Barum at a glance
Barum's roots go back to the Zlín shoemaker Baťa. In the 1930s Baťa began making tyres for its own fleet of lorries to avoid costly imports. In 1948 three rubber companies were merged, and the new business was named Barum after Baťa, Rubena and Mitas. During the communist era the factory was for a time called Rudý říjen, or Red October. Barum made its first radial tyre in 1967.
In 1993 Barum became part of Germany's Continental. Barum tyres are made at the Otrokovice plant in the Czech Republic, one of Continental's largest factories in Europe. The brand sits on the lowest rung of the group's price ladder, below Continental, Uniroyal and Semperit. Barum tyres suit price-conscious drivers who want an affordable tyre from a major European manufacturer's factory. The brand is also known as a rally sponsor: the Barum Czech Rally Zlín is part of the European Rally Championship.
Barum's best-known summer tyre is the Bravuris 5HM. Barum winter tyres carry the Polaris name, with the Polaris 5 currently on sale. These are Central European winter tyres. Barum does not offer dedicated Nordic studded tyres or soft Nordic friction tyres in Europe. For year-round driving, Barum's range includes the Quartaris 5. Vans get their own ranges, such as the Vanis.