BFGoodrich

BFGoodrich is an American tire brand whose roots extend to the B.F. Goodrich Company, founded by Benjamin Franklin Goodrich in 1870 in Akron, Ohio. The company began as a producer of rubberized industrial goods, particularly fire hoses, belts, and related products. It subsequently expanded into bicycle tires and, in 1896, produced what is described as the first pneumatic automobile tire made in the United States. This early move into automotive tires established a business that would become one of the most recognizable names in American tire manufacturing. The brand gained national visibility through automobile and aviation applications. In 1903, a Ford Model A fitted with BFGoodrich tires became the first automobile to cross the United States from coast to coast. BFGoodrich tires were also used on aircraft associated with early aviation milestones, including the Curtiss aircraft that competed in the first international air race at Reims in 1909 and Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis during his 1927 solo, nonstop transatlantic flight. The company later supplied tires for the Space Shuttle Columbia's landing gear, extending the brand's technical reputation beyond road vehicles. Engineering and materials research have been central to BFGoodrich's historical identity. The company developed an early American tubeless tire in 1947, introduced U.S.-made radial tires in 1965, and patented an early run-flat design in 1967. Its wider industrial research also included synthetic rubber, pressurized garments for aviation, and other rubber-based technologies. The company is associated with the development of a practical American pressure suit for high-altitude pilot Wiley Post in the 1930s; that work helped establish design principles later used in pressurized flight and space suits. BFGoodrich also developed a strong competition and performance heritage. Its tires appeared on the winning car at the 1914 Indianapolis 500, and the brand later became especially prominent in desert and off-road racing. It has competed in Baja California events, the Baja 1000, the Paris-Dakar Rally, and other international motorsport disciplines. The brand's public identity is particularly associated with the All-Terrain T/A and Mud-Terrain T/A families, which are designed for pickup trucks, sport-utility vehicles, and demanding mixed-surface use. Raised white-letter sidewalls and aggressive tread designs have become recognizable elements of its off-road positioning. The corporate business changed substantially in the late twentieth century. The Goodrich Corporation stopped manufacturing tires in 1988, and Michelin acquired the tire business and rights to the BFGoodrich name in 1990, together with the Uniroyal tire business. BFGoodrich has since operated as a Michelin-owned brand rather than as an independent listed tire company. Its current portfolio is marketed through Michelin's global distribution and manufacturing infrastructure and spans replacement tires for cars, crossovers, light trucks, SUVs, and performance-oriented vehicles. The brand remains particularly associated with durable, adventure-oriented, and off-road products, while continuing to sell road-focused and high-performance lines in selected markets.

BFGoodrich began in 1870 when Benjamin Franklin Goodrich acquired the Hudson River Rubber Company and established a rubber manufacturing business in Akron, Ohio. It was among the earliest major rubber companies located west of the Appalachian Mountains. Its initial products included rubberized fire hoses, industrial belts, and other molded or coated rubber goods. As transportation technology developed, the company moved into pneumatic bicycle tires and then automobile tires. In 1896, BFGoodrich manufactured a pneumatic automobile tire, an important step in the development of the American automotive industry. The company competed with Goodyear, Firestone, General, and Uniroyal, while attempting to distinguish itself through laboratory testing, wear evaluation, and systematic product development. Its association with Ford helped raise its profile: BFGoodrich tires were fitted to the Model A Ford, and in 1903 a Model A equipped with those tires became the first automobile to cross the United States from east to west. The company also developed an aviation business. BFGoodrich tires were fitted to a Curtiss aircraft involved in the 1909 international air race at Reims. In the 1920s, its aviation products were used on the Spirit of St. Louis, the aircraft flown by Charles Lindbergh on the first successful solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic. During the 1930s, BFGoodrich worked on pressurized garments for high-altitude pilot Wiley Post. Although early prototypes presented practical problems, later versions demonstrated the ability to maintain pressure and helped influence the development of modern high-altitude and space-flight suits. The company later supplied aerospace components including tires for the Space Shuttle Columbia's landing gear. Automotive tire technology remained the company's principal commercial activity. BFGoodrich developed a U.S. tubeless tire in 1947, reducing the dependence on inner tubes and improving convenience and operating characteristics. In 1965, it produced the first radial tires in the United States, and in 1967 it patented an early run-flat concept intended to allow limited continued travel after a loss of air pressure. The company also worked with synthetic rubber and other material technologies, and it created the PF Flyers shoe line in 1933. BFGoodrich's performance reputation was reinforced by competition. Its tires were used by the winning car in the 1914 Indianapolis 500. From the 1970s onward, the brand became increasingly visible in American off-road racing, including desert competitions in Baja California. It later developed specialized tires for various classes of desert racing and participated in the Dakar Rally. The brand's racing record and engineering presence supported a consumer positioning centered on control, toughness, and traction in difficult conditions. The original corporate structure changed near the end of the twentieth century. The B.F. Goodrich Company, later known as Goodrich Corporation, ended its tire manufacturing operations in 1988. Michelin acquired the tire business and the BFGoodrich name in 1990, along with the Uniroyal tire business. BFGoodrich therefore became a Michelin-owned tire brand rather than an independent tire manufacturer or publicly traded company. Michelin retained the brand's American heritage while integrating its products into a larger global manufacturing and distribution system. In the modern replacement-tire market, BFGoodrich is particularly recognized for light-truck, pickup, SUV, crossover, performance, and off-road products. The All-Terrain T/A and Mud-Terrain T/A families are central to its identity, with distinctive tread patterns and, on many products, raised white-letter sidewalls. The brand continues to use motorsport and adventure associations to communicate durability and capability, while also offering tires intended for ordinary highway and mixed-use driving. It remains active under Michelin ownership, although the exact product range and manufacturing footprint vary by market.

1. 1990Michelin acquisition

   Michelin acquired the BFGoodrich tire business and brand, placing it within the Michelin group.

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2. 1988Goodrich Corporation ended tire manufacturing

   The parent company stopped producing tires as an independent Goodrich business before the tire operations and brand were sold to Michelin.

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3. 1967Early run-flat tire patent

   BFGoodrich patented an early run-flat tire concept intended to permit limited driving after a puncture or loss of inflation pressure.

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4. 1965First U.S. radial tire

   BFGoodrich produced the first radial tires in the United States, a design associated with longer tread life and improved ride characteristics.

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5. 1947First American tubeless tire

   The company developed a tubeless tire in the United States, eliminating the conventional inner tube from the tire assembly.

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6. 1934High-altitude pressure-suit prototype

   BFGoodrich developed an early pressurized suit prototype for pilot Wiley Post's high-altitude aviation work.

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7. 1927Spirit of St. Louis flight

   BFGoodrich aviation tires were fitted to Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis during his solo nonstop transatlantic flight.

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8. 1914Indianapolis 500 victory

   A car fitted with BFGoodrich tires won the Indianapolis 500, adding an important motorsport achievement to the brand's history.

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9. 1909Entry into aviation tires

   BFGoodrich tires were fitted to a Curtiss aircraft at the first international air race in Reims, marking an early aviation application.

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10. 1903Model A crossed the United States on BFGoodrich tires

    A Ford Model A equipped with BFGoodrich tires completed the first automobile crossing of the United States from east to west.

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11. 1896First U.S.-made pneumatic automobile tire

    BFGoodrich began producing pneumatic automobile tires, becoming an early American participant in the developing automotive tire industry.

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12. 1870B.F. Goodrich Company founded

    Benjamin Franklin Goodrich established the rubber company in Akron, Ohio, initially focusing on fire hoses and other rubberized industrial products.

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Premium and upper-mid-market replacement tire brand emphasizing durability, high performance, pickup and SUV applications, and off-road capability.

• All-Terrain T/AAll-terrain tire

  The All-Terrain T/A family is one of BFGoodrich's best-known product lines. It is designed primarily for pickup trucks, SUVs, and other vehicles that combine highway driving with gravel, dirt, mud, or light trail use. The line's identity is based on a compromise between road manners and off-road traction, with aggressive tread styling and, on many versions, raised white-letter sidewalls. Exact specifications, sizes, and generations vary by market and vehicle application.

• Mud-Terrain T/AMud-terrain tire

  Mud-Terrain T/A tires are aimed at drivers who place greater emphasis on off-road traction in mud, rocks, sand, and uneven terrain. Their open and aggressive tread patterns are intended to clear debris and maintain grip in demanding environments. The range is strongly associated with lifted trucks, four-wheel-drive vehicles, recreational off-roading, and BFGoodrich's desert-racing heritage. Product availability and construction differ by market and vehicle size.

• Advantage T/APassenger and touring tire

  Advantage T/A is a road-oriented replacement tire family for passenger vehicles and selected crossover applications. It represents the brand's broader consumer offering beyond specialist off-road products, emphasizing everyday handling, braking, ride comfort, and usable wet-weather performance. The range has appeared in multiple generations and market-specific specifications, so the available sizes and exact labeling depend on region and vehicle fitment.

• g-ForceHigh-performance tire

  The g-Force family covers performance-focused BFGoodrich tires developed for drivers seeking sharper handling and greater high-speed control than conventional touring products. Depending on the particular model, the line has served sports cars, performance sedans, and other enthusiast applications. Its positioning draws on BFGoodrich's racing and engineering associations, while individual products may prioritize dry grip, wet handling, track use, or everyday performance.

• Motorsport and desert-racing tiresCompetition tire

  BFGoodrich develops specialized tires for off-road competition, including desert racing and rally applications. Competition products are designed around specific vehicle classes, terrain, event rules, and durability requirements rather than ordinary road use. The brand has supplied custom-specification tires for classes such as Class 1, Class 10, and Unlimited Spec Desert vehicles, supporting its commercial off-road image and motorsport development work.

• 2002Dakar Rally sponsorship and tire partnership

  International

  BFGoodrich became an official sponsor and tire partner of the Dakar Rally, combining competition tire supply, technical support, and brand visibility in one of the world's most demanding off-road events.

  Outcome. The partnership reinforced BFGoodrich's association with rallying, desert durability, and off-road engineering.

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• 1976Free Wheelin'

  United States

  BFGoodrich sponsored a short documentary about the customized-van movement. The film included interviews with participants at a national van gathering and featured a BFGoodrich project van equipped with contemporary customization features.

  Outcome. The film was distributed in edited forms for theatrical short or trailer use and was later preserved in archival form.

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• 1990Michelin acquired BFGoodrichM&A

  Michelin sought to acquire the BFGoodrich tire operations and name, alongside the Uniroyal tire business.

  What changed. Michelin completed the acquisition of the BFGoodrich tire business and obtained rights to the brand.

  Aftermath. BFGoodrich became a Michelin-owned brand with access to Michelin's global manufacturing, sales, and distribution network.

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• 1988Exit from independent tire manufacturingStrategy

  The Goodrich Corporation, then the corporate owner of the BFGoodrich name, discontinued its tire manufacturing operations as a standalone business.

  What changed. The tire business and brand were subsequently transferred through the sale to Michelin.

  Aftermath. BFGoodrich continued as a tire brand under Michelin rather than as the tire division of an independent Goodrich company.

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• 2023BFGoodrich film Free Wheelin' was restored

  A short documentary sponsored by BFGoodrich in 1976 was restored by the Hagley Museum and Library with support from the National Film Preservation Foundation.

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• 2002BFGoodrich became an official Dakar Rally sponsor and tire partner

  BFGoodrich began serving as an official sponsor and tire partner of the Dakar Rally, supplying competition tires and support services.

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• 1993BFGoodrich entered the Dakar Rally as a tire supplier

  The brand began its Dakar Rally participation, contributing to its international motorsport and off-road identity.

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• 1990Michelin acquired the BFGoodrich tire business and brand

  Michelin acquired the BFGoodrich tire operations and the rights to use the BFGoodrich name, making the brand part of the Michelin group.

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1. BFGoodrich
2. BFGoodrich official website