| The number '13' was a lucky one for global tire and | | | | heavy machinery. During World War II, Goodyear |
| rubber manufacturer Goodyear Tire and Rubber | | | | played a significant role by helping develop the Corsair |
| Company. The company was established by | | | | fighter aircraft to aid the very busy US Military. |
| American inventor Frank Seiberling in 1898. The first | | | | As a multinational corporation, Goodyear expanded |
| manufacturing facility was founded in Akron, Ohio and | | | | from being a rubber and tire maker into other fields of |
| had only employed 13 employees who were all | | | | business. In 1956, the company started operating a |
| significant in the production of the first products of the | | | | nuclear processing facility in Ohio. In the 1970s, the |
| firm, which consisted of poker chips, rubber horseshoe | | | | company formed a unit called Goodyear Aerospace |
| pads and carriage and bicycle tires. | | | | Corporation, which evolved from the Goodyear |
| Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has never been | | | | Aircraft Company that designed and produced aircraft, |
| in any way associated with Charles Goodyear, who | | | | including the space shuttle. Like all other companies, |
| became famous in 1839 for inventing the vulcanized | | | | Goodyear spent considerable amount of time and |
| rubber. However, Mr. Seiberling was very vocal in | | | | money to convert its initial Akron plant into a research |
| disclosing that the company was named to honor and | | | | and design Technical Center. In 1979, Goodyear |
| commemorate Mr. Goodyear's significant contribution | | | | ventured into computer designing by making the design |
| to the rubber and automobile industry. | | | | for a supercomputer for the National Aeronautics and |
| The big break for Goodyear tires did not come | | | | Space Administration's Goddard Spaceflight Center. |
| abruptly until 1901, when the company entered into a | | | | Through the years, there have been numerous |
| deal to supply racing tires to then budding car racing | | | | victories and innovations made by the company. |
| firm Ford Motor. Car designer Henry Ford outfitted his | | | | Goodyear has truly emerged as a conglomerate, a |
| revolutionary Model T with tires supplied by Goodyear. | | | | global firm that expanded into several lucrative and |
| The rest, of course, was history. In 1909, Goodyear | | | | important ventures. As a tire maker, the company |
| tires started manufacturing aircraft tires, which now | | | | formed operations in important markets like the |
| make Goodyear a renowned tire brand globally. | | | | European Union region, Africa, North America, Latin |
| Goodyear emerged to become the biggest rubber | | | | America and the Asia Pacific region. |
| manufacturer globally by 1926. By that time, Goodyear | | | | A number of subsidiaries have also been established |
| was largely known in the automobile industry as the | | | | like Fierce, Kelly Tires (which was an acquired rival), |
| best and most efficient racing tire brand. By that, the | | | | Lee, Dunlop, Debica in Poland, Sava in Slovenia and |
| popularity of the Goodyear tires shot up and paved | | | | Fulda in Germany. The Goodyear tire brand also |
| the way for further growth and wide-scale popularity. | | | | expanded into automotive, commercial and |
| The years that succeeded witnessed how Goodyear | | | | non-industrial tires. |
| tires evolved as a brand and as a rubber and tire | | | | To date, Goodyear is the third biggest maker of tires, |
| company. Through the years, the company expanded | | | | coming after global giants Michelin and Bridgestone. No |
| its portfolio of manufactured products to include other | | | | wonder, when people need tires for their cars, they |
| significant items like rubber hoses, several components | | | | would almost always have the Goodyear brand on |
| for electric printers, insulators, shoe soles and tires for | | | | their minds. |