And that's quite a Straw Man.

I guess none of you read the second sentence. Not at all what I meant. Apparently I have to spell it out for you. Of course different sizes and weights types of tires are different. However, if you are comparing various tires that have the same weight and size, and are made by the same manufacturer, and they sell for roughly the same price, chances are the sidewall material, tread rubber, etc are the same too.

These small companies (Grand Bois, Fairweather, Compass, Swift, SOMA, Rivendell, et al) that contract with Panaracer to produce their own tires are fundamentally different than an actual tire company with a factory and a staff of experienced engineers. Anyone willing to meet a minimum order can ask for a special tire custom suited to meet their requirements. It's not the same as designing and manufacturing a tire, though obviously the client has some design input. Nothing wrong with it either. Small companies can spur innovation by identifying a market need the big company couldn't, which is what Compass has done.