Since I have Dunlop tires on CRZNTUB, I found this info of some interest. It's interesting how some name badges survive well after the originator walked away. Maserati brothers come to mind. There are many others.
In 1888, a practicing veterinarian in Belfast, Ireland built the first pneumatic bicycle tire. He tested it on his son's new bicycle. John Boyd Dunlop, the inventor, was born in Scotland in 1840. With the clear advantages of his invention, Dunlop obtained a patent and started a business of making Dunlop tires. After successfully overcoming the obvious obstacles of creating a new business with a new product, Dunlop sold the business to an entrepreneur in exhange for 1500 shares in the new business. Dunlop returned to the practice of veterinary medicine and lived a happy and fulfilled life. His shares in Dunlop Tire, however, never earned him much for his huge innovation and contribution to transportation. He passed away in 1921.
Today, Dunlop Tire is part of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. After acquisition of Dunlop's North American and European tire business in 1999, Goodyear regained the role of largest market share in the industry. Today, nine years later, Michelin is first (20%) in global market share, Bridgestone second (18%), and Goodyear is a close third (17%). Continental is in fourth (7%). These figures were supplied by Merrill Lynch. Interestingly, car manufacturers normally buy from many different suppliers, but General Motors buys predominantly Goodyear (40% of their new car tires), Ford from Continental (23%), Chrysler from Goodyear (67%), Toyota from Bridgestone (28%), Honda from Michelin (41%), and Nissan from Continental (39%). This data is from Modern Tire Dealer for the year 2007.
And....only 27% of all tire sales for passenger cars and trucks in 2007 went on new cars. The rest were replacements! So there you have the story of John Boyd Dunlop!
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