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Since 1963 Mickey Thompson has been supplying the performance automotive world with quality tires for all applications. There is however, more to M/T Tires than just their tire manufacturing capability. The legacy goes back to its co-founders Mickey Thompson and Gene McMannis. Both Thompson and McMannis were experienced in the automotive industry, and were intimately familiar with the standards a tire had to meet for performance use.
Just over half a century after they started, Mickey Thompson tires is still operating under the same high standards that it started with. They are also continuing to develop new products and improving the ones they have been making for decades.
Mickey Thompson (left) and Gene McMannis (right) around the time they started the company.
We spoke with Don Sneddon, the advertising manager at Mickey Thompson, and got a better idea of what they have been up to and how they operate. “Most of our tires are made right here in the USA,” he explained, “we are proud to be a U.S.-owned company, headquartered in Stow, Ohio.” Today, they have grown to a company that consists of over 70 employees.
We wanted to know a little more about the manufacturing process of these tires, but Don just told us that they “keep that part top secret!” He also added that they basically “mold rubber, steel, and other ingredients into the fastest tires on earth.” While he couldn’t detail that process, he was able to give us some more information about some of their bestselling tires: The ET Street radials.
The ET Street radial is available in three different models, the ET Street R, the ET Street S/S, and the ET Street Radial Pro. The R model stands for Race, this is a tire built for track performance that can be driven on the street. The S/S model stands for Street/Strip, and is a street tire that can be driven on the drag strip. The third option is the race-only Street Radial Pro. This DOT tire only comes in two sizes, and as Don says: “is for really fast cars. Drag Radials are the hottest thing going right now.”
The ET Street series of tires: R (left), S/S (center), Pro (Right)
“In the street radial market, nobody comes close to our performance levels at drag strip.” Don told us, “For the street, we have many unique tires as well, like our Sportsman SR that comes in super wide rear sizes for tubbed cars, and skinny front tires for a Pro Street look.” They also offer a classic-looking, vintage Sportsman ST with white lettering that features modern technology for a smoother ride. “We even have a new UHP-rated tire called the Street Comp, designed for new musclecars like the Camaro that delivers superior cornering capabilities.”
Mickey Thompson has a variety of tires for all applications, and Don gave us some insight on the best way to get the right tires for your build, “Call our tech department if you have any questions about which tire is best for your car. You can ask them anything, they are all experts, hot rodders, drag racers, and gear heads.” Odds are good that anyone you talk to at Mickey Thompson has M/T tires on their car.
What do you want to see coming from Mickey Thompson in the future? Do you have a set of their ET Street Radial tires? Tell us how they work, and tell us more about your experience with them in the past. We’d love to hear about it.
