Tire brand
Kleber
Kleber is a French tire brand founded in 1910, owned by the Michelin group since 1981.
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Brand profile
Kleber is a French tire brand founded in 1910 and owned by the Michelin group since 1981. Positioned in the mid-range, it designs tires for passenger cars, SUVs, light commercial vehicles and agricultural machinery. It focuses on accessible value for money, drawing on Michelin's research and manufacturing capabilities while keeping its own product lines and identity.
Positioning: Passenger car, SUV and light commercial tires, plus an agricultural range, in the mid-range segment.
History
Kleber was born in 1910 under the name Société Française B.F. Goodrich, the French subsidiary of the American manufacturer BF Goodrich. Production began in Colombes, in the Paris region, with the first tire rolling off the line on December 8, 1911. In 1945, the company set up its headquarters on Avenue Kléber in Paris and adopted the name Kléber-Colombes, which would later become simply Kleber. The brand made technical history in 1951 with a tire featuring an integrated inner tube. Over the decades, Kleber carved out a place in the French and European market as a reliable and affordable manufacturer. In 1981, the Michelin group, also based in France in Clermont-Ferrand, acquired Kleber and folded it into its brand portfolio. Under Michelin, Kleber holds a mid-tier position in the European market: tires that are less expensive than the Michelin brand itself, yet benefit from the group's transfer of expertise. French production is concentrated notably at the Roclincourt plant in the Pas-de-Calais, which produces several million tires per year and employs around 900 people. The brand maintains a strong presence in France, as well as in Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. Kleber has also developed a significant agricultural business, with tires for tractors, telehandlers and spraying applications, distributed as far as North America through Michelin. At the turn of the 21st century, the brand shifted toward energy efficiency and reduced rolling resistance, in line with the European tire labeling system. In Canada, Kleber passenger and commercial tires remain available through specialty retailers and online platforms, without a distribution network as extensive as that of the major North American brands.
Technologies
Kleber passenger and SUV tires rely on rubber compounds and tread patterns designed to prioritize wet grip and longevity, two consistent priorities for the brand. The all-season (Quadraxer, Citilander) and winter (Krisalp) ranges use multiple sipes and compounds that stay flexible in cold weather for traction on snow and ice, with several models carrying the 3PMSF marking. Wide longitudinal grooves channel water away and limit hydroplaning. On commercial tires, the Transpro adopts a reinforced casing for heavy loads. Kleber also works on rolling resistance to improve fuel efficiency, in line with the Michelin group's objectives.
Innovations
Kleber's most notable historical contribution remains the integrated inner tube tire introduced in 1951, a breakthrough for its time. Since being integrated into Michelin in 1981, the brand has benefited from the group's research on rubber compounds, even wear and rolling resistance optimization, without itself carrying the cutting-edge programs reserved for the Michelin brand. Kleber also made its mark in competition, notably in rally racing, with its tires fitted to cars driven by racer Michèle Mouton in the early 1980s. More recently, the brand has steered its development toward energy efficiency and more sustainable manufacturing processes, and in 2024 it formed partnerships with French agricultural cooperatives around more sustainable practices, extending its expertise in agricultural tires.
Manufacturing
Kleber's historic headquarters is in France, with the brand now run from Clermont-Ferrand within the Michelin group. French production is concentrated notably at the Roclincourt plant in the Pas-de-Calais, which makes several million tires per year and employs around 900 staff. As a Michelin group brand, Kleber also benefits from the group's industrial and logistics infrastructure on an international scale. There is no Kleber plant in Quebec or anywhere in Canada: passenger, SUV and commercial tires are imported and offered there through specialty retailers and online sales platforms.
Reputation
Kleber enjoys an image as a reliable and affordable brand, seen as a gateway to Michelin's expertise at a more accessible price. In European tests, its Krisalp winter tires regularly stand out on snow and in hydroplaning resistance, while summer passenger models like the Dynaxer earn good marks for comfort and value, with performance rated as solid in the wet. Some all-season models receive more mixed reviews depending on the test. In Quebec, the real interest lies in the 3PMSF-certified road models that comply with the winter tire requirement from December 1 to March 15.
Models and families
Related Kleber models
These families are presented for reference. Actual availability depends on the catalogue and sizes.