Firestone Tyres

Origin and Expansion

Firestone is an American multinational tyre manufacturing company based in Tennesse, USA. Founded in 1900, the company initially started as a supplier for solid rubber side-wire tyres, pneumatic wagon tyres, buggies and other forms of wheel transportation prevalent in that era. Today, the company produces tyres for consumers, commercial space, agriculture and off-roading.

The company is named after founder Harvey Firestone, who had friendly relations with Henry Ford. Hence, he formed a partnership with Ford Motors for OEM supply. Firestone was also active in the replacement tyre market. The company was acquired by Bridgestone in 1988, with the American division changing its name to Bridgestone Americas Tyre Corporation in 2008. The brand also manufactures natural rubber, fibres & textiles, polymers, tubes and other industrial products.

Bridgestone/Firestone duo also manufactures tyres under the Fuzion brand in China as a budget replacement tyre. Bridgestone launched the Firestone brand in India in 2016 in a move to provide tyres for passengers cars and SUVs. The tyres are being manufactured in Bridgestone’s two plants located in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

In terms of expansion, when Bridgestone took over Firestone, it gave the company a large number of manufacturing sites in North, Central and South America, Europe, and other locations. Bridgestone also started operations in Turkey under a joint agreement in 1988. Further, the successful integration efforts of Bridgestone with Firestone resulted in high profits in 1992 and the subsequent establishment of a new American and European headquarters location for Bridgestone.

Firestone invented radial-ply passenger tyres known as ‘Shape of the Future’ for lightweight European and American cars. The tyre was so unique that it was instantly accepted by several auto manufacturers as an OEM tyre in high-performance cars, made in 1967. The same concept of wide and low profile tyres continued to be a popular choice throughout the century.

Firestone has been active in motorsports right from the beginning. The company provided tyres for a car in Indianapolis 500 auto race in 1911 and it won the tournament. Over the years from 1920 to 1966, several Indianapolis 500 racing tournaments were won by cars using Firestone tyres. The company also supplied tyres to Formula One championship from 1950 to 1974 and in the same year, to Formula 5000. The tyremaker took a break from motorsports before finally returning in 1995 to the CART series and then becoming the sole supplier of IndyCar Series in 2021.

The tyremaker has been sponsoring several events. It has been the title sponsor of the IndyCar Series since 2014 and retains the naming rights in the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Firestone was also the title sponsor of Laguna Seca Season Finale and sponsored the All Points East festival thrice. In 2019, Firestone served as presenting sponsor of Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) in the 32nd annual induction ceremony.

Facilities

The research and development work of Firestone is primarily being managed by Bridgestone. The Firestone Industrial Products Global Technical Center in the US offer modern research and testing technologies for air spring applications. Another tyre and testing centre of Firestone is located in Columbiana, Ohio.

Bridgestone Americas, Inc has already a USD100 million technical centre in Akron city of Ohio. The Japanese manufacturer currently incorporates four technical centres and eleven proving grounds at various locations across the world.

Achievements

• Annual supplier quality excellence awards for meeting the highest standards of quality for Caterpillar components.
• Firestone Industrial Products was recognized with Health and Safety Award in 2018.
• National Future Farmers of America (FFA) awarded Firestone Farm Tyres with a Distinguished Citation award.
• 'Best Tyre' title at the Excellence awards evening held in Johannesburg.
• First rank in 2004 Canadian Customer Commitment Study (SM) conducted by J.D. Power and Associates.

Passenger Car Tyres

Firestone offers various products in the passenger cars category. The quality and durability of these tyres are reliable without compromising on safety standards. Some of the tyres offered in the Indian market include FR500, FS100 and LE02. 

Globally, the brand offers tyres right from all season to on/off-road performance and winter tyres.

Truck Tyres

The tyremaker has successfully cemented its position in the truck and bus category over all these years. The tyre offered in the commercial space is specially engineered to provide uneven wear, high traction and superior pulling power.

Some of the best products in the truck and bus category are TRANSFORCE AT2, M713 ECOPIA, L320, GREATEC M853, and FS860, among others.

Manufacturing facilities in India and abroad

The production of Firestone tyres is being managed by Bridgestone in its 47 tyre plants and 29 tyre-related units across the world. In India, Bridgestone has two manufacturing units; one in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, established in 1996, and the second one, at Chakan, near Pune, Maharashtra, added in 2013.

Bridgestone plans to expand the current capacity of these two plants of producing 20,000 tyres/year to 41,000 tyres per annum by 2022.

Firestone Sales Network

In India, all the sales and marketing for the Firestone brand is being managed by the Indian division of Bridgestone. The company has a huge network of about 3,000 dealers across the country and steadily making efforts to increase the penetration level and providing its products and services at every nook and corner of the country.