End of UK production from 2023

350 Employees Affected by Cooper Tire & Rubber Site Closure

The UK has always been a land of motorcycles, be it with its historic manufacturers, but also with its tire manufacturers. In addition to Dunlop, whose motorcycle tires are also made in France in Montluçon, Avon Tires has so far continued to produce its tires for motorized two-wheelers on British soil. The adventure is now coming to an end.

Cooper Tire and Rubber, owner of the brand and subsidiary of the Goodyear group since 2021, has effectively announced the cessation of activities and the closure of the production plant in Melksham, in the county of Wiltshire.

This historical site had come into operation at the beginning of the last century and had accompanied the rapid growth of the company during the 1950s and 1960s until reaching an annual production of one and a half million tires for motorcycles and automobiles.

But in recent years, the company has experienced declines in profitability and was forced to relocate several parts of its production in 2018, with the exception of motorcycle tire manufacturing, which is still done on-site. According to MCN, the profits generated by the Melksham site rose from £4.3 million in 1993 to £6,873 in 2020.

Gavin ChampionCooper Tire and Rubber Human Resources Director:

Our Melksham site has been struggling to stay competitive for some time and everyone involved has worked very hard to keep operations going for as long as possible. However, this has become increasingly difficult in today’s business environment.

During the 2018 budget cuts, Cooper Tire and Rubber assured that the company did not plan to relocate production of motorcycle tires. Plans that changed after the effects of the health crisis and Brexit. The site should be closed in 2023. 350 employees are affected. At the moment, it is not known where the production of motorcycle tires will be sent.

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