How it Started
In the 1800s, Benjamin Franklin Goodrich made Ohio World’s Rubber Capital. In 1869 he got interested in the rubber industry and started the rubber business. There were many rubber producers as competitors, and the competition was stiff, so he took his business to Akron, Ohio.
Local people helped him by gathering 13,600 dollars for Goodrich to encourage him, and he moved to Akron from New York with his plant. Appalachian Mountains’ west had no rubber manufacturers, and Goodrich was hoping that he would influence the rubber industry in the Far West and the Midwest, so the Akron plant was opened in 1871. He started with only 20 workers. Though the plant was manufacturing many items, its primary focus was on fire hoses that could survive under pressure and won’t burst.
The company developed gradually in the 1870s and came to be known as B. F. Goodrich Company. Twice it was going to experience bankruptcy, but it was saved, and by the 1880s and 1890s, business was thriving. Pneumatic tire was invented in 1888 later by an Irish veterinarian. The cyclists loved this because it offered a smoother ride. As the automobile was invented, there was a great demand for tires. Solid rubber tires were introduced in the beginning, but B. F. Goodrich Company did something special. The company had a research laboratory to find out how rubber could be used in new ways. In 1895 the company made pneumatic tires that were perfect for cars.
In 1892 four hundred workers were employed by the company, and they had earned 1.4 million dollars with their sales, and sales brought more than 27.4 million dollars in 1911. The company headquarters were moved to North Carolina.
Till 1950 B. F. Goodrich was a leader of the rubber business. In 1926 a B. F. scientist invented vinyl, and some other scientists created synthetic rubber in 1937. Synthetic rubber was not made of rubber trees. It depended on blending chemicals. This technology was helpful for the USA in World War II. Rubber products were needed for machinery and vehicles, but there was less natural rubber. Synthetic rubber was an excellent substitute for natural rubber. Later, B. F. Goodrich also created a tubeless tire in 1946.
B. F. Goodrich later started aviation work. In 1927 they provided tires for Lindbergh’s plane. In 1988 the company produced spacesuits. They began focusing on the aerospace industry, and this exited the tire business. The company name was changed to Goodrich Corporation in 2001.
Goodrich Corporation: 150 Years
B. F. Goodrich tires offer superior performance, and since the company’s beginnings, the company has been performance-driven. Using B. F. Goodrich tires means that your vehicle can face any challenge at any given time because B. F. Goodrich tires have a history of successful performance. B. F. Goodrich tires are used for off-road and on-road racing. The company got extremely skillful engineers who have learned how tires perform under different circumstances. Learned lessons are applied in every segment of every product. It does not matter what type of driving you are up to. You must be assured that Goodrich tires can take up the task.
Brand Values
Goodrich Corporation does not wait to see what you can do with their tires. They are present during the action. Goodrich brand was created for driving enthusiasts, and driving enthusiasts created it. This is why they offer top-quality products.
The brand personalizes experiences
Goodrich corporation stands shoulder to shoulder with their clients on countless occasions worldwide. Whether it is grassroots efforts or trade shows, if a race or community wants Goodrich corporation to be part of it, they love to be there.
The brand offers the extreme capability
Goodrich Corporation offers unmatched capability for both On-road and off-road driving as their tires are designed especially for super performance under extreme conditions.
Offering Proven Products
All products of Goodrich Corporation are torture-tested, whether they are for the most grueling track races or the world’s most challenging terrain. Goodrich Corporation makes sure that for all driving situations, you may be fully ready.
Design with a purpose
All designs of Goodrich Corporation are manufactured with a purpose in terms of performance and appearance.
Innovation of B. F. Goodrich
Goodrich Corporation is not just the first manufacturing pneumatic automobile tires company in the USA. It is also known for innovating rubber-wound golf balls, synthetic rubber, and the first pressurized spacesuit.
Goodrich Corporation also innovated the 1st tubeless tire of the United States. With this type of tire, you did not need an inner tube that enhanced safety and performance and offered comfort to those traveling by car.
Then in the year 1965, the company came up with radial tires. Tires were now safer because these tires give a longer tread life, and road bumps are absorbed in a better way. Then in 1967, the company introduced run-flat-tire. This type of tire enables you to continue to drive when you are in an emergency.
Challenges Conquered by Goodrich Corporation
- 1903: The 1st car to cross the USA used Goodrich Corporation tires.
- 1914 to 1915: Two years in a row, B. F. Goodrich wins the Indianapolis 500 and becomes the first US tire manufacturing company that won it year after year.
- 1927: B. F. Goodrich tires were used for a transatlantic flight by the Aviator Charles Lindbergh.
- 1977: Goodrich Industry’s Radial All-Terrain broke two records.
- 1981: B. F. Goodrich tires used for Columbia space shuttle.
- 1984: B. F. Goodrich tires win 24 hours of Le Mans.
- 2002-2007: Dakar Rally is won by B. F. Goodrich for six consecutive years.
- 2006-2011: Good Corporation takes part in 5 consecutive World Rally Cross championships.
- 2017: In the Dakar Rally, B. F. Goodrich wins.
It has been over a century, but the quality and performance of Goodrich Corporation tires have never failed. They have only been improved to suit the different needs of the customers. Goodrich Corporation is still the best when it comes to tires and quality products.