How Goodyear Used Asbestos
Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Goodyear grew into a major tire and rubber manufacturer during the 20th century. As Goodyear built and expanded its plants, asbestos was commonly used across the industry. Manufacturers believed asbestos helped prevent fires and protect equipment from heat.
Crews at Goodyear facilities installed asbestos insulation on boilers, pipes, and valves. Maintenance teams also used asbestos-containing parts during repairs because the materials handled heat and friction well.
Doctors now know asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other serious diseases. Symptoms can take up to 50 years to appear, which is why many people are diagnosed long after their exposure ended.
Asbestos lawsuits later showed that Goodyear and many other companies continued using asbestos even after the risks were known.
Key Facts About Asbestos and Goodyear
- Job sites: Rubber plants, tire factories, powerhouses, and maintenance shops
- Products affected: Pipe insulation, boiler insulation, gaskets, seals, and more
- At-risk groups: Maintenance crews, boiler workers, pipefitters, mechanics, machine operators, and contractors
- Legal options: Personal injury lawsuits for mesothelioma patients and wrongful death claims for surviving family members
You may be able to file a Goodyear asbestos lawsuit if you worked at one of its facilities or were exposed to its asbestos products and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma. Get a Free Case Review with our legal partners to see if you qualify for compensation.
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Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Asbestos Products
Goodyear made and used products that contained asbestos because it made them last longer and less vulnerable to daily wear. Most asbestos exposure linked to Goodyear came from materials inside plants and on equipment, especially during manufacturing, maintenance, and repair work.
Asbestos products connected to Goodyear include:
- Adhesives
- Boiler insulation
- Brake linings
- Burn shields
- Caliper-style aircraft brakes with asbestos lining
- Cranite and Durabla gaskets
- Engine mounts with asbestos components
- Floor tiles
- Furnace door hoses
- Goodyearite asbestos gasket sheet packing
- Insulating cement
- Mastics
- Pipe covering
- Pipe insulation
- Roofing materials
- Steam hoses
- Steam system insulation
Many of these products stayed in place for decades. Although Goodyear stopped using asbestos-containing components in the early 1980s, items such as insulation, gaskets, and brake components were already installed and continued to be used.
Goodyear Jobs at Highest Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Some jobs at Goodyear had a higher risk of asbestos exposure. The same was true for workers who handled Goodyear products. These roles often involved direct contact with asbestos-containing materials.
High-risk jobs for exposure to Goodyear asbestos included:
- Aircraft mechanics
- Auto mechanics
- Boilermakers
- Carpenters
- Construction workers
- Factory workers
- Flooring installers
- General contractors
- HVAC workers
- Laborers
- Machinists
- Military veterans
- Millwrights
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
Employees at older Goodyear plants faced the greatest danger. This includes facilities in Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Workers could carry asbestos fibers home on their clothes, shoes, or hair. Family members may have breathed in these fibers while doing laundry or sharing living spaces. This secondhand exposure has caused mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases in spouses and children.
Who Can File a Goodyear Asbestos Lawsuit?
Whether you can file a Goodyear asbestos lawsuit depends on two main factors: your medical diagnosis and how you were exposed. Both patients and family members may be eligible to take legal action, even if the exposure happened a long time ago.
You may be able to file a Goodyear asbestos lawsuit if you or your loved one:
- Were diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease
- Worked at a Goodyear plant or facility where asbestos was present
- Used or handled Goodyear equipment, parts, or components
- Held jobs in maintenance, mechanical repair, boiler work, or pipefitting
- Had secondhand exposure from a spouse or family member
Most people never realize they were exposed to asbestos or how it happened. That’s very common and doesn’t stop you from seeking compensation. An experienced asbestos law firm can review your work history, identify the sources of exposure, and explain which legal options may apply.
Our partners at Simmons Hanly Conroy have a strong record of results, securing $40 million for a U.S. Navy veteran from Washington who developed mesothelioma after working with Goodyear asbestos gaskets. Get a free case review to learn how they may be able to help your family.
How to File a Goodyear Asbestos Lawsuit
Filing a Goodyear asbestos lawsuit usually starts with speaking to a mesothelioma lawyer. A lawyer can review your information and use internal databases to determine the asbestos companies responsible for your illness.
A mesothelioma lawyer can help by:
- Collecting medical and employment records
- Pinpoint the asbestos products you worked with
- Determining which companies can be held liable
- Filing claims and managing legal deadlines
- Negotiating settlements or preparing cases for trial
While every case is different, the average mesothelioma settlement falls between $1 million and $1.4 million. In some cases, additional compensation may be available from asbestos trust funds.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Many companies that made or supplied asbestos products later filed for bankruptcy after facing large numbers of lawsuits. As part of that process, they set up asbestos trust funds to pay people harmed by their products.
Goodyear does not have its own asbestos trust fund. However, other companies that supplied asbestos-containing parts used at Goodyear job sites may have active trust funds.
Since many people with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos from more than one company, trust fund claims can be an important source of compensation. In many cases, people begin receiving their first payments within 90 days or less.
If you or a loved one has mesothelioma, you may qualify for asbestos trust fund payouts that can help cover medical costs and other expenses. See if you qualify now.
Get Help Filing a Goodyear Asbestos Lawsuit
If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma after working with products made by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, you don’t have to face this alone. Mesothelioma Hope and our legal partners can help you understand your legal options and make the process clearer and less stressful.
We can help by:
- Reviewing your work history and medical records
- Filing lawsuits and trust fund claims
- Explaining compensation options for family members
- Connecting you with free support resources
Taking the next step doesn’t have to be complicated. Call (866) 608-8933 or request a free case review to learn what compensation and support options may be available to you and your family.
Goodyear Asbestos Exposure FAQs
Did Goodyear use asbestos?
Yes. Goodyear relied on asbestos in its plants and equipment for many years. Asbestos was used in insulation, gaskets, boilers, and pipe coverings because it could withstand high heat and heavy wear.
Back then, asbestos was common across industrial work sites, and most workers were never warned it could make them sick. Years later, some of those workers developed mesothelioma.
Do Goodyear products still contain asbestos?
No. Goodyear no longer uses asbestos in its products or manufacturing processes. The company phased out asbestos use as the health risks became widely known and regulations changed.
However, older Goodyear plants, machinery, and building materials installed decades ago may still contain asbestos. These legacy materials can remain hazardous if disturbed during repairs or demolition.
Can family members file a Goodyear asbestos lawsuit?
Yes. Family members may qualify for compensation if they were exposed to asbestos through a loved one who worked at a Goodyear facility.
This type of exposure often occurred when asbestos fibers were carried home on work clothing, shoes, or tools.
Secondary asbestos exposure has been linked to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Secondary exposure claims may be filed by spouses, children, or other household members.
How long does a Goodyear asbestos lawsuit take?
The timeline for a Goodyear asbestos lawsuit depends on the specific facts of the case and whether it can be resolved outside of court.
Most mesothelioma lawsuits are resolved within 12 to 18 months, and many settle within 1 year or less. Some patients and families begin receiving compensation within 90 days.
Contact us for a free case review to learn how quickly you may be able to pursue compensation.
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