Goodyear Celebrates 111 Years of Innovation

AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In celebration of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's 111th anniversary, the company is recognizing its most significant moments in history with a compilation of "Goodyear's top 111 innovations, inspirations and historic firsts."
The list reflects Goodyear's pioneering spirit of innovation throughout the years, which has been felt across the earth, the skies and even the moon.
"Innovation is what has made Goodyear what it is today," said Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear's senior vice president and chief technical officer. "Not only is innovation an important part of our past, but it's even more so our goal for the future."
More than a century of innovation has secured Goodyear's place in history. Some of the company's most memorable contributions include:
*1901: Goodyear adopts the wingfoot trademark, saying it will help Goodyear circle the Earth.
*1908: Goodyear develops the All-Weather tread design. The diamond-shaped studded pattern would be used for more than 40 years with only minor modifications and become a well-known symbol of Goodyear tire quality.
*1918: The Wingfoot Express makes the first cross-country trucking journey from Boston to San Francisco, demonstrating the toughness and reliability of Goodyear tires. It was also the first truck to feature a sleeper cab.
*1920: Goodyear Hall (a center containing an auditorium, classrooms, recreational facilities and the state's largest gymnasium at the time) is constructed in Akron, Ohio. A dream of future CEO P.W. Litchfield, the center made Goodyear a pioneer of employee wellness and education.
*1925: Goodyear's first commercial blimp, the Pilgrim, debuts. The airship is 50,000 cubic feet and is the first non-rigid craft to use helium.
*1947: Goodyear establishes one of the earliest industrial programs to encourage protection of the environment, the Goodyear Conservation Awards recognizing resource management. In 1973, Keep America Beautiful Inc. would select Goodyear's environmental improvement program as the nation's best.
*1963: The Orange Bowl becomes the first live sporting event to be nationally broadcast to television from a Goodyear blimp.
*1970: Goodyear tires land on the moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission.
*1977: Goodyear introduces the Tiempo, the first tire designed for year-round use in all climates. The Tiempo would become the most successful tire in company history, selling 3.5 million in the first year.
*1991: Goodyear launches the Aquatred, which would become the most award-winning tire in industry history. With its unique, deep-groove aquachannel, the tire set new standards for wet traction and changed the way drivers think about new tires.
*2009: Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires help save consumers gas money by reducing rolling resistance compared to the Goodyear Assurance.
For the entire list of Goodyear's 111 innovations, including historic photos and videos, visit Goodyear was founded Aug. 29, 1898 by Frank Seiberling in Akron, Ohio.
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs nearly 70,000 people and manufactures its products in more than 60 facilities in 25 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.