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The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles. The company was a pioneer in the mass production of tires. Firestone used this relationship to become the original equipment supplier of Ford Motor Company automobiles, and was also active in the replacement market.

History


Firestone was originally based in Akron, Ohio, also the hometown of its archrival, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. The company initiated operations in 1900 with 12 employees. Together, Firestone and Goodyear were the largest suppliers of automotive tires in North America for over three-quarters of a century.

From the start, Firestone worked relentlessly to improve quality and meet the needs of his customers. His efforts and integrity paid off when in 1906 Firestone tires were chosen by Henry Ford for the first mass-produced automobiles in America.

To put Firestone tires to the ultimate test and publicize their superior performance, Firestone began what would become a legendary history in car racing by entering and winning the first Indy 500. Cars driven on Firestone tires would go on to win more than 50 checkered flags at the fabled brickyard.

In 1919 The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Canada was incorporated in Hamilton, Ontario and in 1922 The first Canadian-made tire rolled off the line on September 15.

In 1957 Firestone developed a high-speed race tire to withstand speeds of 190 miles per hour for the first running of the International 500-mile race at Monza, Italy.

In 1961, Firestone aquired the Dayton Tire division from the Dayco Corporation.

In 1968 Graham hill became the first driver to win the FIA Formula 1 championship on Firestone tires.

In 1979 Firestone pioneered the concept of the "temporary spare" tire.

When John J. Nevin became president in 1980, Firestone began selling off unprofitable plants and began buying back the company's stock. Firestone boosted the number of its automotive repair shops, which account for nearly 20% of the company's $3.9 billion in 1988 annual sales. The company also moved its headquarters away from Akron, Ohio - the traditional home of the nation's rubber and tire-making industry - to Chicago.

In 1988 the company was bought by the Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone, the combined Bridgestone/Firestone North American operations being based in Nashville, Tennessee; the Bridgestone Blizzak winter tire was introduced to the Firestone Range of products.

In 1995 Firestone Tires were re-introduced to Indy 500 and in 1997 Arie Luyendyk won his second Indy 500. The win was Firestone's 50th at the brickyard. Bridgestone won its first F1 world championship in only its second season as Mika Hakkinen captured the driver's title in 1998. His team, McLaren, won the constructor's championship. Bridgestone/Firestone announced its newest technology, UNI-T AQ (Advanced Quality). This technology helps tires perform better, even in a worn condition.

Bridgestone/Firestone opened its most technologically advanced tire plant in Aiken, South Carolina in 1999 and the Bridgestone/Racing School moved to Mosport Ontario and was renamed the Bridgestone/Firestone Racing School.

For 35 years, the company sponsored the radio and television show The Voice of Firestone.

Defense contract
In 1951, Firestone was given the defense contract for the US Military MGM-5 Corporal Missile. Firestone was given a total of $6888,796 for the first 200 Missiles. This missile was know as the "Embryo of the Army" and was a surface-to-surface guided missile which could deliver a high explosive warhead up to 75 Nautical Miles. It was later modified to be able to carry a nuclear payload for use in the event of Cold War hostilities in Eastern Europe. This missile was replaced in 1962 by the MGM-29 Sergeant missile system.

Firestone roofing products
Firestone manufacture a roofing product under the brand name "Firestone Coverdeck", this product is widely used in North America on low sloping roofs. It is manufactured from 54% recycled product. Another product, "Firestone RubberGard" was chosen by the Denver International Airport for its roof.

100 Years Company History Timeline
Original data from Firestone100.com, reworded and multiple events joined to single entry.

Firestone Europe

 * None

Firestone New Zealand

 * None

Firestone USA
During the 1970s, Firestone experienced a major problem with one of its tire sizes. The Firestone 500 steel-belted radials began to show signs of separation of the tread at high speeds. While the cause was never proven, it is believed that the failure of bonding cements used by Firestone to hold the tread to the tire carcass, may have allowed water to penetrate the tire which in turn my have caused the internal steel wire to corrode. In March 1978, NHTSA publicly announced a formal investigation into defects of the Firestone 500. The NHTSA investigation found that the tread separation problem was most probably a design defect affecting all Firestone 500's and ordered the recall of 400,000 tires from the Decatur, Illinois plant. Following Congressional hearings into the Firestone 500 problems that were blamed for 34 deaths, on October 20 1978, Firestone ordered the recall of over 7 million tires.
 * Firestone 500 tread separation problem


 * Ford Explorer rollover problem

In 1996, several state agencies in Arizona began having major problems with Firestone tires on Explorers. According to news reports, various agencies demanded new tires, and Firestone conducted an investigation of the complaints, tested the tires and asserted that the tires had been abused or under-inflated.

In July 2006, Bridgestone Firestone Corporation released a new advertising campaign in an attempt to reach the 5% of customers that still had not acted on its voluntary recall program of August 2000 and voluntary replacement program of September 2001. The recall/replacement program was supported by a comprehensive advertising and consumer outreach campaign and over 6.3 million tires were replaced of the total 6.5 million affected. This still leave approx 200,000 tires out there somewhere. While the company believes that most of those tires unaccounted for have probably been scrapped long ago it is still trying to locate as many as possible.

The vice president of Quality Assurance for Bridgestone Firestone North America Tire, LLC; Mike Kane, stated "Even though there are only a small percentage of these tires believed to be still in use, we are continuing to put safety first and are implementing this campaign to try and reach a group of consumers whose tires have not been recovered".


 * Liberian rubber plant problem

According to CNN, in 1926, Firestone opened what it claims is the world's biggest rubber plantation in Liberia, West Africa. The workers accuse the company of serious labor abuses, including exploitative child labor, which they claim amount to modern-day slavery. Workers specifically claim that Firestone's high daily quotas force them to employ their own children, subjecting them to grueling and dangerous work conditions.

TV Advertisement jingle
Where the Rubber Meets the Road is an advertisement jingle that was first used in the 1960s that helped establish the Firestone name.


 * Wherever wheels are rolling,
 * No matter what the load,
 * The name that's known is Firestone
 * Where the rubber meets the road