mileage warranty and wear quickly under highway use.