You could say Harvey Firestone reinvented the wheel. Because when he started the Firestone Tire Company, he changed the way we drive. Behind everything he did was a commitment to being ahead of the curve — from the invention of non-skid tread to a racing legacy that’s second to none. Today his pioneering spirit can still be found within our company’s strong culture of innovation. Have a look at the timeline below to see just how far we’ve come in our pursuit of excellence.

For the first time ever, the Indy 500 is won on a single set of Firestone tires. The same feat isn’t repeated until 41 races later…again, on a set of Firestone tires. This was also the year that Firestone perfected “gum-dipping,” a method of insulating tire cords against internal heat.

The first steel radial with run-flat capability is introduced by Firestone. It’s capable of continuing for more than 50 miles at up to 40 miles per hour after a flat.