General Tire
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Tire manufacturing |
| Founded | September 29, 1915 in Akron, Ohio, United States |
| Founder | William Francis O'Neil, Winfred E. Fouse, Charles J. Jahant, Robert Iredell, H.B. Pushee |
| Headquarters | Akron , United States |
Area served | North America |
| Products | Tires for automobiles and heavy-duty trucks |
| Parent | Continental AG |
Continental Tire the Americas, LLC, known commercially as General Tire, is an American manufacturer specializing in tires for automobiles and heavy-duty trucks. Established in 1915 in Akron, Ohio by William Francis O'Neil, Winfred E. Fouse, Charles J. Jahant, Robert Iredell, and H.B. Pushee, the company began as The General Tire & Rubber Company. Its initial funding came from Michael O'Neil, William’s father and proprietor of Akron's O'Neil's Department Store. By 1984, the enterprise had grown into a multifaceted corporation under GenCorp, Inc., with operations covering tire production (General Tire, Inc.), rubber materials (DiversiTech General), aerospace and rocketry (Aerojet), and media broadcasting (RKO General).
In 1987, Continental AG of Germany purchased the tire segment, renaming it Continental General Tire Corp., which later reorganized as Continental Tire the Americas. The rubber compounds business was separated into OMNOVA Solutions Inc., while the aerospace and rocketry divisions evolved into Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.
Tire division
William Francis O'Neil, who operated a Firestone dealership in Kansas City, Missouri, initially founded a modest manufacturing operation called The Western Rubber & Supply Company, which was later renamed The Western Tire & Rubber Company. As Firestone expanded and curtailed franchise areas, O'Neil opted to compete independently by collaborating with four partners to establish The General Tire & Rubber Company on September 29, 1915, funded with $200,000 borrowed from his father. They hired former Firestone executives to build a strong management team.
Originally concentrating on tire repair products, by 1916 General Tire had begun producing premium tires. Early offerings included the General Jumbo replacement tire designed for Ford Model Ts, the low-pressure General Balloon Jumbo tires, and the Dual 90 models.
Although World War I presented obstacles, by 1917 General Tire had developed a network of dealerships and initiated marketing campaigns. By 1930, it operated 14 retail outlets and commanded roughly 1.8% of the tire market. During the Great Depression, General Tire expanded its market presence by acquiring Yale Tire and Rubber Company and India Tire and Rubber Company, boosting its market share to approximately 2.7% by 1933—remarkable given its limited product range.
Following World War II, General Tire broadened its business scope beyond tires into areas such as entertainment, tennis balls, wrought iron goods, beverages, chemicals, and plastics. By the early 1980s, it had also ventured into film and video production.
Radio, television, and film division
Amidst the Depression era, The General Tire & Rubber Company entered broadcasting by purchasing several Ohio radio stations to promote its products. In 1943, it further diversified by acquiring the Yankee Network along with Boston radio stations from Shepard Stores, Inc. Thomas F. O'Neil—son of founder William F. O'Neil—served as chairman of the New York Yankees baseball team alongside John Shepard III of Shepard Stores as president.
In 1950, the company expanded on the West Coast by acquiring the prominent Don Lee Broadcasting System, securing key stations such as KHJ-AM–FM in Los Angeles and KFRC-AM-FM in San Francisco. The 1952 acquisition of WOR/WOR-FM/WOR-TV in New York led to the formation of General Teleradio, consolidating its broadcast properties. This division also included Canadian powerhouse CKLW in Windsor, Ontario—dominant in Detroit’s radio market.
In 1955, General Tire purchased RKO Radio Pictures from Howard Hughes for $25 million to utilize its film library for television content. The company sold RKO’s Hollywood studio lot to Desilu Productions—owned by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz—in 1956 for $6 million. Remaining RKO assets merged with General Teleradio to create RKO Teleradio Pictures, later renamed RKO General. Despite holding leading radio stations nationwide, unethical conduct at its TV stations resulted in the longest licensing dispute in U.S. television history and ultimately led to RKO General’s withdrawal from broadcasting by 1991.
Rocketry and Aeronautics Division
During the late 1930s, Aerojet was established by engineers from Caltech who were commissioned by the U.S. Army to create rocket propulsion systems. To progress from liquid-fueled rockets to advanced solid-fuel technology, Aerojet joined forces with The General Tire & Rubber Company, utilizing its financial resources, expertise in rubber binder formulations, and chemical production capabilities. This collaboration led to the formation of Aerojet General, representing a major step forward in aerospace innovation for the conglomerate.
Reincorporation and Divestiture to Continental AG
In 1984, as part of a corporate reorganization, General Tire along with its industrial products, chemicals, and plastics divisions, together with Aerojet General and RKO General, were consolidated under the newly formed parent company GenCorp, Inc..
Three years later, in 1987, GenCorp implemented a significant restructuring strategy aimed at averting a hostile acquisition attempt by General Acquisition, Inc. During this process, it divested its core tire business, General Tire, selling it to the German firm Continental AG. Today, General Tire operates under the umbrella of Continental Tire of North America.
Sponsorships
General Tire actively supports prominent motorsport and outdoor recreational activities to strengthen its brand visibility:
- Major League Fishing – Official Partner
- ARCA Menards Series – Exclusive tire supplier
- NASCAR Canada Series – Official tire supplier
- Jeep Jamboree USA – Official Partner