Since its founding in 2006, Exmile has evolved from a niche player in industrial and OTR tyres to a global contender in truck and passenger car tyres. Now an OE supplier to over 30 major equipment brands and a trusted name in markets like Australia, the USA, and Europe, Exmile is steadily carving out its own brand identity. Tyres & Accessories sat down with founder Michael Zhang to explore the company’s growth, its innovative approach to manufacturing, and the surprising UK connections that shaped its journey.
First a little context. Tyres & Accessories first met Exmile representatives back in 2016. Back then the company was already something like China’s best-kept industrial tyre secret. Or, to put it another way, without too much fanfare, Exmile had become an OTR tyre OE supplier to some of the biggest names you are likely to have heard of. To be specific, a decade ago, was already providing OE services to “more than 20 global and domestic machinery and equipment manufacturers” such as: Jungheinrich, Doosan, Terex, Manitou and Tailift. In the replacement market, Exmile tyre reports that it enjoyed a good reputation and growth in countries like Australia, USA, South East Asia, East Europe, Mexico, Colombia and Chile.
Growing from industrial and OTR tyres to truck and then car tyres
That reputation is based on core values that see the firm “devote itself to tyre design, manufacturing, brand building and tyre management”, something that has been a going since the very beginning of company in 2006.
The firm’s attendance at the Bauma China international OTR equipment exhibition in set out to raise the firm’s profile off the back of the launch of a new solid OTR tyre as an example of the company’s innovation.
By 2017, Exmile had further developed its position in the OTR and solid industrial tyre market. At that point, the company claimed pole-position when it came to supplier forklift tyres in China. From there a foothold into European markets – especially in the east – with similar product lines. Back then, Exmile launched its 24.00×35 rear loader tyre at the Citexpo event in Shanghai and was specifically targeting markets in Australia and USA for its latest construction products.
To bring things much more up to date, Between 12 and 14 March 2025, the Exmile brand used the Tyrexpo Asia exhibition in Singapore as a platform to introduce its new range of passenger car radial tyres to the world.
Exmile tyres are produced by Exmile Special Tyre Co. Ltd. the same business that was established in 2006 to make the aforementioned industrial and OTR tyres primarily associated with the brand.
Tyre production centres on two Chinese-based operations known as Exmile (Shandong) and Exmile (Jiangsu). Exmile (Shandong)’s official name is Exmile Special Tyre Co. Ltd, highlighting the business’s roots, this operation focuses on industrial, OTR, agricultural and TBR tyres. The product range covers forklifts, aerial platforms as well as mining and construction machinery.
In the company’s most recent history, Exmile has grown to the point that it now provides OE supply services to more than 30 global machinery and equipment manufacturers – a 50 per cent increase in the intervening years.
Exmile (Jiangsu) – officially known as Exmile (Jiangsu) New Material Technology Co. Ltd – is the company’s most recently established tyre factory based in Lianyungang city, Jiangsu Province. According to company representatives, the new car tyre factory will make “a full range of car tyre sizes”, with an annual capacity 8 million units. Tyres are already being marketed under the Milemax brand. Indeed, Milemax branded high-performance, 4×4, SUV and light truck tyres are now making their way to markets all over the world.
This article is a preview of the full interview, which appears in the next edition of Tyres & Accessories magazine. Not a subscriber? No problem, click here to become one.
