The history of the brand

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company began in 1898, when founder Frank A. Seiberling purchased the company’s first production plant using money he borrowed from his brother-in-law. Naming the company after Charles Goodyear, the pioneer who discovered the process of vulcanisation, Seiberling also fashioned the distinctive winged-foot trademark based on a statue of Mercury he kept in his home. Though the symbol has since been altered over the years, it remains a recognisable signature for Goodyear till this very day.

From a rubber company…

It wasn’t an easy start though. Goodyear’s rubber and cotton had to be transported from halfway around the world to a landlocked town that had only limited rail transportation. With just 13 employees, Goodyear production began on November 21, 1898, with a line of bicycle and carriage tyres, horseshoe pads and poker chips. After the first full month of business, sales amounted to $8,246 – a great success.

Since the first bicycle tyre rolled off its production line in 1898, Goodyear has continued to strive to become the world's largest tyre company — a title it earned in 1916 when it adopted the slogan "More people ride on Goodyear tyres than on any other kind". Just ten years later, company fulfilled this vision and became the world's largest rubber company in 1926.

Goodyear’s legendary early years set the tone that continues to be felt in all aspects of the company, and in its relationship with its customers.

…to a global brand

When you look at the global Goodyear brand today — with its thousands of breakthroughs, innovations, new inventions, firsts and groundbreaking improvements — you're seeing a reflection of the bold, innovative and down-to-earth character of the company's founders. Today, Goodyear is one of the world's largest tyre companies, with a presence on six continents. The company also produces several other well-respected brand names including Dunlop, Kelly, Fulda, Lee, Sava and Debica. Its non-tyre business units provide rubber products and polymers for a variety of automotive and industrial markets.

Innovation

Innovation - the continuous flow of creative new ideas, products and materials - has always been at the very core of Goodyear's activities. The company established a major research facility in 1943, which has since received thousands of patents. Major inventions by Goodyear's scientists and technicians have been used not only in car tyres and other automotive products, but also in artificial hearts and joints, adhesives, artificial turf for playgrounds and food packaging, to name only a few.

Cutting-edge research

Goodyear Research was the training ground for Paul Flory, a Nobel laureate in the field of polymers. Two research associates have been awarded the Goodyear Medal, the highest award of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society, which honours scientists and engineers who have made outstanding innovations.

Beyond rubber

Goodyear Research scientists and engineers today come from all over the world and continue working at the cutting edge of rubber and polymer science. They have also branched out into such diverse fields as computer science, physics, mathematics, engineering mechanics, metallurgy and others to create a myriad of unique materials and processes.

Goodyear Milestones

For over a hundred years, Goodyear has been at the forefront of tyre technology. Through advanced research and manufacturing practices, Goodyear continues to push the boundaries of innovation and remains One Revolution Ahead.

1898 Frank Seiberling starts the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. He chooses to name it in honour of the inventor Charles Goodyear.