Firestone

Firestone originated as the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, founded by Harvey S. Firestone in Akron, Ohio, on August 3, 1900. The business initially made solid rubber side-wire tires for fire apparatus before expanding into pneumatic tires for wagons, carriages, automobiles, and other wheeled vehicles. Its early growth coincided with the rise of mass automobile ownership and the development of standardized automotive manufacturing. A pivotal relationship with Henry Ford helped establish Firestone as an original-equipment supplier to Ford vehicles beginning in 1906. Firestone also developed a substantial replacement-tire business, making the brand one of the dominant North American tire names of the twentieth century. Akron, already a major center of the American rubber industry, became the company’s historic home and the base for major manufacturing and technical operations. The company expanded internationally during the interwar period. It established a Canadian subsidiary in 1918, opened a large rubber plantation in Liberia in 1926, and built manufacturing capacity in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In the same period, it launched its first Firestone Tire and Service Center, the predecessor of Firestone Complete Auto Care. Firestone’s manufacturing footprint later included prominent plants in South Gate, California, Memphis, Tennessee, and Brentford, England. During the Second World War, the company also produced military-related goods, including artillery shells, aluminum containers, rubberized equipment, barrage balloons, and helmet liners. In the early Cold War it manufactured the MGM-5 Corporal guided missile under a United States defense contract. Firestone diversified through acquisitions and non-tire activities, but by the late 1970s it faced severe financial and operational pressure. Competition from radial-tire manufacturers exposed weaknesses in its product development and manufacturing processes. The Firestone 500 radial-tire controversy, involving tread separation, recalls, regulatory investigations, lawsuits, and a major civil penalty, caused extensive reputational and financial damage. John Nevin was recruited in 1979 to lead a restructuring that closed plants, reduced costs, relocated corporate operations, and separated non-core businesses. In 1988, Firestone was acquired by Japan-based Bridgestone. The brand has since continued under Bridgestone’s North American organization rather than operating as an independent tire manufacturer. Firestone remains used on passenger, light-truck, commercial, agricultural, and racing products, while Firestone Complete Auto Care provides tire sales, vehicle maintenance, and repair services in the United States. Firestone has also retained a particularly strong connection with motorsports: its Firehawk racing tires are used in the NTT IndyCar Series, where Firestone has been the sole tire supplier since 2000 and is contracted to continue through the 2030 season. Bridgestone has continued to invest in Akron, including a racing-tire production facility and adjacent testing infrastructure opened in 2022.

Firestone was founded in Akron, Ohio, in 1900 by Harvey S. Firestone. Its first products were solid rubber side-wire tires used on fire apparatus. As road transport evolved, the company moved into pneumatic tires for wagons, carriages, and automobiles, positioning itself at the center of the emerging American automotive economy. The relationship between Harvey Firestone and Henry Ford was strategically important. Ford selected Firestone as a tire supplier for Ford vehicles in 1906, giving Firestone an important original-equipment channel while the company continued selling replacement tires. Firestone and Goodyear became the two most prominent tire suppliers in North America for much of the twentieth century. International and industrial expansion accelerated after the First World War. Firestone established a Canadian company in 1918 and produced its first Canadian tire in 1922. It opened a large Liberian rubber plantation in 1926 and developed a chain of tire and service centers, later known as Firestone Complete Auto Care. The company also built large plants in South Gate, California, Memphis, Tennessee, and Brentford, England. These facilities became symbols of Firestone’s industrial scale, although several later closed as the American tire industry underwent restructuring and manufacturing employment declined. Firestone’s activities extended beyond consumer tires. During the Second World War it supplied the United States government with military and industrial products, including artillery shells, aluminum kegs, barrage balloons, rubberized military items, and plastic helmet liners. In 1951 it received a defense contract to manufacture the MGM-5 Corporal guided missile. The company also expanded by acquiring businesses such as Dayton Tire and Seiberling Rubber. The transition from bias-ply tires to steel-belted radial tires proved difficult. Firestone’s Firestone 500 radial was produced using equipment associated with older tire designs and developed a serious tread-separation problem. Complaints and investigations accumulated during the 1970s. Firestone initially attributed some failures to underinflation and maintenance, but regulators and later proceedings identified a substantial product and manufacturing problem. Recalls, lawsuits, congressional hearings, a large civil penalty, and continuing negative publicity damaged the company’s sales, finances, and reputation. By the end of the 1970s, Firestone was heavily indebted and losing large sums annually. John Nevin led a restructuring that closed factories, reduced capacity, relocated the corporate center, and divested non-tire operations. The plan stabilized the company sufficiently for a sale, but Firestone’s independent existence ended in 1988 when Bridgestone acquired it. The Firestone name was retained as a consumer and commercial brand within Bridgestone’s North American operations. In the twenty-first century, Firestone has remained active in replacement tires, commercial applications, automotive service, and racing. Firestone Complete Auto Care operates a large United States service network. The brand also maintains a strong competition identity through Firehawk racing tires. Bridgestone’s investments in Akron, including a technical center and a 2022 advanced production center and test track, connect the modern brand with its historic birthplace.

1. 2022Advanced racing-tire facility opens in Akron

   Bridgestone opens an advanced production center for Firestone Firehawk racing tires and a nearby testing track.

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2. 2000Firestone becomes sole IndyCar tire supplier

   Firestone begins its continuing role as the sole tire supplier for the IndyCar Series.

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3. 1988Acquisition by Bridgestone

   Bridgestone acquires Firestone, ending its independent corporate history while preserving the brand.

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4. 1978Firestone 500 recall

   More than seven million Firestone 500 tires are recalled amid a major tread-separation and vehicle-safety controversy.

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5. 1951MGM-5 Corporal contract

   Firestone receives a United States defense contract to produce the MGM-5 Corporal guided missile.

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6. 1928South Gate and Brentford factories open

   The company expands its manufacturing presence with major facilities in California and England.

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7. 1926Liberian plantation and service-center expansion

   Firestone opens a large natural-rubber plantation in Liberia and establishes its first tire and service center.

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8. 1918Canadian subsidiary established

   Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Canada is incorporated in Hamilton, Ontario.

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9. 1906Ford selects Firestone as a tire supplier

   Henry Ford chooses Firestone to supply tires for Ford vehicles, strengthening the company’s original-equipment business.

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10. 1900Firestone is founded in Akron

    Harvey S. Firestone establishes the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company on August 3, beginning with solid rubber tires for fire apparatus.

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A broad-market tire and automotive-service brand combining mass-market replacement tires, original-equipment heritage, nationwide service coverage, and prominent motorsports credentials.

• Firestone passenger tiresPassenger-vehicle tires

  Firestone’s passenger range serves everyday cars, crossovers, and sport-utility vehicles. Product families address varied priorities including all-season use, wet-weather traction, touring comfort, fuel efficiency, and performance. These products form the core of the brand’s replacement-tire presence and are sold through dealers, retailers, and Firestone Complete Auto Care locations.

• Firestone DestinationLight-truck and SUV tires

  The Destination line is associated with light trucks, SUVs, and crossover vehicles. Depending on the variant, it is designed for highway touring, mixed on-road and off-road use, or more demanding terrain. The range supports Firestone’s positioning in practical vehicle applications where durability, load capability, and traction are important purchase considerations.

• Firestone WeatherGripAll-weather passenger tires

  WeatherGrip is an all-weather-oriented passenger-tire family developed for drivers seeking year-round use and enhanced wet- and light-snow performance. It occupies a position between conventional all-season tires and more specialized winter products, emphasizing everyday versatility rather than track performance.

• Firestone FirehawkRacing tires

  Firehawk is Firestone’s principal competition-tire name. Firestone Firehawk racing tires are used in the NTT IndyCar Series and are produced at Bridgestone’s advanced Akron racing-tire facility. Motorsport development gives the brand a visible performance platform and links racing technology with its broader tire identity.

• Firestone Complete Auto CareAutomotive service1926

  Firestone Complete Auto Care is the brand’s United States automotive-maintenance and repair network. Its services include tire sales and installation as well as routine maintenance and vehicle repairs. The chain extends Firestone beyond a product name into a customer-service platform connecting tires, inspections, maintenance, and replacement needs.

• 1960Where the Rubber Meets the Road

  United States

  Firestone used the phrase and associated jingle extensively in advertising, particularly during televised sporting events. The campaign connected the brand with dependability, road travel, and sports culture.

  Outcome. The slogan became one of the brand’s best-known advertising associations.

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• 2022Investment in Akron racing and testing infrastructureStrategy

  Bridgestone sought to reinforce Akron as a center for tire engineering, testing, and motorsports production.

  What changed. Bridgestone opened an advanced tire production center for Firestone racing tires and an adjacent test track.

  Aftermath. The investment renewed Firestone’s manufacturing presence in its historic home and supported IndyCar tire development.

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• 1988Sale to BridgestoneM&A

  Firestone’s financial deterioration and weakened market position made an independent future difficult.

  What changed. Firestone negotiated and completed a sale to Bridgestone of Japan.

  Aftermath. Firestone became a brand within Bridgestone’s North American operations and continues to operate under that ownership.

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• 1979Restructuring under John NevinStrategy

  Firestone was heavily indebted and losing substantial amounts annually after manufacturing, competitive, and product-quality problems.

  What changed. The company closed multiple plants, reduced capacity, relocated its corporate operations, and separated non-tire businesses.

  Aftermath. The restructuring helped prepare Firestone for eventual acquisition, although it involved significant plant closures and job losses.

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• 1978Firestone 500 tread-separation crisisControversy

  The Firestone 500 steel-belted radial developed a serious tread-separation problem. The episode led to recalls, investigations, hearings, lawsuits, deaths attributed to tire failures, a major regulatory penalty, and severe damage to Firestone’s reputation.

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• 1950Great American streetcar scandalControversy

  Firestone, General Motors, and Standard Oil were convicted of criminal conspiracy in a case involving the acquisition and dismantling of streetcar systems and their replacement with buses.

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• 1926Liberian rubber plantation controversyControversy

  Firestone’s large plantation in Liberia became a major part of the company’s global rubber supply system. Its labor, land, environmental, and political history has attracted continuing scrutiny, particularly during and after Liberia’s civil conflicts.

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• 2022Bridgestone opens advanced tire production center in Akron

  A new Akron facility began producing Firestone Firehawk racing tires, accompanied by investment in a nearby tire-testing track.

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• 2022Advanced Tire Production Center opens in Akron

  Bridgestone opened a new Akron facility for racing-tire production, including Firestone Firehawk tires, together with an adjacent testing track.

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• 2012Bridgestone opens Akron technical center

  Bridgestone opened a major technical center in Akron to support tire research, product development, and engineering.

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• 1988Bridgestone acquires Firestone

  Bridgestone completed the acquisition of Firestone, bringing the American brand into the Japanese tire group and Bridgestone Americas organization.

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1. Firestone (company)