AKRON—Goodyear's Rich Kramer described the tire industry as being at an "inflection point," where technology and data are changing mobility completely.
The change is "no less revolutionary than the move from horses to the Model T," he told those attending the Akron Roundtable's monthly business lunch series on Aug. 17.
"Imagine a tire that can tell your vehicle not only that your inflation is low but can sense that you're carrying 500 pounds of cargo on tires with worn tread, driving on icy roads, and it automatically adjusts your vehicle's speed and handling while you sit back and enjoy the ride," he said.
The Goodyear chairman, president and CEO said that the key to success for the company—and the community of Akron at large—is to embrace the change with a "front-foot forward" mentality.
Kramer spoke at the Akron Roundtable event at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron to mark the company's 125th anniversary. Goodyear was founded Aug. 29, 1898.