GOODYEAR

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is an American multinational tire manufacturing company founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling and based in Akron, Ohio. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery.

The company was named after American Charles Goodyear, inventor of vulcanized rubber. The first Goodyear tires became popular because they were easily detachable and required little maintenance.

Goodyear is also known for the Goodyear Blimp. Though Goodyear had been manufacturing airships and balloons since the early 1900s, the first Goodyear advertising blimp flew in 1925. Today it is one of the most recognizable advertising icons in America. The company is the most successful tire supplier in Formula One history, with more starts, wins, and constructors' championships than any other tire supplier. They pulled out of the sport after the 1998 season. It is the sole tire supplier for NASCAR series.

Goodyear is a former component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company opened a new global headquarters building in Akron in 2013.

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tyre companies. It employs about 65,000 people and manufactures its products in 47 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.

Goodyear’s winged-foot trademark was inspired by a newel-post statuette of the Roman god Mercury in the home of Goodyear founder Frank Seiberling. Seiberling felt Mercury embodied many of the characteristics for which Goodyear products were known.
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1898
Goodyear is founded by Frank A. Seiberling and enters its first home: a strawboard factory on the banks of the Little Cuyahoga River in East Akron, Ohio, USA. The company is named in honour of Charles Goodyear, who discovered the rubber vulcanization process in 1839. The company makes horseshoe pads, bicycle and carriage tyres, sealing rings for canning, fire hose and even rubber poker chips.
1908
Henry Ford's Model T, fitted with Goodyear tyres, is a sensation with middle class consumers.
1964
Using Goodyear tyres, Craig Breedlove becomes the first man to top 600 miles (960km) an hour.
1971
The first tyres on the moon – Apollo 14's MET (Modularized Equipment Transporter) – was shod with Goodyear's XLT tyres.
1985
Goodyear supplies the first radial tyres for commercial aircraft.
1993
Goodyear introduces the Aquatred tyre, offering a revolutionary design which delivers high performance traction in both wet and dry conditions.
1997
Goodyear is first to win 350 F1 Grand Prix races.
1998
Goodyear celebrates its 100th anniversary.
2003
Goodyear stands at the pinnacle of drag racing, winning the most championships in both the professional and sportsman categories in the National Hot Rod and International Hot Rod Association competitions.
2004
Goodyear and NASCAR celebrate their 50th anniversary together. Goodyear is the longest-running sponsor of the sport.
2005
Goodyear launches RunOnFlat Technology – the next generation of run flat tyres available for all kinds of motorists. Goodyear tyres with RunOnFlat Technology are the first tyres that can run up to 80kph for 80km with punctures.
2009
Goodyear and NASA invent "Spring Tire" for moon – an energy efficient tyre that would not go flat.
2010
Goodyear Asia Pacific begins introducing the company’s proprietary Fuel Saving Technology into new tyres, letting drivers go further for less and reduce emissions.
2012
Goodyear’s Air Maintenance Technology™ is recognized by Time Magazine as one of the best inventions of 2012.
2012
Goodyear discovers that using soybean oil in tyres can potentially increase tread life by 10 percent and reduce the use of petroleum-based oil in the manufacturing process.
2014
Goodyear announces plans to convert waste from rice harvest to fuel-efficient tyre treads.
2015
Goodyear Asia Pacific introduces the “Road Therapy” campaign. Road Therapy recognizes the power of driving in transforming emotions.