Firestone facts

·         The first Firestone tyre store in New Zealand opened in

        Dunedin in 1931.

·         Several provincial rugby players manage Firestone stores in

        New Zealand.

·         Firestone was the first tyre retailer in New Zealand to appoint a

        female manager.

 

 

Firestone in Christchurch

·         Firestone Tyre & Rubber factory opened in Papanui,

        Christchurch in 1947.

·         First to build 70-Series & 60-Series Radial tyres in New

        Zealand.

·         First to build 55-Series low profile tyre in Southern

        Hemisphere.

·         First to build a V-rated (240km/h) tyre in Australasia.

·         New Zealand made Firehawk line introduced in 1992.

·         More than 35 million Firestone tyres made in New Zealand.

 

 

Firestone around the world

·         Harvey Firestone founded the tyre company in 1900, when only 800 vehicles were registered on US roads.

·         Harvey became friends with Henry Ford and supplied tyres to

        the famous Model T.

·         In 1908, Firestone introduced the first tyre with a non-skid tread

        pattern.

·         Firestone tyres were on the first Indianapolis 500 winner in 1911 and were on every winning car from 1920 to 1966.

·         1932 Firestone invented the modern farm tractor tyre.

·         "Where The Rubber Meets The Road", a catchy jingle that helped establish the Firestone name around the world, become popular in the 1960s and is still remembered today.

·         In 1988, Firestone combined with Bridgestone to form the

        world's largest rubber company.