Goodyear maintains military business despite Trump tweet

ARLINGTON, Va. — Goodyear remains a supplier to the nation's military despite the recent dustup with President Trump, who urged consumers to boycott the brand.

A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) confirms the company continues to supply tires.

"DoD has not received direction to discontinue the use of Goodyear tires," DoD spokesman Chuck Prichard said in an Aug. 26 email to Tire Business. "Government terminations are governed by DoD accounting regulations. No terminations are being discussed."

Goodyear, based in Akron, sells tens of thousands of tires to the U.S. Armed Forces each year, one of more than a dozen tire companies with government work, the DoD said.

"Goodyear supplies approximately 90,000 aircraft and ground vehicle tires a year in support of the DoD Global Tire Program (GTP) for an average yearly contract amount of $48 million," Mr. Prichard said.

"This volume is subject to change due to operational tempo of the DOD and its Foreign Military Sales partners. This data is based on an average over the past five years.

"DLA has 16 tire supply contractors, including Goodyear, that consist of a network of manufacturers and dealers," he said.

The federal government contracts with Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) to provide tires to the military from a variety of manufacturers and dealers. SAIC uses long-term contracts to order tires on behalf of the military and handles the supply chain.

This includes inventory management, storage and warehouse operations, distribution and transportation, packaging, management of obsolete products, data management and customer support.

SAIC also oversees scrap tire and retread requirements, the federal Defense Logistics Agency said.

"Note that while DLA provides a majority of DoD tire requirements, some units and OEMs purchase from local industry or directly through a tire manufacturer," Mr. Prichard said. "There are no directives impacting DLA'S ordering of Goodyear products."

The president went after Goodyear on Twitter Aug. 19 after a slide shown during a presentation at the company's Topeka, Kan., plant specifically forbade the wearing of Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan on apparel.

The rule is part of a larger push that prohibits all political messaging at Goodyear and caught the president's attention because MAGA specifically was mentioned on the slide.

Mr. Trump tweeted: "Don't buy GOODYEAR TIRES - They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!)."

Not long after Mr. Trump's anti-Goodyear message, critics pointed out that the president's limousine, known as the "Beast," uses the company's tires.

But the real money for Goodyear is with the military. These sales are such an important part of Goodyear's business that the company has a website dedicated to that segment of the market.

In the days following the dustup, a message from CEO Rich Kramer was the first screen that people logging on to Goodyear's military supply website saw. It is addressed to the company's "valued government customers."

"By now, you are aware of a visual from our Topeka factory that has been circulating in the media, and I want to personally clear the record on what you are seeing and hearing. The slide in question was created by a plant employee to try to explain what is acceptable to wear in the workplace. The slide was not approved or distributed by Goodyear Corporate or anyone outside of that facility.

"I deeply regret the impression it has created and want to clarify Goodyear's position.

"First, to be clear, Goodyear does not endorse any political organization, party or candidate. We have a longstanding corporate policy that asks associates to refrain from workplace expressions in support of any candidate or political party.

"Second, Goodyear strongly supports our law enforcement partners and deeply appreciates all they do to put their lives on the line each and every day for our communities. We have proudly supplied tires to police and fire personnel for more than 100 years and that relationship is foundational to our company.

"We have clarified our policy to make it clear associates can express support for law enforcement through apparel at Goodyear facilities.

"The core of our company is our people and our culture. Goodyear has always supported both law enforcement and equal justice. We will always do so," Mr. Kramer said.

It's a message that is being repeated by the company following the controversy coming out of the Kansas plant.

The slide, once it became public, created some consternation among some Trump supporters who were quick to disparage Goodyear and vowed never to buy the company's tires again. But there also was a faction that came out in support of the company, indicating their willingness to buy Goodyear tires.

Comments on social media, like the political climate in the U.S. these days, were pointed and divided.

One person who came out squarely on the side of Goodyear is Akron's favorite son, LeBron James. The basketball superstar grew up in the city and wore the company's winged foot logo advertisement on his jersey while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He now suits up for the Los Angeles Lakers, but he maintains strong ties to his hometown.

"I know my people of Akron. I know what Goodyear means to our city," Mr. James said. "One thing about us is we don't bend, we don't fold, we don't break for nobody. So I'm not worried about that. Not only has Goodyear been great for my city, for the history of my city, but for the country. ... It's an unbelievable brand, unbelievable history. So we stand strong and, we always unite, especially in my city."