Who Owns Gladiator Tires?
Gladiator Tires is owned by American Pacific Industries Inc. (API), a privately held tire brand company headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, founded in 1982 by chairman Jeff Kreitzman. Gladiator is API's flagship off-road and light truck brand, engineered at API's Qingdao design office and manufactured by partner factories in India, China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Parent Company
Founded
1982
Status
Private
Headquarters
Who Owns Gladiator Tires?
- Parent Company: American Pacific Industries Inc.
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Gladiator Tires | American Pacific Industries Inc. | Wholly owned |
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History of Gladiator Tires
- Founded: 1982
- Founders: Jeff Kreitzman
American Pacific Industries grew out of Kreitzman's move from retailing and distribution into the design and brand side of the tire business. Founded in Scottsdale in 1982, API built its reputation on high-performance and off-road tires at prices below the major brands, sourcing manufacturing across Asia.
Gladiator emerged as the company's flagship off-road marque, covering all-terrain, mud-terrain, and hybrid light truck tires aimed at pickup owners, off-roaders, and work truck users. The X Comp line grew alongside it as a more extreme competition-influenced sub-brand.
Through the 2000s and 2010s API expanded Gladiator into a full light truck program: the QR series of highway and all-terrain patterns, mud and rugged terrain options, trailer tires, and commercial truck fitments. Distribution runs through independent dealers and wholesalers plus online retailers.
The brand remains central to API's roughly 16 million tire annual volume. In a 2026 Tire Technology International interview, Kreitzman described working directly on Gladiator tread designs with the Qingdao team, including the new Gladiator Armor 4S all-weather pattern, and addressed how the company is navigating the current US tariff environment on Asian-made tires.
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About American Pacific Industries Inc.
Is American Pacific Industries a manufacturer?
API designs all of its tires in-house but outsources production to partner factories in India, China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Who owns American Pacific Industries?
It is a family-owned private company led by founder and chairman Jeff Kreitzman.
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When was API founded?
In 1982, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
What brands does API own?
Gladiator, X Comp, Zenna, Pegasus, Advanta, Hartland, and O'Green, plus customer private label programs.
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Where is API headquartered?
Scottsdale, Arizona, with its product engineering office in Qingdao, China.
How many tires does API sell?
More than 16 million tires annually, roughly half under its own brands and half as private label production for other companies.
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- Founded: 1982
- Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
- Company Type: Privately Held
- Revenue: Not publicly disclosed
- Employees: Not publicly disclosed
Where Is Gladiator Tires Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: India, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
Gladiator Tires Categories & Tags
Gladiator Tires Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +In-house engineering rather than factory-catalog rebadging
- +Founder-led company with 40-plus years in the industry
- +Strong styling and size coverage in light truck fitments
- +Multi-country sourcing limits single-plant risk
- +Mid-tier pricing below premium off-road brands
Considerations
- -No own factories; dependent on Asian contract plants
- -US tariffs on Asian imports pressure pricing
- -Limited consumer brand awareness versus Nitto or BFGoodrich
- -Private company with undisclosed financials
Frequently Asked Questions About Gladiator Tires
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Sources & Further Reading
- Gladiator Tires
- API Tire
- Tire Technology International: API Interview (March 2026)
- American Pacific Industries Company Profile - /companies/american-pacific-industries
Competitors to Gladiator Tires
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo Wholesale Tires | USA | 2003 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Toyo Tire | USA | 1949 | Premium | Global | All Genders | |
| American Omni Trading | USA | 1990 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
AutomotiveLionhart Tires
Owned by Turbo Wholesale Tires LLC
Value and performance tire brand owned by Turbo Wholesale Tires LLC of Irwindale, California, offering all-season, all-terrain, trailer, and UHP fitments manufactured by overseas contract plants.
tiresvalue-tireslionhart
AutomotiveNitto Tires
Owned by Toyo Tire Corporation
Enthusiast tire brand of Toyo Tire Corporation, founded in Japan in 1949 and known in North America for Grappler truck tires and performance lines marketed through Nitto Tire U.S.A. of Cypress, California.
tiresnittotoyo-tire
AutomotiveThunderer Tires
Owned by American Omni Trading Company
Private tire brand of American Omni Trading Company of Katy, Texas, offering passenger, light truck, trailer, and commercial tires manufactured in Thailand and backed by a 50/365 free replacement policy.
tiresprivate-brand-tiresamerican-omni
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Gladiator Tires competes with 3 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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