SAN ANGELO, Texas, Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1944, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) rolled into San Angelo and established its largest tire evaluation center. Now, 70 years later, associates at the San Angelo Proving Grounds are gearing up to celebrate the platinum anniversary of this facility.

Goodyear's San Angelo associates will celebrate a history of innovation and community spirit on Friday, October 11 and Saturday, October 12. A series of product demonstrations and interactive activities will be offered to associates, family members and retirees throughout the two-day celebration.

The San Angelo Proving Grounds facility plays a key role in Goodyear's product and technology development process, providing the organization with the ability to conduct extensive on- and off-road testing. These tests supply the company's technical community with the objective and subjective metrics that are crucial to predicting product success in real world conditions.

"Goodyear's legacy of innovation is directly supported by the San Angelo Proving Ground, and its associates" said Jon Bellissimo, general director of Goodyear's Innovation Center in Akron, Ohio. "Cutting edge innovations such as the fuel-saving FuelMax technology with applications in both consumer and commercial tires have been tested and successfully validated at San Angelo."

The San Angelo facility covers 7,250 acres and includes 58 miles of track. Goodyear's San Angelo associates are directly involved in the testing of tires for passenger cars and trucks, commercial trucks and large off-the-road vehicles at San Angelo.

The anniversary celebration also recognizes Goodyear's strong ties to the surrounding community, which has contributed to the facility's success. "The support of Goodyear's presence in this community has been outstanding" said Chris Queen, manager of the San Angelo Proving Grounds. "We look forward to continuing a relationship of mutual support with the San Angelo community for many years to come."

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 69,000 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. 

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SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company