Smytka, 49, joined Goodyear in 2008 as Goodyear's vice president for its consumer tire business in Asia. Before that, he worked for United Technologies Corp. and General Electric Co.

Smytka will succeed Pierre Cohade, who will leave Goodyear next year to pursue other opportunities, Goodyear said in a statement.

Goodyear has a plant in the northeast China port city of Dalian that supplies BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Ford, Citroen, Peugeot, Cadillac and Buick.

The plant also supplies two Chinese automakers, Great Wall Motor Co. and SAIC Motor Corp.