Hoosier Tire was purchased by Continental AG on October 4, 2016.[4][5] The tire company was purchased for a total nearing $140 million. Following the purchase, 31–year veteran John DeSalle was named president. Following DeSalle's retirement in 2020, Joerg Burfien was named president and CEO.[6][7]
History
Hoosier Racing Tire was founded in 1957 in Lakeville, Indiana by stock car racer Robert Newton, and Joyce Newton. Newton wished to design a faster tire compound to gain an advantage against fellow racers. This was done by retreading street tires in order to obtain a compound that would adequately gain enough traction. Using an abandoned barn in South Bend, Indiana to start his business, he began sales to local racers. The Hoosier logo is colored after Newton's race car at the time which was purple.[2]
The founder of Hoosier Racing Tire, Robert Newton, died in 2012, aged 85, at his home in Lakeville, Indiana.[8] His wife and co–founder, Joyce Newton, died aged 85 on January 16, 2018.[9]