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{{Infobox_Company | {{Infobox_Company |
company_name = Bridgestone Firestone, LLC | company_name = Bridgestone Firestone, LLC |
company_logo = ] | company_logo = ] |
company_type = Private | company_type = Subsidiary of ] |
foundation = ] in ]| foundation = ] (])|
location = ]| location = ]|
use of slavery = ]| use of slavery = ]|
Line 15: Line 16:
}} }}


The '''Firestone Tire and Rubber Company''' was founded by ] in 1900.<ref name = "LA"> {{cite journal
The '''Firestone Tire and Rubber Company''' was founded by ] in the late 19th century to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for ] and befriended ], the first industrialist to produce them using the techniques of mass production. Firestone used this relationship to become the original equipment supplier of ] automobiles, and was also active in the replacement market.
| first =Jesus
| last =Sanchez
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| year =1988
| month =February 17
| title =Bridgestone to Buy Firestone Tire Business
| journal =Los Angeles Times
| volume =
| issue =
| pages =
| id =
| url =
}}"What Nevin has been doing is liquidating pieces of the company" in order to boost Firestone's stock price, said Donald F. DeScenza, an analyst with Nomura Securities. "It was a conscious, deliberate plan he has followed from the outset -- it was his mandate." </ref> to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for ]. The company was a pioneer in the mass production of tires. Firestone used this relationship to become the original equipment supplier of ] automobiles, and was also active in the replacement market.


==History== ==History==
{{Further| ]}}
Firestone was originally based in ], also the hometown of its archrival, ]. Together, the two companies were the largest suppliers of automotive tires in North America for over three-quarters of a century. The family had decided in 1984 to look for a purchaser and began liquidating assets at that time.
===Early 20th century===

] ]


Firestone was originally based in ], also the hometown of its archrival, ]. The company initiated operations in 1900 with 12 employees.<ref name="bridge">, Bridgestone/Firestone Canada, 2002.</ref> Together, Firestone and Goodyear were the largest suppliers of automotive tires in North America for over three-quarters of a century.{{fact}}
The company was purchased off the stock market by the Japanese tire manufacturer ] in ].
The combined Bridgestone/Firestone North American operations are now based in ].


In 1906 Firestone was chosen by Henry Ford for the first mass-produced automobiles in America.{{fact}}
After the merger, allegations of defective tire designs continued, especially in 2000, when an abnormally high failure rate in their Wilderness AT, Firestone ATX, and ATX II tires resulted in multiple lawsuits, as well as an eventual mandatory recall. Ford has since stopped equipping its pickup trucks, SUVs and full-sized vans with Firestone tires. However, passenger cars such as the Ford Focus and Mercury Cougar bore Firestone tires as original equipment.


In 1919 The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Canada was incorporated in Hamilton, Ontario and in 1922 The first Canadian-made tire rolled off the line on September 15.{{fact}}
For 35 years, the company sponsored the radio and television show '']''.


The company sponsored ] on the radio beginning on December 1928. The program was transferred to television as an NBC simulcast on 5 September 1949. The last broadcast was in 1963.<ref name = "vf"> {{cite web
==TV ad ]==
| title =VOICE OF FIRESTONE, THE U.S. Music Program
:Wherever wheels are rolling
| work =museum.tv
| url =http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/V/htmlV/voiceoffire/voiceoffire.htm
| accessdate=2006-09-05
}} </ref>

=== Defense contract ===
In 1951, Firestone was given the defense contract for the ]. Firestone was given a total of $6888,796 for the first 200 Missiles. This missile was know as the "Embryo of the Army" and was a surface-to-surface guided missile which could deliver a high explosive warhead up to 75 Nautical Miles. It was later modified to be able to carry a nuclear payload for use in the event of ] hostilities in Eastern Europe. This missile was replaced in 1962 by the ] system.<REF></REF>

===First Firestone investigation===
In 1975 Firestone attempted to fix a tread separation problem in the radial 500 tires caused by moisture getting inside the tire and corroding the steel.<ref name = "st"> {{cite journal
| first =
| last =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| year =
| month =
| title =Timeline of key events in the history of Ford and Firestone
| journal =St. Petersburg Times
| volume =
| issue =
| pages =
| id =
| url =http://www.sptimes.com/News/webspecials/firestone/timeline.shtml
}} </ref> In March 1978, NHTSA announced publicly a formal investigation into defects of the Firestone 500. Firestone first asserted that only 400,000 tires produced at the ] plant were defective. But the NHTSA investigation found that the tread separation defect was a design performance defect affecting all Firestone 500's. After forty-one deaths, and after Firestone initially blamed consumers citing improper repairs, rough use, or under-inflation, on ], ], Firestone then recalled ten million tires. <ref name = "school"> {{cite web
| title =Firestone’s Second Big Tire Blowout
| work =Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
| url =http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/index.cfm?fa=viewArticle&id=232
| accessdate=2006-06-02
}} </ref>

===Sale to Bridgestone===

When ] became president in 1980, Firestone began selling off unprofitable plants and began buying back the company's stock. Firestone boosted the number of its automotive repair shops, which account for nearly 20% of the company's $3.9 billion in 1988 annual sales. The company also relocated its headquarters away from Akron, Ohio -- the traditional home of the nation's rubber and tire-making industry -- to Chicago. The company was purchased by the Japanese tire manufacturer ] in ].<ref name = "LA" /><ref name = "money"> {{cite journal
| first =Gretchen
| last =Morgenson
| authorlink =
| coauthors =Caroline Baer
| year =
| month =
| title =Winning in a Jittery Market; Institutions rule, but you can still come out way ahead of the big boys
| journal =Money
| volume =
| issue =
| pages =58
| id =
| url =
}} "Firestone's new chairman recently sold off unprofitable plants and began buying back the company's stock. The shares responded to the repurchase plan, moving from $10 to $19 in three years." </ref><ref name = "bill"> {{cite journal
| first =
| last =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| year =1992
| month =September 7
| title =The Billionaries
| journal =Fortune
| volume =
| issue =
| pages = 98
| id =
| url =
}} </ref><ref name = "BW"> {{cite journal
| first =
| last =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| year =1984
| month =April 23
| title =Firestone After the Turnaround: Where Next?
| journal =Business Week
| volume =
| issue =
| pages =
| id =
| url =
}} But Nevin, who became chief executive in September, 1980, moved decisively. He closed down a third of Firestone's U.S. tire capacity -- most of it in outmoded nonradials. He slashed inventories and slow-moving tire lines and sold much of the company's foreign interests as well as many U.S. nontire businesses. From 1979 to 1983, the number of Firestone's U.S. salaried employees fell by 27%. A $700 million debt reduction pared its debt-to-equity ratio to a healthy 28%. </ref> The combined Bridgestone/Firestone North American operations are now based in ].

===Ford Explorer rollover controversy===
{{main|Firestone and Ford tire controversy}}
In 1996, several state agencies in Arizona began having major problems with Firestone tires on Explorers. According to news reports, various agencies demanded new tires, and Firestone conducted an investigation of the complaints, tested the tires and asserted that the tires had been abused or under-inflated.<REF name "pc" />

Joan Claybrook stated:

{{cquote|...There are a number of parallels between this recall in 2000 and the 1978 recall of the Firestone 500....there was a documented coverup by Firestone of the 500 defect, spurred by the lack of a Firestone replacement tire. When the coverup was disclosed, the top management of the company was replaced as Firestone was severely damaged in reputation and economically. But a key difference is that the Firestone 500 was used on passenger cars, which rarely rolled over with tire failure. NHTSA documented 41 deaths with the 500, a recall, involving seven million tires.<REF name "pc" />}}

=== New recall ===

An abnormally high failure rate in Firestone's Wilderness AT, Firestone ATX, and ATX II tires resulted in multiple lawsuits, as well as an eventual mandatory recall. In 2001 Bridgestone/Firestone severed its ties to Ford citing a lack of trust. The lack of trust came about concerns that Ford had not heeded warnings by Bridgestone/Firestone relating to the design of the Ford Explorer.<ref name = "cnn"> {{cite journal
| first =Chris
| last =Isidore
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| year =2001
| month =May 21
| title =Firestone severs ties to Ford
| journal =CNN
| volume =
| issue =
| pages =
| id =
| url =http://money.cnn.com/2001/05/21/recalls/firestone/
}} </ref> In 2006, Firestone announced renewed efforts to recall tires of the same model recalled in 2000 after such tires were linked to recent deaths and injuries. Although Firestone estimates 97% of the tires were replaced in the 2000 recall concern existed over spare tires that many owners did not think to replace during the 2000 recall.<ref name = "cnn2006"> {{cite web
| title =Firestone tires recall linked to recent deaths
| work =cnn.com
| url =http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/07/21/firestone_recall/index.html
| accessdate=2006-07-30
}} </ref>

In July 2006, Bridgestone Firestone Corporation released a new advertising campaign in an attempt to reach the 5% of customers that still had not acted on its voluntary recall program of August 2000 and voluntary replacement program of September 2001. The recall/replacement program was supported by a comprehensive advertising and consumer outreach campaign and over 6.3 million tires were replaced of the total 6.5 million affected. This still leave approx 200,000 tires out there somewhere. While the company believes that most of those tires unaccounted for have probably been scrapped long ago it is still trying to locate as many as possible.

The vice president of Quality Assurance for Bridgestone Firestone North America Tire, LLC; Mike Kane, stated "Even though there are only a small percentage of these tires believed to be still in use, we are continuing to put safety first and are implementing this campaign to try and reach a group of consumers whose tires have not been recovered".<REF></REF>

===Liberian rubber plant controversy===
In 1926, ] opened the world's biggest ] plantation in ], ]. The Liberian workers accuse the company of serious labor abuses, including exploitative ], which they argue amount to modern-day ]. Workers specifically argue that Firestone's high daily quotas force them to employ their own children, subjecting them to grueling and dangerous work conditions. In response to the statements, the president of Firestone Natural Rubber told a ] interviewer that "each tapper will tap about 650 trees a day, where they spend perhaps a couple of minutes at each tree." As CNN pointed out, this would add up to more than 21 hours of work per day.<ref name="CNN"> {{cite web
| title =Is Bridgestone/Firestone Exploiting Liberian Workers?
| publisher=CNN| url =http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0511/12/i_if.01.html
}} </ref>

In May 2006, the ] (UNMIL) released a report detailing the state of ] on Liberia's rubber plantations. According to the report, Firestone managers in Liberia admitted that the company does not effectively monitor its own policy prohibiting child labor. UNMIL found that several factors contribute to the occurrence of child labor on Firestone plantations: pressure to meet company quotas, incentive to support the family financially, and lack of access to basic education. The report also noted that workers' housing provided by Firestone has not been renovated since the houses were constructed in the 1920s and 1930s.<ref name = "UNMIL Rubber"> {{cite web
| title =Human Rights in Liberia's Rubber Plantations: Tapping into the Future
| work =unmil.org| url =http://www.unmil.org/documents/political/liberiarubber.pdf
}} </ref>

====Alien Tort Claims Act====

In 2005, "tappers" (workers who extract ] from ]) on the Liberian plantation filed an ] lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone.

The Lawsuit relates to the following topics:
*Serious labor abuses, including exploitative ].

Management of the plantation claim that workers are bringing their own children to work to assist them and that this is not endorsed by the plantation management.

Workers claim that management's high daily quotas force them to employ their own children as their only means of meeting quotas.

Even though Liberia does have child labor laws and Firestone has banned children from tapping trees, workers say the ban isn't enforced. The workers say the only way they can complete their daily quota is to bring their children along.

Firestone management says if children are found helping their parents, the employees are cancelled, and if necessary, disciplined. We have very strict policies about our child labor. We do not hire anybody under 18 years of age, and we discourage parents from bringing their children to the fields with them
.<ref name = "CNN"> {{cite web
| title =Liberian Controvesy
| work =cnn.com
| url =http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0511/12/i_if.01.html
| accessdate=2006-07-30
}} </ref>

Firestone requested to transfer the case to ] from California and this request was granted in April 2006.

=== Firestone roofing products ===
<!--year began? -->
Firestone manufacture a roofing product under the brand name "Firestone Coverdeck", this product is widely used in North America on low sloping roofs. It is manufactured from 54% recycled product. Another product, "Firestone RubberGard" was chosen by the Denver International Airport for its roof.

=== 100 Years Company History Timeline===
Original data from Firestone100.com, reworded and multiple events joined to single entry.<REF></REF>
]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Event
|-
|1868
| Harvey S. Firestone is born on a farm near Columbiana, Ohio.
|-
|1895
| Firestone marries Idabelle Smith.
|-
|1900
|Firestone incorporates The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in Ohio. The company begins selling tires manufactured by others.
|-
|1903
|The first set of rubber tires is manufactured at the Firestone factory in Akron, Ohio.
|-
| 1904
| The company develops the first mechanically fastened, straight-sided pneumatic tire.
|-
| 1906
|In its first original equipment sale, Harvey S. Firestone sells 2,000 sets of tires to Henry Ford. This is the largest order of tires for the time.
|-
| 1907
|The company develops the "demountable rim" making the repair and replacement of tires easier.
|-
|1908
|Firestone introduces the first non-skid tire.
|-
|1909
|Firestone begins manufacturing tire rims.
|-
|1910
|Firestone profits exceed $1 million for the first time.
|-
|1911
|The inaugural Indianapolis 500 is won on Firestone tires by Ray Harroun.
|-
|1918
|Firestone begins the pioneering "Ship by Truck" movement.
|-
|1919
|The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company of Canada is organized.
|-
|1920
|The company perfects a method of insulating tire cords against internal heat by a process known as "gum-dipping."
|-
|1922
|The company develops the industry's first low-pressure balloon tire.
|-
|1926
|Firestone initiates the now popular one-stop service store program.
|-
|1928
|The company establishes its first overseas tire plant in Brentford, England. Firestone is voted as one of nine "Pioneers of American Industry ." The "Voice of Firestone" radio program debuts.
|-
|1932
|The company develops the first low-pressure tractor tire and starts the "Put the Farm on Rubber" campaign.
|-
|1936
|The Firestone Industrial Products plant is established in Noblesville, Ind.
|-
|1938
|Harvey S. Firestone dies in his sleep at his home in Miami Beach, Fla.
|-
|1939
|The company begins producing tank tracks, airplane fuel cells, gas masks and other military items for the defense program.
|-
|1940
|The company begins developing and producing special tires for combat vehicles. The company's first synthetic rubber plant begins production.
|-
|1942
|The company develops the divided rim for military use. Possibly the first run flat tire, an extra metal band on the rim acts as a support to enable tires to run 100 miles or more after deflation.
|-
|1945
|The Firestone Research building is dedicated in Akron, Ohio.
|-
|1948
|Firestone tires win the 25th Indianapolis 500 in a row.
|-
|1949
|The first NASCAR race (in Charlotte, N.C.) is won on Firestone tires by Jim Roper. The "Voice of Firestone" radio program is simulcast on television.
|-
|1950
|The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company celebrates its 50th anniversary and dedicates a life-size Harvey Firestone Memorial.
|-
|1951
|The company begins producing the Corporal guided missile for the U.S. government.
|-
|1953
|The company introduces the Firestone "500" all-nylon tubeless tire designed for high speed passenger cars. The company does $1 billion in business for the first time.
|-
|1954
|For the first time, the "Voice of Firestone" is telecast in color. The company introduces the tubeless tire for tractors and airplanes.
|-
|1957
|The company dedicates a 7.7 mile test track in Fort Stockton, Texas. The track is used to test tires under a variety of wet and dry conditions.

Firestone develops a high-speed race tire to withstand speeds of 190 miles per hour for the first running of the International 500-mile race at Monza, Italy.{{Fact}}
|-
|1961
|Firestones aquires the Dayton Tire division from the Dayco Corporation. {{Fact}}
|-
|1963
|The final "Voice of Firestone" television program airs.
|-
|1964
|The company introduces its first radial tire to the North American market.
|-
|1965
|Art Arfons sets a land speed record of 576.55 mph on Firestone tires. The company introduces the "Super Sports Wide Oval" tire. This effort pioneered the concept of wide low-profile tires which continues today for high-performance cars.
|-
|1968
|Graham Hill becomes the first driver to win the FIA Formula One championship on Firestone tires.
|-
|1971
|The company develops the first American-made steel belted radial tire. The company develops the "liquid molded cast tire." It never becomes a commercial success because of the market dominance of the steel-belted radial tire.

|-
|1972
|Ray Elder produces the 568th Firestone win in NASCAR when he takes the checkered flag at Riverside Raceway, June 18, driving a Dodge Charger.
|-
|1973
|Harvey S. Firestone, Sr. is inducted into the Automobile Hall of Fame. Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., eldest son of the company founder, dies at age 75.
|-
|1974
|The company announces the Steel Radial 500 ACT (advanced concept tire) providing run flat capability at speeds up to 40 mph.
|-
|1979
|Firestone introduces the temporary-spare, which allows more trunk space and reduces fuel consumption by reducing tire weight.
|-
|1983
|Bridgestone Corporation establishes its first U.S. production facility by purchasing a Firestone plant in Tennessee.
|-
|1987
|Corporate headquarters moves from Akron to Chicago.
|-
|1988
|Bridgestone Corporation purchases The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, including its global operations.

The Bridgestone Blizzak winter tire was introduced to the Firestone Range of products.{{Fact}}
|-
|1990
|Corporate headquarters moves from Chicago to Akron. The U.S. operations of The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company are consolidated as Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
|-
|1991
|Firestone becomes the official tire of the Indy Lights Championship series. The BIGFOOT Monster Truck Racing program names Firestone as its official tire.
|-
|1992
|Corporate headquarters moves from Akron to Nashville.
|-
|1993
|Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. announces its return to Indy car racing
|-
| 1994
| Bridgestone/Firestone's Warren County plant is the first U.S. tire plant to meet the ISO 9000 quality standard. Bridgestone/Firestone Off Road Tire Company is formed.
|-
| 1995
| Firestone "the legend" returns to CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) competition with Firestone Firehawk tires, taking two checkered flags.

Firestone Tires were re-introduced to Indy 500 and in 1997 Arie Luyendyk won his second Indy 500. The win was Firestone's 50th at the Indy 500.{{fact}}
|-
|1996
| The Indianapolis 500 is won for the 49th time on Firestone tires by Buddy Lazier. Bridgestone/Firestone introduces UNI-T® technology in the U.S., which enhances a tire's grip on wet surfaces without sacrificing the life of the tire.
|-
|1997
| Arie Luyendyk wins the Indianapolis 500 on Firestone tires. This is the 50th time the race is won on Firestone tires, more often than all other tire manufacturers combined.
|-
|1998
| Bridgestone/Firestone introduces UNI-T AQ™ technology in the U.S., which maintains a tire's performance on wet surfaces even as the tire wears. Bridgestone/Firestone announces its Dayton brand will become the official tire for the Indy Lights Championship.

Bridgestone won its first F1 world championship in only its second season as Mika Hakkinen captured the driver's title in 1998. His team, McLaren, won the constructor's championship. Bridgestone/Firestone announced its newest technology, UNI-T AQ (Advanced Quality). This technology helps tires perform better, even in a worn condition.{{Fact}}
|-
| 1999
| The Firestone Racing program clinches its fourth consecutive driver's championship in CART, and its third championship in the Indy Racing League. Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., opens its most technologically advanced tire plant in Aiken, S.C.

Bridgestone/Firestone opened its most technologically advanced tire plant in Aiken, South Carolina and the Bridgestone/Racing School moved to Mosport Ontario and was renamed the Bridgestone/Firestone Racing School.{{fact}}
|-
| 2000
| Firestone celebrates its 100th anniversary.
|}

===Firestone International===
{{ Expansion }}

== TV Advertisement jingle==

''Where the Rubber Meets the Road''<REF></REF> is an advertisement ] that was first used in the 1960s that helped establish the Firestone name.

:Wherever wheels are rolling,
:No matter what the load, :No matter what the load,
:The name that's known :The name that's known is ''Firestone''
:Is ''Firestone''
:Where the rubber meets the road :Where the rubber meets the road

==Notes==
<references />


==See also== ==See also==
*]
*]
*] *]


==References==
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
</div>


==External links== ==External links==
*{{cite web
*
| title =Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Homepage
| work =
| url = http://www.firestone.com
| accessdate=2006-07-18
}}
*
*
*{{cite web
| title =Stop Firestone
| work =
| url = http://www.stopfirestone.org
| accessdate=2006-12-15
}}




] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
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]


] ]
] ]
] ]
]

Revision as of 16:11, 17 January 2007

Bridgestone Firestone, LLC
File:Bridgestone Firestone logo.png
Company typeSubsidiary of Bridgestone
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1900 (Akron, Ohio)
HeadquartersNashville, Tennessee
Key peopleMark A. Emkes, CEO
ProductsTires
RevenueIncrease$2.09 billion USD (2004)
Number of employees23,000
Websitewww.firestone.com

The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900. to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles. The company was a pioneer in the mass production of tires. Firestone used this relationship to become the original equipment supplier of Ford Motor Company automobiles, and was also active in the replacement market.

History

Further information: ]

Early 20th century

File:FirestoneTire.jpeg
A Firestone tire

Firestone was originally based in Akron, Ohio, also the hometown of its archrival, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. The company initiated operations in 1900 with 12 employees. Together, Firestone and Goodyear were the largest suppliers of automotive tires in North America for over three-quarters of a century.

In 1906 Firestone was chosen by Henry Ford for the first mass-produced automobiles in America.

In 1919 The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Canada was incorporated in Hamilton, Ontario and in 1922 The first Canadian-made tire rolled off the line on September 15.

The company sponsored The Voice of Firestone on the radio beginning on December 1928. The program was transferred to television as an NBC simulcast on 5 September 1949. The last broadcast was in 1963.

Defense contract

In 1951, Firestone was given the defense contract for the US Military MGM-5 Corporal Missile. Firestone was given a total of $6888,796 for the first 200 Missiles. This missile was know as the "Embryo of the Army" and was a surface-to-surface guided missile which could deliver a high explosive warhead up to 75 Nautical Miles. It was later modified to be able to carry a nuclear payload for use in the event of Cold War hostilities in Eastern Europe. This missile was replaced in 1962 by the MGM-29 Sergeant missile system.

First Firestone investigation

In 1975 Firestone attempted to fix a tread separation problem in the radial 500 tires caused by moisture getting inside the tire and corroding the steel. In March 1978, NHTSA announced publicly a formal investigation into defects of the Firestone 500. Firestone first asserted that only 400,000 tires produced at the Decatur, Illinois plant were defective. But the NHTSA investigation found that the tread separation defect was a design performance defect affecting all Firestone 500's. After forty-one deaths, and after Firestone initially blamed consumers citing improper repairs, rough use, or under-inflation, on October 20, 1978, Firestone then recalled ten million tires.

Sale to Bridgestone

When John J. Nevin became president in 1980, Firestone began selling off unprofitable plants and began buying back the company's stock. Firestone boosted the number of its automotive repair shops, which account for nearly 20% of the company's $3.9 billion in 1988 annual sales. The company also relocated its headquarters away from Akron, Ohio -- the traditional home of the nation's rubber and tire-making industry -- to Chicago. The company was purchased by the Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone in 1988. The combined Bridgestone/Firestone North American operations are now based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ford Explorer rollover controversy

Main article: Firestone and Ford tire controversy

In 1996, several state agencies in Arizona began having major problems with Firestone tires on Explorers. According to news reports, various agencies demanded new tires, and Firestone conducted an investigation of the complaints, tested the tires and asserted that the tires had been abused or under-inflated.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page).

Joan Claybrook stated:

...There are a number of parallels between this recall in 2000 and the 1978 recall of the Firestone 500....there was a documented coverup by Firestone of the 500 defect, spurred by the lack of a Firestone replacement tire. When the coverup was disclosed, the top management of the company was replaced as Firestone was severely damaged in reputation and economically. But a key difference is that the Firestone 500 was used on passenger cars, which rarely rolled over with tire failure. NHTSA documented 41 deaths with the 500, a recall, involving seven million tires.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page).

New recall

An abnormally high failure rate in Firestone's Wilderness AT, Firestone ATX, and ATX II tires resulted in multiple lawsuits, as well as an eventual mandatory recall. In 2001 Bridgestone/Firestone severed its ties to Ford citing a lack of trust. The lack of trust came about concerns that Ford had not heeded warnings by Bridgestone/Firestone relating to the design of the Ford Explorer. In 2006, Firestone announced renewed efforts to recall tires of the same model recalled in 2000 after such tires were linked to recent deaths and injuries. Although Firestone estimates 97% of the tires were replaced in the 2000 recall concern existed over spare tires that many owners did not think to replace during the 2000 recall.

In July 2006, Bridgestone Firestone Corporation released a new advertising campaign in an attempt to reach the 5% of customers that still had not acted on its voluntary recall program of August 2000 and voluntary replacement program of September 2001. The recall/replacement program was supported by a comprehensive advertising and consumer outreach campaign and over 6.3 million tires were replaced of the total 6.5 million affected. This still leave approx 200,000 tires out there somewhere. While the company believes that most of those tires unaccounted for have probably been scrapped long ago it is still trying to locate as many as possible.

The vice president of Quality Assurance for Bridgestone Firestone North America Tire, LLC; Mike Kane, stated "Even though there are only a small percentage of these tires believed to be still in use, we are continuing to put safety first and are implementing this campaign to try and reach a group of consumers whose tires have not been recovered".

Liberian rubber plant controversy

In 1926, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company opened the world's biggest rubber plantation in Liberia, West Africa. The Liberian workers accuse the company of serious labor abuses, including exploitative child labor, which they argue amount to modern-day slavery. Workers specifically argue that Firestone's high daily quotas force them to employ their own children, subjecting them to grueling and dangerous work conditions. In response to the statements, the president of Firestone Natural Rubber told a CNN interviewer that "each tapper will tap about 650 trees a day, where they spend perhaps a couple of minutes at each tree." As CNN pointed out, this would add up to more than 21 hours of work per day.

In May 2006, the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) released a report detailing the state of human rights on Liberia's rubber plantations. According to the report, Firestone managers in Liberia admitted that the company does not effectively monitor its own policy prohibiting child labor. UNMIL found that several factors contribute to the occurrence of child labor on Firestone plantations: pressure to meet company quotas, incentive to support the family financially, and lack of access to basic education. The report also noted that workers' housing provided by Firestone has not been renovated since the houses were constructed in the 1920s and 1930s.

Alien Tort Claims Act

In 2005, "tappers" (workers who extract latex from rubber trees) on the Liberian plantation filed an Alien Tort Claims Act lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone.

The Lawsuit relates to the following topics:

  • Serious labor abuses, including exploitative child labor.

Management of the plantation claim that workers are bringing their own children to work to assist them and that this is not endorsed by the plantation management.

Workers claim that management's high daily quotas force them to employ their own children as their only means of meeting quotas.

Even though Liberia does have child labor laws and Firestone has banned children from tapping trees, workers say the ban isn't enforced. The workers say the only way they can complete their daily quota is to bring their children along.

Firestone management says if children are found helping their parents, the employees are cancelled, and if necessary, disciplined. We have very strict policies about our child labor. We do not hire anybody under 18 years of age, and we discourage parents from bringing their children to the fields with them .

Firestone requested to transfer the case to Indianapolis, Indiana from California and this request was granted in April 2006.

Firestone roofing products

Firestone manufacture a roofing product under the brand name "Firestone Coverdeck", this product is widely used in North America on low sloping roofs. It is manufactured from 54% recycled product. Another product, "Firestone RubberGard" was chosen by the Denver International Airport for its roof.

100 Years Company History Timeline

Original data from Firestone100.com, reworded and multiple events joined to single entry.

File:Firestone 100th anniversary logo.png
100 Year Firestone Celebration.
Year Event
1868 Harvey S. Firestone is born on a farm near Columbiana, Ohio.
1895 Firestone marries Idabelle Smith.
1900 Firestone incorporates The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in Ohio. The company begins selling tires manufactured by others.
1903 The first set of rubber tires is manufactured at the Firestone factory in Akron, Ohio.
1904 The company develops the first mechanically fastened, straight-sided pneumatic tire.
1906 In its first original equipment sale, Harvey S. Firestone sells 2,000 sets of tires to Henry Ford. This is the largest order of tires for the time.
1907 The company develops the "demountable rim" making the repair and replacement of tires easier.
1908 Firestone introduces the first non-skid tire.
1909 Firestone begins manufacturing tire rims.
1910 Firestone profits exceed $1 million for the first time.
1911 The inaugural Indianapolis 500 is won on Firestone tires by Ray Harroun.
1918 Firestone begins the pioneering "Ship by Truck" movement.
1919 The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company of Canada is organized.
1920 The company perfects a method of insulating tire cords against internal heat by a process known as "gum-dipping."
1922 The company develops the industry's first low-pressure balloon tire.
1926 Firestone initiates the now popular one-stop service store program.
1928 The company establishes its first overseas tire plant in Brentford, England. Firestone is voted as one of nine "Pioneers of American Industry ." The "Voice of Firestone" radio program debuts.
1932 The company develops the first low-pressure tractor tire and starts the "Put the Farm on Rubber" campaign.
1936 The Firestone Industrial Products plant is established in Noblesville, Ind.
1938 Harvey S. Firestone dies in his sleep at his home in Miami Beach, Fla.
1939 The company begins producing tank tracks, airplane fuel cells, gas masks and other military items for the defense program.
1940 The company begins developing and producing special tires for combat vehicles. The company's first synthetic rubber plant begins production.
1942 The company develops the divided rim for military use. Possibly the first run flat tire, an extra metal band on the rim acts as a support to enable tires to run 100 miles or more after deflation.
1945 The Firestone Research building is dedicated in Akron, Ohio.
1948 Firestone tires win the 25th Indianapolis 500 in a row.
1949 The first NASCAR race (in Charlotte, N.C.) is won on Firestone tires by Jim Roper. The "Voice of Firestone" radio program is simulcast on television.
1950 The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company celebrates its 50th anniversary and dedicates a life-size Harvey Firestone Memorial.
1951 The company begins producing the Corporal guided missile for the U.S. government.
1953 The company introduces the Firestone "500" all-nylon tubeless tire designed for high speed passenger cars. The company does $1 billion in business for the first time.
1954 For the first time, the "Voice of Firestone" is telecast in color. The company introduces the tubeless tire for tractors and airplanes.
1957 The company dedicates a 7.7 mile test track in Fort Stockton, Texas. The track is used to test tires under a variety of wet and dry conditions.

Firestone develops a high-speed race tire to withstand speeds of 190 miles per hour for the first running of the International 500-mile race at Monza, Italy.

1961 Firestones aquires the Dayton Tire division from the Dayco Corporation.
1963 The final "Voice of Firestone" television program airs.
1964 The company introduces its first radial tire to the North American market.
1965 Art Arfons sets a land speed record of 576.55 mph on Firestone tires. The company introduces the "Super Sports Wide Oval" tire. This effort pioneered the concept of wide low-profile tires which continues today for high-performance cars.
1968 Graham Hill becomes the first driver to win the FIA Formula One championship on Firestone tires.
1971 The company develops the first American-made steel belted radial tire. The company develops the "liquid molded cast tire." It never becomes a commercial success because of the market dominance of the steel-belted radial tire.
1972 Ray Elder produces the 568th Firestone win in NASCAR when he takes the checkered flag at Riverside Raceway, June 18, driving a Dodge Charger.
1973 Harvey S. Firestone, Sr. is inducted into the Automobile Hall of Fame. Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., eldest son of the company founder, dies at age 75.
1974 The company announces the Steel Radial 500 ACT (advanced concept tire) providing run flat capability at speeds up to 40 mph.
1979 Firestone introduces the temporary-spare, which allows more trunk space and reduces fuel consumption by reducing tire weight.
1983 Bridgestone Corporation establishes its first U.S. production facility by purchasing a Firestone plant in Tennessee.
1987 Corporate headquarters moves from Akron to Chicago.
1988 Bridgestone Corporation purchases The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, including its global operations.

The Bridgestone Blizzak winter tire was introduced to the Firestone Range of products.

1990 Corporate headquarters moves from Chicago to Akron. The U.S. operations of The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company are consolidated as Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
1991 Firestone becomes the official tire of the Indy Lights Championship series. The BIGFOOT Monster Truck Racing program names Firestone as its official tire.
1992 Corporate headquarters moves from Akron to Nashville.
1993 Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. announces its return to Indy car racing
1994 Bridgestone/Firestone's Warren County plant is the first U.S. tire plant to meet the ISO 9000 quality standard. Bridgestone/Firestone Off Road Tire Company is formed.
1995 Firestone "the legend" returns to CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) competition with Firestone Firehawk tires, taking two checkered flags.

Firestone Tires were re-introduced to Indy 500 and in 1997 Arie Luyendyk won his second Indy 500. The win was Firestone's 50th at the Indy 500.

1996 The Indianapolis 500 is won for the 49th time on Firestone tires by Buddy Lazier. Bridgestone/Firestone introduces UNI-T® technology in the U.S., which enhances a tire's grip on wet surfaces without sacrificing the life of the tire.
1997 Arie Luyendyk wins the Indianapolis 500 on Firestone tires. This is the 50th time the race is won on Firestone tires, more often than all other tire manufacturers combined.
1998 Bridgestone/Firestone introduces UNI-T AQ™ technology in the U.S., which maintains a tire's performance on wet surfaces even as the tire wears. Bridgestone/Firestone announces its Dayton brand will become the official tire for the Indy Lights Championship.

Bridgestone won its first F1 world championship in only its second season as Mika Hakkinen captured the driver's title in 1998. His team, McLaren, won the constructor's championship. Bridgestone/Firestone announced its newest technology, UNI-T AQ (Advanced Quality). This technology helps tires perform better, even in a worn condition.

1999 The Firestone Racing program clinches its fourth consecutive driver's championship in CART, and its third championship in the Indy Racing League. Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., opens its most technologically advanced tire plant in Aiken, S.C.

Bridgestone/Firestone opened its most technologically advanced tire plant in Aiken, South Carolina and the Bridgestone/Racing School moved to Mosport Ontario and was renamed the Bridgestone/Firestone Racing School.

2000 Firestone celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Firestone International

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TV Advertisement jingle

Where the Rubber Meets the Road is an advertisement jingle that was first used in the 1960s that helped establish the Firestone name.

Wherever wheels are rolling,
No matter what the load,
The name that's known is Firestone
Where the rubber meets the road

See also


References

  1. ^ Sanchez, Jesus (1988). "Bridgestone to Buy Firestone Tire Business". Los Angeles Times. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)"What Nevin has been doing is liquidating pieces of the company" in order to boost Firestone's stock price, said Donald F. DeScenza, an analyst with Nomura Securities. "It was a conscious, deliberate plan he has followed from the outset -- it was his mandate."
  2. History of Bridgestone/Firestone, Bridgestone/Firestone Canada, 2002.
  3. "VOICE OF FIRESTONE, THE U.S. Music Program". museum.tv. Retrieved 2006-09-05.
  4. Army Contract Awarded to Firestone
  5. "Timeline of key events in the history of Ford and Firestone". St. Petersburg Times. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  6. "Firestone's Second Big Tire Blowout". Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
  7. Morgenson, Gretchen. "Winning in a Jittery Market; Institutions rule, but you can still come out way ahead of the big boys". Money: 58. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) "Firestone's new chairman recently sold off unprofitable plants and began buying back the company's stock. The shares responded to the repurchase plan, moving from $10 to $19 in three years."
  8. "The Billionaries". Fortune: 98. 1992. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  9. "Firestone After the Turnaround: Where Next?". Business Week. 1984. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help) But Nevin, who became chief executive in September, 1980, moved decisively. He closed down a third of Firestone's U.S. tire capacity -- most of it in outmoded nonradials. He slashed inventories and slow-moving tire lines and sold much of the company's foreign interests as well as many U.S. nontire businesses. From 1979 to 1983, the number of Firestone's U.S. salaried employees fell by 27%. A $700 million debt reduction pared its debt-to-equity ratio to a healthy 28%.
  10. Isidore, Chris (2001). "Firestone severs ties to Ford". CNN. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  11. "Firestone tires recall linked to recent deaths". cnn.com. Retrieved 2006-07-30.
  12. Firestone Still Looking For recall Tires
  13. ^ "Is Bridgestone/Firestone Exploiting Liberian Workers?". CNN. Cite error: The named reference "CNN" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  14. "Human Rights in Liberia's Rubber Plantations: Tapping into the Future" (PDF). unmil.org.
  15. Firestone 100 Year Celebration Timeline
  16. Firestone Jingle

External links

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