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History

Created by Dr. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich in 1870, the BFGoodrich Company, later known as BFGoodrich, was the first rubber tire manufacturer to be located west of the Appalachian Mountain Range. In the previous year, Goodrich had purchased the Hudson River Rubber Company. Based in Akron, Ohio, the BFGoodrich began as a manufacturer of rubberized hoses, which were sold mostly as firehoses. The company also produced rubberized belts, similar to those used on modern vehicles as serpentine belts (fan belt). As the company grew, it began to manufacture pneumatic bicycle tires, eventually leading to the production of pneumatic automobile tires in 1896. This would make BFGoodrich the first company in the United States to manufacture such a tire.

BFGoodrich was not the only tire manufacturer in the United States at the turn of the 20th Century. Some competition included Goodyear, Firestone, and Uniroyal. Due to extensive research and scientific methods of evaluating performance, such as tire wear evaluation and longevity testing, BFGoodrich was at the leading edge of the industry. Ford Motor Company, then owned by Henry Ford, decided that BFGoodrich tires were the perfect source of tires for the new Model A Ford in 1903. In this same year, this combination of automobile and tire became the first to cross the United States from east to west. From this point forward, BFGoodrich would be well known for being a leading and ever-evolving brand that consumers could count on.

Innovation

Aside from being the first company in the United States to manufacture pneumatic automobile tires, BFGoodrich can also be accredited with the invention of the rubber-wound golf ball, as well as the creations of the very first pressurized space suits and synthetic rubber. However significant, these innovations are not as well-known as the company’s constantly evolving changes to the tire industry.

In 1947, BFGoodrich developed the first tubeless tire in the United States. Tubeless tires eliminate the need for an inner tube which allowed for better performance and safety, as well as ease of use for consumers.

Radial tires are a type of tire in which the layers of cords that support the rubber tread are angles perpendicularly to the radius of the tire. BFGoodrich produced the first radial tire in the United States in 1965. This innovation made tires safer as they were more resistant to unnecessary wear and allowed for better absorption of road bumps.

Continuing a pattern of successful innovative tire features, BFGoodrich was responsible for the creation of the first run-flat tire only two years later, in 1967. A run-flat tire allows consumers to drive short distances at low speeds without the need for changing a flat tire. This allowed consumers to maneuver out of hazardous situations in emergencies without assistance.

Aeronautics

Beginning in 1909, with the use of BFGoodrich tires on a Curtiss Aeroplane Corporation plane, BFGoodrich became a quickly growing name in the aviation world. In this particular event, the plane, fitted with BFGoodrich tires, set a speed record of 75 kilometers per hour in Reims at the first international air race. BFGoodrich tires were also fitted to Charles Lindbergh’s plane, “Spirit of Saint Lewis,” when he was the first aviator to complete a transatlantic flight without any stops.

In 1934, BFGoodrich produced a prototype for a pressure suit to be worn by airplane pilot, Wiley Post, at high altitudes. This first prototype was made mostly of rubber, with the exceptions being the metal helmet and waist strap. The prototype suit was pressurized in an initial test, but it did not hold pressure as it was expected to. With improvements to the concept, a second prototype was made, using the same helmet, which successfully maintained pressurization. The second suit was successful, at least in holding pressure. The suit had shrunk around Post’s body and was removed by cutting the suit apart. One year later, in 1935, another prototype was produced and is said to be the first practical pressure suit in the United States. Piloting his plane, the “Winnie Mae”, Post was able to fly to an altitude of approximately 50,000 feet, where he discovered the jet stream, paving the way for modern flight procedure. From this point forward, the suit created by BFGoodrich was the platform on which most modern pressurized space suits were based.

Racing Pedigree

BFGoodrich is well known for having various safety improvements to the tire industry,as seen above, and may be better known for their performance and racing developments. Roots in racing can be seen as far back as 1914 and 1915 when BFGoodrich tires were used by the winning cars of the Indianapolis 500 in these two consecutive years. This is just the beginning of a lifetime of victories in several events such as the Paris-Dakar Rally, World Rally Championships, Baja 1000, as well as many other prestigious racing competitions.

Off-road Use

BFGoodrich developed all-terrain and mud-terrain tires to be used for off-roading purposes. Many examples of these tires can be seen on light trucks and SUVs, as they are very popular when compared to more expensive off-road tires.