If you own a car in America and have looked for a tire to change, you must have heard about Firestone tires. Many say that Firestone Tires have reinvented the wheels and tires because of its amazing technology.
The manufacturer supplies tires for automobiles with the main focus on passenger cars and SUVs.
However, people now are confused about who makes Firestone tires. The company merged with Bridgestone Tire and Rubber Company in 1988. Since then, Firestone and Bridgestone tire companies have worked jointly to bring the best evolutional technologies to the tire industry. However, Firestone makes its tires with its design.
Firestone has a rich history of over 100 years in the tire market. Also, it works independently despite being a subsidiary of the Bridgestone Tire and Rubber Company.
Who Makes Firestone Tires
Bridgestone Tire and Rubber Company currently own Firestone tires. Also, they make the tires, but the plants are still the previous ones. Yes, Firestone is a subsidiary of Bridgestone. However, Bridgestone hasn’t discontinued its plants.
So, Firestone tires are made in their old manufacturing plants and facilities. Bridgestone looks after the manufacturing process to maintain premium quality. It ensures you get the best automobile tires in the market to enjoy the smoothest and safest rides on any road.
Bridgestone and Firestone merged in 1988. In 2008, they even celebrated their 20th anniversary of merging. Also, the merging decision of the two companies turned out to be great. It helped the parent company Bridgestone to become the world’s largest tire company.
Nonetheless, Firestone operates almost independently. Also, they have brought a few milestone tires in their name.
History of Firestone Tire
Firestone merged with Bridgestone and has been working as its subsidiary. But, they aren’t a newbie in the tire market. In fact, you will be truly amazed to know their rich and exciting history.
Harvey Firestone established the tire company in 1900. Many say the company’s establishment was one of the most decisive turning points for the tire industry. At that time, they supplied solid tires for fire apparatus.
Their tires had side wires for added longevity. Following the success of the tires for fire apparatus, they introduced newer variants. These included:
- Pneumatic tires: These were mainly made for the common wagon wheels of that time. The tires won’t puncture due to their pneumatic nature. Also, they reinforced the tires to ensure their longevity.
- Tires for buggies: Until the introduction of the true automobile, buggies and carriages were the commonest commuters. Firestone soon started making tires for these transportations.
- Other tire variants: Apart from supplying tires for wagons and buggies, the company produced tires for the other form of vehicles.
As the company was manufacturing and supplying tires for conventional vehicles, they didn’t stop there. It saw great opportunity in the automobile tire market. So, they decided to go there.
When they started mass production of automobile tires, Harvey Firestone used his connection to increase its tire supply. Yes, he had a great friendship with Henry Ford, the owner of the Ford Motor Company. Thus, he convinced Henry Ford to supply tires for Ford, and the tie worked brilliantly.
Firestone also focused on the aftermarket and replacement market for the tires. Focusing on original and aftermarket sectors helped Firestone become a giant. Their success in the tire and rubber industry made them famous worldwide.
Worldwide Expansion
As tire sales increased, they focused on rubber plantations to meet their necessity. In 1926 they began their first rubber plantation. It was on more than one million acres of land. At that time, it was the world’s largest rubber plantation.
As Firestone continued their success, US federal government asked them to manufacture for the army. So, in the Second World War, Firestone manufactured different products for the US army.
The Merging time with Bridgestone
After the Second World War, Firestone continued its business. Also, it became a close partner of the US army in supplying different rubberized products. In the early 1980s, they thought about expanding their business more.
So, they were looking for partners. After a few discussions with different companies, Bridgestone agreed to take over Firestone. So, in 1988 both companies merged. Bridgestone, with the larger share, become the parent company. Now, Firestone is a subsidiary of the Japanese Bridgestone company.
The merging decision of Firestone with Bridgestone proved to be one of the decisive points in the tire industry. It helped Bridgestone to expand its global business. In fact, Bridgestone became the largest tire manufacturer worldwide in 2021.
Also, the company is now known as Bridgestone Firestone due to the merging decision.
See More: Who Makes Kenda Tires
Most Popular Firestone Tire Models
Firestone has been manufacturing passenger cars and SUV tires for most of their business. Later, they also started manufacturing tires for light trucks. Their product line includes all-terrain, studdable winter, and all-season tires.
Some of the company’s most popular, reliable, and sold tires include the following ones.
Winterforce 2
The tire is made for the winter season. The tire is ideal for snow and winter days with excellent traction. It has a 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) rating, which assures the best reliability on snowy roads. So, the tires provide better performance on snowy days and harshest conditions.
Destination A/T
As the name suggests, Firestone designed these tires for all-terrain riding capacity. Thus, you may depend on the off-road riding performance of the tire without any issues. Its deep lugs with better tread patterns make them an excellent choice for off-road riders.
All-season tire
Firestone made these all-season tires for daily passenger cars. These products will be brilliant if you frequently commute through the city streets. The product is available in almost every tire size. So, your car should find the right size with ease.
What’s more, these tires are designed for longevity too. You will easily get 65000 miles of lifespan for the Firestone all-season tires.
Destination LE2
The Destination LE2 tires are available in different sizes and are mainly for SUVs and light trucks. It’s famous for its load-bearing capacity. With an all-season tread pattern and design, it can easily survive on light snow. Last but not least, it has excellent wear and tears resistance for ultimate durability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Firestone tires are made in various manufacturing plants worldwide. Their plants are in the US, Brazil, Vietnam, Costa Rica, and Canada.
Firestone tires are usually cheaper than its parent company Bridgestone. However, many customers complained that their tires aren’t as good as Bridgestone’s.
Conclusion
Firestone works as a subsidiary of Bridgestone Tire and Rubber Company. However, they make their tires in different manufacturing plants.
They also supply products in the market with their name. Henceforth, the company has been able to continue its legacy. It’s understandable since they have been in the tire industry for 122 years.
