Established as a response to the embargoes imposed on Türkiye after the Cyprus Peace Operation, Petlas is today the greatest assurance not only for land vehicles but also for the Turkish Air Force on the ground. As Türkiye's first and only military aircraft tire manufacturer, Petlas is ending dependence on foreign sources in the defense industry with its production line extending from Kırşehir to the world.
Some factories simply produce goods, while others change the destiny of a nation. Petlas Tire Industry Inc. is precisely in this second category, an industrial giant born from Türkiye's strategic necessities. Today, the company, which produces tires for all types of vehicles from passenger cars to fighter jets, is one of the strongest representatives of the "100% domestic capital" vision.
Here is the story of Petlas, from the days of embargo to technology exports, and its technical capabilities.
“It was founded so that "our planes wouldn't be grounded."
Petlas's founding story dates back to the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation. Due to the military embargo imposed on Türkiye after the operation, the Turkish Air Force experienced major problems in supplying tires for its fighter jets, creating a risk of the planes remaining in the hangar.
In order to close this strategic gap, the state... In Kırşehir in 1976 Petlas, whose foundations were laid in 1989, overcame Türkiye's unfortunate fate in the tire industry by producing its first tire. Following its acquisition by Abdulkadir Özcan A.Ş. (AKO Group) in 2005, the company underwent a major investment and modernization process, and today it has become one of the largest tire factories under a single roof in Europe.
Production Power: From Tractors to Fighter Jets
Petlas is not just a tire factory today, but an integrated technology hub. In its massive facilities in Kırşehir;
- Military Aviation: Landing gear tires for F-16 and F-4 fighter jets, and domestically produced UAVs/UASs.
- Land Vehicles: Passenger cars, trucks, buses.
- Industrial: Tires for armored military vehicles, construction equipment, and agricultural vehicles (tractors).
In addition, it carries out the production of inner and outer tires entirely with domestic R&D and engineering capabilities.
First Milestones on the Quality Journey
Petlas's production quality was certified by international auditing organizations years ago. The foundations of the company's quality vision were laid in the late 1990s:
- The year 1998: Petlas, which underwent rigorous scrutiny by experts from the German RWTÜV institution, also includes tire design processes. ISO 9001 Quality Assurance System Certificate‘It has proven its worth in civilian production by obtaining [the relevant certification].
- Military Approval (1999): The most critical hurdle was overcome in 1999. Having successfully passed the inspection by experts from the Ministry of National Defence and the Undersecretariat of Defence Industry, the company expanded its operations beyond just tire design. AQAP-110 Industrial Quality Assurance Level Certificate‘He/She has earned the right to receive it.
These documents were the first official proof that Petlas has the ability to produce not only commercial products but also military ammunition/equipment to NATO standards (AQAP).
Türkiye's Power on the Ground
Since its establishment, Petlas has never compromised on its principle of "National Capital, Domestic Production," and today it is a global brand exporting to more than 100 countries. Particularly in the defense industry, Petlas has positioned Türkiye as a "producer" of critical consumables like tires, and continues to maintain its strategic importance by developing tires for national projects (KAAN, HÜRJET, KIZILELMA, etc.).
