Goodyear tires are made by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, an American publicly traded corporation headquartered in Akron, Ohio, and one of the three largest tire manufacturers in the world alongside Michelin and Bridgestone.
Goodyear is known for its Blimp as a marketing icon, its original equipment relationships with major US automakers, its Assurance and Eagle performance tire lines, and a 127-year history that has made it one of the most recognized American industrial brands globally.
Goodyear is an independent publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ exchange under ticker GT. Goodyear was founded in 1898 in Akron, Ohio, by Frank Seiberling, named after Charles Goodyear, the inventor of vulcanized rubber, and has been headquartered in Akron ever since.
Knowing who makes Goodyear tires helps buyers understand the American manufacturing heritage behind the brand and how its global production footprint affects where any specific tire was made.
This article covers Goodyear’s ownership, manufacturing locations, key US plants, its current tire lineup, and how it compares to Michelin and Bridgestone.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Goodyear?
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is an independent publicly traded American corporation with no single controlling shareholder. Institutional investors hold the majority of its shares.
Goodyear has remained independent throughout its history, unlike some rivals. Firestone was acquired by Japanese Bridgestone in 1988. Kelly-Springfield is a Goodyear subsidiary. Cooper Tire was acquired by Goodyear in 2021 for approximately $2.5 billion.
With the Cooper acquisition, Goodyear expanded its brand portfolio to cover value, mid-range, and premium tires. Cooper serves the value and mid-tier segment while Goodyear-branded tires cover mid-range to premium performance applications.
Where Are Goodyear Tires Made?
Goodyear operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, giving it one of the most geographically distributed production networks in the tire industry.
In the United States, Goodyear operates plants in Gadsden, Alabama, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Topeka, Kansas, among other locations. These US plants produce tires for both the American original equipment and replacement markets.
International Goodyear manufacturing spans plants in Luxembourg, Germany, Poland, Turkey, China, India, Thailand, Brazil, and Chile. Goodyear employs approximately 72,000 people globally and operates in more than 20 countries. Current tire details are at Goodyear’s official US website.
What Tire Lines Does Goodyear Offer?
Goodyear’s US tire lineup covers passenger, performance, SUV, and truck applications. The Assurance WeatherReady and Assurance ComfortDrive are among its most popular all-season passenger tire options.
The Eagle F1 series covers Goodyear’s ultra-high-performance tire range, used as original equipment on sports cars and as premium replacement tires. The Wrangler series serves trucks and SUVs across all-terrain and highway categories.
Through the Cooper acquisition, Goodyear also sells Cooper-branded tires through independent dealer networks, targeting budget-conscious buyers who might not buy at Goodyear’s typical price points.
Goodyear vs Michelin vs Bridgestone: Who Makes Each?
All three are global tire industry leaders from different countries. Goodyear is American, founded in Akron, Ohio. Michelin is French, headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand. Bridgestone is Japanese, headquartered in Tokyo and the largest tire maker globally by production volume.
Bridgestone surpassed Goodyear in global production volume in the early 2000s and now consistently leads both Michelin and Goodyear in total units manufactured annually. Michelin leads in revenue per tire due to its premium market positioning. Goodyear balances volume production with premium performance tires.
In consumer tests, Michelin generally ranks highest for performance and longevity, Bridgestone’s Potenza and Turanza lines compete at the premium tier, and Goodyear’s Eagle F1 is a consistently respected performance option at slightly more accessible prices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Goodyear Tires Are Made
Are Goodyear tires made in the USA?
Yes. Goodyear operates US manufacturing plants in Gadsden, Alabama, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Topeka, Kansas. However, not all Goodyear-branded tires sold in the US are made domestically. Many models are manufactured at international plants. The country of origin is marked on the tire sidewall.
Does Goodyear own Cooper Tire?
Yes. Goodyear acquired Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in June 2021 for approximately $2.5 billion. Cooper operates as a Goodyear subsidiary, maintaining its own brand identity and dealer network while accessing Goodyear’s global manufacturing and supply chain resources.
When was Goodyear founded?
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 in Akron, Ohio, by Frank Seiberling. The company was named after Charles Goodyear, the American chemist who invented vulcanized rubber in 1839. Goodyear has been headquartered in Akron ever since its founding.
What is the Goodyear Blimp?
The Goodyear Blimp is one of the most recognized advertising assets in American sports. Goodyear has operated blimps at major sporting events since 1925, when the Pilgrim became the first Goodyear blimp to fly. The modern fleet consists of three semi-rigid airships based in Akron, Ohio, Pompano Beach, Florida, and Los Angeles, California, serving as aerial camera platforms and branded marketing tools at NFL games, golf tournaments, and other major events.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.