Englebert (tyre manufacturer)

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Englebert was a Belgian tyre company started by Oscar Englebert in Liège in 1868. It grew into one of Europe’s leading tyre makers and helped create Uniroyal in Europe. The first tyre factory opened in Herstal in 1898, making tyres for bicycles and cars. By 1912 about 400 people were employed, and by 1926 the workforce reached around 3,500. A second plant opened in 1929 near Aachen, Germany. In 1931 the Englebert Tyre Company was formed, and they bought a French factory at Clairoix in 1936, producing their millionth tyre in 1937. After World War II they partnered with Uniroyal in 1958, and in 1966 the name changed to Uniroyal Englebert. In 1979 Uniroyal sold its European business, which joined Continental Tyre Company; the Englebert brand disappeared, while Uniroyal continued.

In racing, Englebert entered motorsport in the 1930s, with tyres used in many Grand Prix races from 1950 to 1958 and aiding eight race winners, often with Ferrari. They debuted in Formula One at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix. In the 1957 Mille Miglia, a Ferrari equipped with Englebert tyres crashed into the crowd, killing Portago and others; prosecutors charged Englebert and Enzo Ferrari with manslaughter, but both were cleared in 1961.