Tire brand
Camso
Camso is a Quebec brand of off-road products founded in Magog in 1982.
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Brand profile
Camso is a Quebec brand of off-road products founded in Magog in 1982. Specializing in rubber tracks, track systems and tires (pneumatic, solid and airless) for powersports, construction, agriculture and material handling, it was built on the legacy of Camoplast and Solideal. Owned by Michelin from 2018 to 2024, the brand now belongs to the Indian manufacturer CEAT.
Positioning: Positioning: Rubber tracks and off-road tires for all-terrain vehicles, construction, agriculture and material handling.
History
Camso's story begins in 1982 when Normand Carpentier and Michel Lasalle acquire four Bombardier divisions, including Roski Ltd., and found Camoplast Inc. in Magog, Quebec. The company first focuses on rubber tracks for snowmobiles, expertise inherited from Quebec's recreational vehicle industry, before expanding its lineup to track systems for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-side vehicles (UTVs) and heavy equipment. Over the decades, Camoplast grows through internal expansion and acquisitions, going from roughly 95 million to more than one billion dollars in sales. In 2010, the company acquires the Solideal Group, a Luxembourg-based manufacturer specializing in tires, tracks and wheels for the industrial and construction markets; it then takes the name Camoplast Solideal. On July 3, 2015, the company is renamed Camso, a name meant to represent "the best of Camoplast and Solideal." Having become a major player in off-road tires and tracks, Camso attracts the attention of the world's large groups. On July 25, 2018, Michelin announces the acquisition of Camso for approximately 1.45 billion dollars; the transaction closes on December 18, 2018, for total consideration of approximately 1.36 billion US dollars. Under Michelin, Camso keeps its headquarters in Magog and feeds the group's off-road tire division. On December 6, 2024, Michelin sells the Camso brand to the Indian manufacturer CEAT in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately 225 million US dollars, including worldwide ownership of the brand, the bias tire and construction equipment track business, as well as two plants in Sri Lanka. Camso has historically employed more than 8,000 people and operates research centers and facilities across several continents.
Technologies
Camso's technical core lies in rubber tracks and track conversion systems, where the brand has mastered rubber compounds, internal reinforcement (steel cables, fibers) and lug geometry to distribute load and maximize traction on soft ground. On the tire side, Camso develops pneumatic, solid and airless (resilient) solutions tailored to forklifts, skid steer loaders and machinery. Solid tires eliminate the risk of punctures in industrial environments, while resilient versions absorb impacts without an inner tube. Skid steer loader tires come in L2 through L5 ratings depending on the severity of use, with tread patterns and reinforced casings designed to withstand abrasion and cuts on concrete, gravel and job-site debris.
Innovations
Camso's most recognized contribution is making track systems for recreational vehicles widely accessible: converting an ATV or side-by-side into a winter or all-terrain machine capable of getting through deep snow, mud and marshy terrain. Its research centers in Magog, Ghent, Colombo, Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City have worked on optimizing rubber compounds, reducing rolling resistance and improving the durability of reinforcements. The brand has also advanced skid steer loader tires with technologies focused on longevity (cut-resistant casings, heat-resistant compounds) and resilient tires for material handling, which reduce downtime caused by punctures. In agriculture, Camso has developed harvester tracks and tires that reduce soil compaction. This grounding in operators' real-world use, rather than in on-road performance, drives all of its research.
Manufacturing
Camso is headquartered in Magog, Quebec, where its track systems are designed and where one of its research centers is located. The brand operates additional R&D centers in Ghent (Belgium), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Shanghai (China) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), as well as plants and branches in the Americas, Asia and Europe. Since the 2024 acquisition by CEAT, ownership notably includes two manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka for bias tires and construction tracks. In Quebec and Canada, Camso products (ATV/UTV tracks, material handling and skid steer loader tires) are distributed through networks of equipment dealers, industrial suppliers and specialized retailers.
Reputation
Camso enjoys a solid reputation in the off-road and industrial world, particularly in Quebec where its ATV and side-by-side tracks are favored by hunters, forestry workers and outdoor enthusiasts for getting through snow and difficult terrain. In construction and material handling, its skid steer loader tires and solid forklift tires are recognized for their durability and resistance to punctures under severe use. The brand does not operate in the passenger car tire market: these are therefore not 3PMSF-certified on-road winter tires, but solutions intended for work and recreational vehicles. In Quebec, its availability runs through specialized equipment and machinery networks.
Models and families
Related Camso models
These families are presented for reference. Actual availability depends on the catalogue and sizes.