Founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is an American multinational tyre manufacturing company based in Akron, Ohio. It is one of the oldest, biggest and best-known tyremakers in the world. Goodyear makes tyres for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, racing cars, aeroplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery. Find all the news and analysis you need relating to Goodyear here.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is expanding its company-owned presence in the US Midwest through the purchase of Raben Tire for an undisclosed sum. The Indiana-based company operates several retreading facilities as well as more than 30 tyre and service outlets that cater to fleet and private customers.
Goodyear is to serve as official tyre supplier to the LMP2 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and European Le Mans Series (ELMS). This arrangement follows the decision made by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) to appoint a single tyre supplier for the Le Mans Prototype class.
Hera Kitwan Siu, chief executive officer, Greater China, for Cisco Systems, Inc., has been elected to the board of directors of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
Goodyear’s Drive-Over-Reader has received three industry awards in 2019, recognising the fleet tyre monitoring and management tool. The system won its latest accolade on 27 November when it was announced as the winner of the 2019 IoMobility ‘Mobility Innovation’ award by #Innovability. The annual IoMobility Awards honour innovative companies and products that address the challenges of “smart mobility” in Italy. Goodyear’s Drive-Over-Reader first received a prize in the ‘Mobility Innovation’ category, after being evaluated by a jury of more than 20 experts from the transport industry.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber is working with transport and logistics group Redspher on a pilot programme that pairs sensor-equipped Goodyear intelligent tyres with Redspher’s Rubiwin shared services platform. Under this partnership, the tyres will be fitted to high-mileage use delivery and service vans operated by fleets that are connected to Rubiwin. This will enable the ‘fast-capture’ of relevant data from these vehicles.
The ongoing effects of import tariffs, Brexit uncertainty and structural changes in the distribution chain have all affected the tyre business this year. As well as featuring the latest motorsport news and covering market developments in our regular features, this month’s Tyres & Accessories focuses on a number of key examples of changes in the marketplace in our Review of the Year feature. But one trend stands out above the others – virtualization. In short, increasing moves towards electric and autonomous vehicles (complete with their inherent sensorisation tendencies), coupled with changes in vehicle (and tyre) ownership models such as MaaS (Mobility as a Service) are driving changes in the tyre market that are resulting in the virtualizing of parts of the distribution chain.
Goodyear has launched a direct to consumer online tyre retail solution in the European market. The roll-out begins with a pilot project in Germany. The direct-to-consumer approach is said to be in addition to existing distribution channels. Based at goodyear.com/shop, the site aims to “seamlessly plan the purchase from choosing the right tyre to assembling with a local trading partner”.
Goodyear has launched an update to its Omnitrac mixed service truck tyre range, with six new Heavy Duty fitments for the drive and steer axles. The tyres are designed to operate under severe conditions, offering improved durability, efficiency, mileage and traction in all weather conditions.
Goodyear Tyres has agreed a five-year partnership with family-run business, R.D. Williams & Sons Haulage. With 40 years’ experience in the transport industry, a 90-strong fleet, R.D Williams & Sons transports a range goods. Expertise in moving floor haulage means its trailers are highly specialised to carry loose items, such as wastepaper and pro-fuel products.
The latest global tyre market share figures from tyre industry analyst Astutus Research show how long-established, leading players headquartered in Japan, Europe, and North America have seen their volume share diminish, while Chinese, ASEAN, and selected other markets’ tyre manufacturers’ share has risen. The analyst states that in aggregate, the ten leading PCLT tyre manufacturers based in Japan, Europe and North America (J-E-NA) have lost almost 6 percentage points of market share since the end of 2011 (OE and replacement segments combined, volumes in tyre units). In part this reflects a strategic choice of some to focus on the higher value premium segments of the market.
During the last week Elon Musk and Tesla have been busily promoting their latest innovation – the Cyber Truck. The combination of its angular design and hugely powerful drivetrain will certainly turn heads. And, if the initial orders are anything to go by, it is set to be very disruptive in the growing SUV/pickup sector. Indeed, during the first 72 hours after the Cyber Truck’s launch 300,000 vehicles were pre-ordered – enough to put the Cyber Truck in the top 10 for annual US sales.
Goodyear will accelerate the development of its motorsport programme in 2020 in several German race series. Following a period away from the top level of sport, the tyre brand will build on its long and successful racing history at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, where Goodyear will equip numerous teams in the VLN Endurance Championship and the 24h Race. Its racing tyres will also be used in the two racing series DMV GT and Touring Car Cup (DMV GTC) as well as the DMV National Endurance Series 500 (DMV NES 500).
CEOs of 11 leading tyre manufacturers met to review progress and confirm the ongoing mandate of the leading global forum for tyre manufacturers on sustainability issues – the Tire Industry Project.
Founded in 2005, the Tire Industry Project (TIP) is a global CEO-led initiative undertaken by leading tyre manufacturing companies to research potential human health and environmental impacts of tyres throughout their lifecycle. TIP operates under the umbrella of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and is co-chaired by Bridgestone, Goodyear, and Michelin.
Goodyear has introduced two new on-road Kelly truck tyres in Europe, the Armorsteel KSM2 and KDM2. Distributed exclusively by International Tyres Ltd, the range targets price conscious fleets, providing improved rolling resistance, compatibility with European winter tyre legislation certified by the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake marking, and – with the High Load steer fitments – suitability for Euro 6 trucks.
Temperature-sensitive goods transport fleet Ludwig Meyer GmbH & Co has signed a Goodyear Total Mobility fleet management contract. The partnership comprises the tyre manufacturer’s latest generation of fuel-efficient tyres, launched earlier in 2019, predictive digital solutions and the support of the pan-European service network TruckForce. “Punctuality and uptime are key in our operations. Particularly in the case of temperature-controlled transportation, any downtime of a vehicle may entail significant follow-up costs.” says Christopher Steyer, head of fleet and project management at Meyer Logistik.
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