Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

¶ … Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Specifically it will discuss the history of the company. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company was founded by Frank Seiberling. The first Goodyear factory opened in Akron, Ohio in 1898 manufacturing bicycle and carriage tires, rubber horseshoe pads, and poker chips. As years quickly passed the Goodyear Company became very involved with automobiles and then started experimenting with aircraft design. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company was a major contributor to the United States military during World War I because they manufactured airships, balloons, and airplanes that helped to the Allied victory. Goodyear also played a huge role in boosting the city of Akron's economy. Today, Goodyear is still playing a major role in automobiles, aviation, construction, and education, but most consumers know the company for their tires, which are the backbone of their global organization.

While Frank Seiberling founded the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1898, he named it after Charles Goodyear, and there is a good reason for that. Charles Goodyear discovered how to heat-treat rubber to make rubber resistant to changes in the weather in 1839, and this discovery helped lead to the rubber tires that would make the Goodyear Company famous throughout the world. This is why Seiberling named the company after Goodyear, even though Goodyear had no interest in the firm. (in fact, he died

Seiberling started the rubber factory with a $3,500 loan from his brother-in-law, and capitalized the firm by urging several investors to give funds to the company. The city of Akron already had four other rubber plants, but opportunities still thrived in the industry, largely due to the popularity of bicycles, which used rubber tires. An early Goodyear historian notes, "Late in November [1898], after obtaining a few orders for bicycle and carriage tires and hiring a few operatives, he turned on the steam and began business."

However, Seiberling had money troubles from the start, and with four other rubber companies in town, he needed something new and different to set him apart and make his products unique. In order to be competitive, Seiberling added automobile and carriage tires to his product line, and then branched out into sundries like rubber bands and druggist items to help the company become profitable.

Several rubber plants had troubles with patents and licensing during this time and Goodyear was no exception. They obtained the license to manufacture Tillinghast bicycle tires from the Hartford Rubber Company, and daily production rose to 4,500 tires a day in the plant, but then Hartford withdrew the license. Goodyear developed a modified tire themselves, and began selling it, but Harford sued. Eventually, Hartford withdrew the suit, and Goodyear went on producing the tires. They also faced a long court battle with the patent-holder of carriage tires they produced, which created hefty court costs, but eventually, Goodyear won that lawsuit, as well. They first began manufacturing automobile tires in 1899, and developed the first straight-side tire in 1901, which included a braided wire bead inside the tire, and in 1903, the company invented the first tubeless automobile tire.

From its shaky start, Goodyear was growing to be one of the most influential and prolific rubber companies in the country. The corporate Web site note, "Goodyear pedaled its way toward becoming the world's largest tire company, a title it earned in 1916 when it adopted the slogan 'More people ride on Goodyear tires than on any other kind,' becoming the world's largest rubber company in 1926."

Part of this success lay in the continued development of new technologies.

In 1904, the company developed a tire-building machine, along with the first detachable rim, which replaced the one-piece clincher rim, and in 1906, they developed the first quickly detachable straight-side tire, along with a cord tire developed for electric automobiles in 1907. In 1908, they developed the first All-Weather tire design, created with a "diamond-studded" pattern that was used for over 40 years. In 1909, they created the first pneumatic airplane tires, and patented their tire-building machine.

The company continued to expand, purchasing their own rubber plantation in Sumatra (now Indonesia), and diverging into transportation and other lines. They built their first blimp in 1912, as well.

In 1934, Goodyear developed the first studded mud and snow tire. They developed corded rayon tires for passenger cars in 1938, and in 1937, they developed the first synthetic rubber tire, and built plants in several states to produce these tires. During the war years, tire production slowed to a crawl as the company converted plants to defense uses, such as building warplanes and many peripherals that supported these planes. By 1947, the company had restructured back to tire production, and introduced nylon tires and the Super Cushion, which only required 24 psi of pressure to fill. Goodyear was always excellent at promoting their own products, and they billed the Super Cushion as "[T]he most important engineering development in tires since the introduction of the low-pressure balloon tire in 1923,' the new Super Cushion required less air pressure than other tires and by design was wider and softer for a smoother ride and better handling."

They also began a full line of stock car racing tires in 1956, and introduced the first steel reinforced tires in 1957. They introduced consumer radial-ply tires in 1965, which became standard on many new cars and trucks, and they introduced the Custom Wide Tread Polyglas tire in 1967, which became the standard on almost all new cars by 1969. In 1972, they introduced the Custom Steelgard Radial, which was the only steel-belted radial tire used or accepted by all the U.S. car makers for use on their 1973 models.

Goodyear has developed many aviation and other technologies, but they are also at the forefront of heavy equipment tires and transport. In 1923, the company developed corded pneumatic truck tires, and they pioneered research on rayon cord used for constructing truck tires. They created the Earthmover tire in 1934, and developed the rayon cord truck tire in 1935, in 1938, they developed their largest truck tire that could carry 25,000 pounds, and developed amphibious and cold-weather tires, as well. In 1955, the company developed the first tubeless Earthmover and grader tires, as well. Continuing to develop new technologies, the company created the Unisteel truck tire with radial wire and three-ply "belts" in 1958. In 1970, they introduced Polyglas tires for trucks, campers, and vans, and they produced the first tires to ever touch the moon's surface. In the late 70s, they developed the Tiempo, an all-season radial tire that became the most popular tire in their history, and in 1992, they introduced the first "run-flat" tires. They continue to innovate and develop new technologies today, and they have received numerous awards over their 100-plus-year history in technology, design, and innovation.

In a smart marketing move, Goodyear has sponsored Indianapolis 500, Grand Prix, and stock car racing for decades, and countless Indy and stock car champions have won on Goodyear tires, something the company often touts in their history and press releases. Many land speed records were also created using Goodyear tires, and their long-term advertising symbol, the Wingfoot, is a symbol not only of quality to many Americans, but to speed and durability in the racing world. (for example, in 1975, the company supplied every tire used in the Indianapolis 500, and has continued to dominate the racing world to this day.)

In addition, Goodyear pioneered overseas production and development. They are also innovators in safety and safety management in their plants worldwide. As the tire woes of the 1990s illustrated, a good name in safety is the backbone of a successful tire company, and Goodyear has developed a reputation for safety and high safety standards, both for their products and their employees. Another writer notes, "Goodyear is implementing ergonomic education and programs on a global basis; the company believes a comprehensive ergonomic process is an integral part of its global health and safety system."

They were one of the first companies to implement this global process, and have won safety awards for their innovation and continued efforts to create a safe workplace along with safe products for consumers.

Indeed, they were an innovator in many areas of tire production and development. They opened plants around the world, from Mexico to Sumatra, and continued to acquire rubber plantations to supply their own demand. Other historic firsts from Goodyear include numerous inventions, patents, and developments that have aided all types of business and industry. They developed numerous new technologies and patents, and became known as an innovator in tire design and manufacture. They also do not rely solely on tires and tire production for their livelihood, they create and manufacture everything from rubber roofing to soft drink containers and flooring, but still are best known by their tires around the world.

However successful Goodyear has become, they still have the problems of a large, successful organization. In 2006, labor strife struck the company, and unions struck over a planned closing of a Tyler Texas plant that would eliminate 1,100 jobs. The United Steelworkers struck over the proposed closing, and the strike dragged on for several weeks before being settled, causing problems throughout the company and their customers, as well. The strike began Oct. 5, and over 12,000 workers were involved in the strike. The strike was anticipated, so many retailers were able to stockpile Goodyear tires in an attempt to alleviate the affects of the strike, but smaller retailers, who could not afford that option, were harder hit, and ran out of tires during the strike. One reporter notes, "The strike has been especially painful to small retailers, who couldn't afford or didn't have the warehouse capacity to order extra tires before the walkout."

Larger companies, such as Ford and Caterpillar, who use Goodyear tires, stockpiled tires as well, but also rely on tires from other manufacturers, so they were not hard hit during the strike.

After three months, the strike was ended, with both sides giving concessions. The Steelworkers lost their bid to keep the Tyler plant open, but did gain health care benefits and assurances from the company. Reporter Steve Lengell continues, "The contract establishes a company-financed trust of more than $1 billion for medical and prescription drug benefits for current and future retirees. Medical and prescription drug coverage for active and retired members also was maintained."

The Tyler plant will stay open through 2007, and jobs were protected at all the other plants Goodyear operates in the U.S., which include, "Danville, Va; Akron, St. Marys and Marysville, Ohio; Gadsden, Ala.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Lincoln, Neb.; Topeka, Kan.; Fayetteville, N.C.; Sun Prairie, Wis.; and Union City, Tenn."