50th Anniversary gallery: Goodyear and Bridgestone/Firestone

A look at the work being done inside one of Bridgestone's facilities.

A look behind the scenes of a Bridgestone facility.

A Bridgestone employee inspects a tire.

A worker builds a tire at Bridgestone’s Lavergne, Tenn., plant.

This image from a tire warehouse is marked for publication in a print issue of Rubber & Plastics News.

Chemists chat in a lab. The IDs of these men and the date of the image is unknown.

After an inspection trip through the Akron factory on July 9, 1930, the Firestone family stops for a photo on the front steps of the facility. From left are: Leonard K. Firestone, Roger S. Firestone, Harvey S. Firestone Jr., Harvey S. Firestone, Russell K. Firestone and Raymond Firestone.

The tire industry is a global industry. Employees with Firestone discuss business using a globe.

A look inside Goodyear's cold weather testing chamber in Florida in 1999.

Harvey S. Firestone (right) with his friends Henry Ford (left) and Thomas Edison.

Goodyear is developing airless tires.

From left, Ohio Gov. John Kasich; Richard Kramer, Goodyear chairman, president and CEO; and Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic at the groundbreaking for the company’s new headquarters on April 18, 2011.

Goodyear Canada employees celebrate the production of the 1 millionth tire.

Former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes a selfie with Goodyear employees during a visit to Akron's race tire plant.

When the second manned flight to the earth's moon took place in 1971, the U.S. astronauts on board Apollo 14 took with them a Modular Equipment Transporter equipped with Goodyear tires specially designed for the trip.

Firestone CEO John Nevin participates in a dunking booth for charity.

This image of Firestone's top executive John Nevin, is marked for publication in a print issue of Rubber & Plastics News.

The Harvey S. Firestone Memorial, overlooks the Firestone complex in Akron on Aug. 3, 1950. Pictured are (from left) Roger S. Firestone, Raymond C. Firestone, Leonard K. Firestone, Russell A. Firestone and Harvey S. Firestone Jr.

Goodyear CEO Stanley Gault (center) learns more about some of the latest Goodyear racing tires.

Goodyear CEO Stanley Gault (right) inspects a tire with one of the company's employees.

Much has changed in the tire industry over the years, but there is plenty about the process that hasn't.

An employee at one of the major tire makers builds a tire at a plant in the U.S.

Robin Roberts, of Good Morning America, christens Wingfoot One with help from Goodyear CEO Richard Kramer.