Bridgestone

In March 1906, at the age of 17, Ishibashi took over his family's tailoring business and turned it into a specialized producer of Japanese Tabi socks. This transformation marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.

On April 5, 1922, factory production of the industry’s first low-pressure balloon tire started. This innovation was achieved by utilizing the gum-dipping process developed in the early 1920s to insulate tire cords from internal heat, providing exceptional mileage to average motorists.

In 1925, the Firestone Boys introduced the new gum-dipped balloon tires at the Indianapolis 500. This marked a significant innovation in tire technology for the racing industry.

Approximately one year after the first tire was built, founder Shojiro Ishibashi made the Japan 'Tabi' socks Tire Division independent and established the Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture.

In 1942, the head office of the company was moved from Kurume to Tokyo. Additionally, production of V-belts and rubber hoses started, along with the trial production of vibration-damping rubber.

During World War II, Bridgestone had to comply with wartime regulations, leading to most of its production being directed towards military needs. The company encountered difficulties post-war, with its Tokyo Headquarters destroyed and overseas assets lost in bombing raids.

In 1951, the construction of the Bridgestone headquarters in Tokyo commenced, marking a significant development for the company.

By 1953, Bridgestone's sales exceeded 10 billion yen, positioning the company as a leader in the tire industry in Japan. The milestone was marked with celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the company's establishment in Kurume in 1956.

In 1960, Bridgestone inaugurated a new plant in Tokyo to better serve the expanding automotive market. The Tokyo plant later saw expansions in 1962 with the addition of a Technical Center.

In 1961, Bridgestone was listed on the Japanese stock exchange. The company also implemented a new management structure with Shojiro Ishibashi as the chairman and Kanichiro Ishibashi as the president.

In 1962, Bridgestone achieved a major breakthrough with the successful development of Steel Rib tires, which were Japan's first steel radials designed for truck and bus applications.

In 1964, Bridgestone achieved another milestone by developing Japan's first passenger vehicle radials, showcasing its innovation in tire technology.

In 1965, Bridgestone's first postwar overseas plant in Malaysia started operating.

In 1967, Bridgestone expanded overseas by establishing the Bridgestone Tire Company of America, which served as the company's U.S. sales headquarters.

In 1968, Bridgestone was honored with the prestigious Deming Prize for its excellence in quality management.

Bridgestone is awarded the Deming Application Prize.

In 1971, Bridgestone decided to withdraw from the motorcycle business due to the shrinking domestic market in Japan caused by the popularization of light automobiles. The company shifted its focus to restructuring its bicycle business.

Shojiro Ishibashi, the founder of the Bridgestone family of companies, passed away on September 11, 1976, during a period of significant growth and expansion for the company.

Bridgestone introduced the POTENZA high-performance passenger car tires in 1979, catering to the needs of drivers seeking enhanced driving experiences and superior grip on the road.

In 1980, Bridgestone released the high-performance Potenza Radial tire, catering to drivers looking for enhanced performance.

On March 1, 1981, Bridgestone purchased a tire plant in Tennessee from the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, marking its first manufacturing plant in North America.

Founder Shojiro Ishibashi of Bridgestone passes away.

In 1983, the first studless winter tire, the Winter Radial 708 Studless, was introduced in Japan.

In 1984, Bridgestone acquired Firestone's Nashville Plant, marking its first production plant in the United States.

In May 1988, Bridgestone acquired The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, transforming Bridgestone into one of the world's largest tire and rubber companies with production sites across the Americas, Europe, and other regions.

In 1992, Bridgestone Americas set up its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee as part of the integration with Bridgestone's U.S. operations.

Bridgestone/Firestone Europe S.A. was founded to oversee and manage all Bridgestone/Firestone subsidiaries in Europe.

In 1994, Bridgestone/Firestone Europe S.A. initiated its sales and logistics operations in Europe.

In 1997, Bridgestone entered its first Formula 1 race, marking a significant milestone in the world of motorsports.

In the 1998 Japanese Grand Prix, Mika Häkkinen from the McLaren racing team emerged victorious, marking the first time a car equipped with Bridgestone tires secured both the driver's and constructor's titles in Formula 1® racing.

In 1999, Bridgestone absorbed a producer of steel tire cords, Bridgestone Metalpha Corp.

Bridgestone celebrated the 100th anniversary of the iconic Firestone brand, highlighting the evolution from manufacturing plows to producing a wide range of products including tires for various sectors.

Bridgestone marked the centennial celebration of the Firestone brand, reflecting on a hundred years of success and evolution from plows to modern-day passenger, commercial, agricultural, and race tires under the Firestone name.

In 2002, Bridgestone/Firestone restructured its businesses by transferring to a holding-company structure known as Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holdings. This restructuring also involved the creation of several spin-off companies.

After the cancellation of shares held by minority shareholders, Bridgestone Australia Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation of Japan through a selective capital reduction and privatisation process costing $49 million. The delisting from the ASX occurred on 30 May 2007.

In March 1, 2011, Bridgestone Corporation introduced a new corporate philosophy called 'The Bridgestone Essence' along with a new Bridgestone symbol and brand tagline. This initiative was launched to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Bridgestone Group's establishment and to strengthen the Bridgestone brand globally.

In August 2014, Bridgestone Americas inaugurated its first large off road radial tire plant in Aiken County, S.C. The plant, spanning 1.5 million square feet, specializes in manufacturing off road radial tires for heavy haul trucks used in mining and aggregates sectors.

In October 2015, Bridgestone Corporation announced the successful development of passenger tires made with 100 percent natural rubber components sourced from guayule, a desert shrub found in arid regions.

Bridgestone commemorated its 90th anniversary of establishment on March 1, 2021.

In 2024, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC was established.

Bridgestone aims to provide social value and customer value as a sustainable solutions company by the year 2050.