Hoosier Racing Tires

The history of Hoosier Racing Tire is one of an American Dream come true for two young, Indiana entrepreneurs who turned a personal vision into a reality.

It began in the early 1950's when Bob Newton, along with his supportive wife Joyce, began a successful racing career on the small asphalt tracks of northern Indiana. Bob, like many of his fellow drivers, was not satisfied with driving on street tires with their limited sizing options and hard tread compounds. It was during these early days that Bob had a vision to produce his own tires specifically designed for racing.

In 1957, Bob and Joyce decided to begin producing their own race tires by re-treading street tires with softer compounds. They began their business in an abandoned horse barn in South Bend, Indiana, selling their tires to local racers. The Hoosier name was chosen for their company to reflect the origin of Bob's racing roots on the short tracks of the Midwest, and the purple color that embodies the Hoosier Tire brand today was adapted from Bob’s first race car.