Goodyear Brand Re-Enters the Bicycle Tire Business with Kent International

Kent International, the second largest bicycle supplier to the Mass Market U.S., announced today that it has signed an agreement to become a licensee of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company for bicycle tires and tubes. The products will be available for purchase at Walmart and Dunham’s this spring.

“This agreement was born out of consumer demand and serves as a natural extension of our core tire business. We couldn’t ignore the statistics on the growth and popularity of cycling and look forward to working with Kent International.” “Bicycle tires were one of Goodyear’s first products when it was founded in 1898. We’re excited about our license agreement with Kent and that bicycle tires will once again be sold under the Goodyear brand,” said Nancy Ray, Goodyear’s director of Licensed Products.

“This agreement will revolutionize the bicycle industry and meet the growing demands of cycling. We look forward to offering Goodyear-brand products to the consumer with one of the best known and most-respected names in the tire business,” said Scott Kamler, president of Kent International.

This news comes on the heels of Kent International’s announcement that it is building a new bicycle manufacturing facility in Clarendon County, South Carolina, to supply Walmart with its first U.S.-made bicycles sold in more than 15 years. The $4.3 million investment is expected to bring 175 jobs to the area. About Goodyear Founded in 1898, Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 67,000 people and manufactures its products in 50 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.