Firestone

Fireston Tire and Rubber Company, a tire manufacturing company, was founded in 1900 by Harvey Samuel Fireston in Akron, Ohio. Goodyear was founded in the same city. In 1903, the company of only 12 employees produced the first set of rubber tires. The company first came to prominence in 1911, when the first car finished the Indianapolis 500 on the brand's tyres. In 1919, Firestone opened its first factory in Hamilton, Canada. The company was one of the pioneers of mass-produced tyres and a huge competitor to another American tyre company, Goodyear. Another significant year for the company was 1932, when Harvey S. Firestone invented the first air-filled tractor tire. For a number of years the company worked with Henry Ford, supplying the Ford Motor Company with tyres for its cars. During World War II, the company was called upon to supply a number of rubberized items, such as artillery shells and aluminum barrels. In 1961, the company came under Firestone Dayton Tires. Since 1979, the company has been under the Bridgestone Corporation. Firestone has been active in Europe since the 1930s. It has come to prominence mainly through its involvement in Formula 1, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and IndyCar.