Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio, Diane Evans Column.

Byline: Diane Evans

Jun. 24--There was a time in Akron when families of competing rubber companies didn't mix.

The divisions often went to the extreme -- such as kids with Goodyear dads not going to birthday parties of kids with Firestone dads.

Can you believe it? Yesterday, Goodyear and Michelin announced they will create a joint venture, based in the Netherlands, to conduct further research on run-flat tires. In doing so, the companies will share otherwise top-secret technologies.

Old business models sure don't mean a thing in today's fast-changing global economy.

Today, the companies that succeed are the ones that think …