Cooper Tire & Rubber Company

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company was an American tire manufacturer headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. Its principal business was the design, manufacture, marketing, and sale of replacement tires for passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks, commercial trucks, and related applications. Through subsidiaries and associated brands, the company also served motorcycle, racing, retreading, and international markets. The company’s corporate lineage began in 1914, when John F. Schaefer and Claude E. Hart established the M and M Manufacturing Company in Akron, Ohio. The original business made tire patches, tire cement, and repair kits rather than complete tires. It expanded through the acquisition of The Giant Tire & Rubber Company in 1920 and moved to Findlay in 1922. The Cooper name entered the business through the Cooper Corporation, founded in Findlay in 1919 by automobile-parts dealer I. J. Cooper. The Cooper Corporation, M and M, and Falls Rubber merged in 1930 to form Master Tire and Rubber Company. The corporate name became Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in 1946. During the Second World War, Master Tire and Rubber supplied the Allied war effort with tires and a broad range of rubber and inflatable products, including pontoons, landing boats, waterproof bags, life jackets, inflatable barges, camouflage materials, and tank decoys. The company received the Army-Navy ‘E’ Award in 1945 for wartime production performance. Its red, white, and blue oval identity, incorporating the Cooper Knight motif, became an important part of its recognition in the tire market. Cooper was controlled by members of the Brewer family from 1946 through 1982. Under W. B. Brewer and later Wayne and Edward Brewer, the company developed a reputation for close relationships between management and employees while expanding its manufacturing and distribution base. Cooper became a public company in 1960, listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the former symbol CTB. It entered the Fortune 500 in 1983. From the 1990s onward, Cooper pursued international expansion and diversification. It acquired the Avon Tyres tire business in the United Kingdom in 1997, purchased Standard Products Company in 1999, established manufacturing cooperation with Kenda Rubber in China, expanded its ownership of Chinese tire operations, and acquired a Serbian tire plant in 2011. Its portfolio included Cooper, Avon, Dean, Mastercraft, Mickey Thompson, Roadmaster, Starfire, Hercules, and private-label or retailer-associated brands such as Arizonian and Futura. The company also operated businesses connected with commercial tires and truck-tire products, although it later sold Oliver Rubber to Michelin. Cooper was acquired by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in June 2021 in a transaction announced at approximately $2.8 billion in cash and shares. The acquisition ended Cooper’s independent public-company status and made Cooper a Goodyear-owned tire brand. Cooper products and brand activities continued within Goodyear’s portfolio, while some legacy subsidiaries and facilities underwent subsequent changes, including plans announced in 2022 to close the Avon facility in Melksham, England by the end of 2023.

Cooper Tire’s origins lie in the American rubber-repair industry of the early twentieth century. John F. Schaefer and Claude E. Hart founded M and M Manufacturing Company in Akron, Ohio, in 1914. The enterprise initially supplied tire patches, cement, and repair kits. In 1920 it acquired The Giant Tire & Rubber Company, a tire-rebuilding operation, and moved to Findlay in 1922. The Cooper name came from a separate Findlay company established by I. J. Cooper in 1919 to make new tires. M and M, the Cooper Corporation, and Falls Rubber combined in 1930 as Master Tire and Rubber Company. During the Second World War, the business broadened its output for the United States and Allied forces. In addition to tires, it manufactured inflatable and rubberized military equipment, including pontoons, landing boats, bags, life jackets, camouflage products, barges, and tank decoys. The company received the Army-Navy ‘E’ Award in 1945. In 1946, the corporate name changed to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. The Brewer family shaped the company’s postwar development. W. B. Brewer led the business first, followed by his sons Wayne and Edward, with another son, Robert, serving as a vice president. Cooper went public on the New York Stock Exchange on July 11, 1960, under the symbol CTB. The Brewer leadership emphasized direct engagement with employees and supported a distinctive corporate culture. By 1983, Cooper had become a Fortune 500 industrial company. Internationalization and acquisition became increasingly important from the 1990s. Cooper bought the Avon Tyres tire business in 1997, giving it a British platform for road-car, motorcycle, and racing products. In 1999 it acquired Standard Products Company, adding automotive sealing, plastic-trim, and vibration-control operations, as well as Oliver Rubber and Holm Industries. Cooper later concentrated more heavily on tires, selling Oliver Rubber to Michelin in 2007. The company expanded its Asian manufacturing and commercial presence through cooperation with Kenda Rubber, investments involving Kumho, and majority ownership arrangements involving Cooper Chengshan operations in China. It also established Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Serbia after acquiring a unit of Trayal Corporation in 2011. These moves supported production for Chinese, European, and export markets. Cooper’s portfolio included its own Cooper brand and a network of acquired, associated, and private-label brands. Motorsport became a visible part of the company’s marketing and technical identity. Cooper and Avon supplied or sponsored a range of formula, rallycross, motorcycle, and racing series. Cooper was associated with A1 Grand Prix, Champ Car Atlantic, IMSA Prototype Lites, the Mazda Road to Indy ladder, FIA World Rallycross, and other competitions. Avon had longstanding links to British Formula Three and other international racing categories. A proposed 2013 sale to Apollo Tyres was abandoned after disagreements involving Cooper’s Chinese operations and the effect of a strike at a Chinese plant. Cooper remained independent for several more years, but Goodyear announced an agreement to acquire it on February 22, 2021. The transaction closed in June 2021. Cooper therefore ceased to operate as an independently listed company, while its name and products continued as part of Goodyear’s brand portfolio. Later changes included the announced closure of the Melksham Avon site and the continued integration of Cooper’s products and operations into Goodyear’s global tire business.

1. 2021Acquired by Goodyear

   Goodyear completed its acquisition of Cooper in June, ending Cooper’s independent public-company status.

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2. 2013Apollo Tyres transaction abandoned

   A proposed acquisition by Apollo Tyres ended after disputes involving the Chinese business.

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3. 2011Serbian manufacturing operation established

   Cooper acquired a unit of Trayal Corporation and formed Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Serbia.

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4. 1999Standard Products acquired

   The acquisition expanded Cooper into automotive sealing, trim, vibration-control, and related rubber businesses.

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5. 1997Avon Tyres acquired

   Cooper acquired Avon’s tire business in the United Kingdom.

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6. 1960Listed on the New York Stock Exchange

   Cooper became a public company under ticker CTB.

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7. 1946Corporate name changed to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company

   The company adopted the name by which it became internationally known.

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8. 1945Army-Navy ‘E’ Award received

   The wartime company was recognized for excellence in supporting Allied production.

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9. 1930Master Tire and Rubber Company formed

   M and M, Cooper Corporation, and Falls Rubber merged.

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10. 1920Giant Tire & Rubber acquired

    M and M purchased the Akron tire-rebuilding company The Giant Tire & Rubber Company.

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11. 1919Cooper Corporation established

    I. J. Cooper formed a Findlay company to manufacture new tires, providing the Cooper name later used by the combined business.

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12. 1914M and M Manufacturing Company founded

    John F. Schaefer and Claude E. Hart founded the predecessor company in Akron, Ohio, producing tire-repair materials.

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A replacement-tire brand positioned around durability, value, road performance, and applications for passenger vehicles, SUVs, light trucks, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and motorsport.

• Cooper TiresPassenger and commercial tires

  The core Cooper-branded portfolio covers replacement tires for passenger cars, SUVs, light trucks, and commercial trucks. The range has historically emphasized practical durability, road performance, and broad retail availability.

• DiscovererSUV and light-truck tires

  Discoverer is a major Cooper family associated primarily with SUVs, pickup trucks, and crossover vehicles. The line includes products intended for highway, all-terrain, winter, and off-road use, depending on the specific model.

• EvolutionPassenger and performance tires

  Evolution is a Cooper product family for passenger vehicles and selected performance-oriented applications. Its positioning centers on everyday road use, handling, and replacement value.

• Avon TyresMotorcycle, road-car, and racing tires1997

  Avon Tyres became part of Cooper through the 1997 acquisition of Avon’s tire business. The brand has served road-car, motorcycle, and motorsport markets, with later British production concentrating particularly on motorcycle and racing products.

• Mickey ThompsonPerformance and off-road tires

  Mickey Thompson is an associated Cooper brand known for performance, enthusiast, and off-road tire applications.

• MastercraftReplacement tires

  Mastercraft is an associated replacement-tire brand within Cooper’s historical brand portfolio, serving passenger, light-truck, and related applications.

• HerculesReplacement tires

  Hercules-branded tires were manufactured by Cooper, including production at the company’s Findlay operation.

• 2020Virtual Road to Indy

  United States

  During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooper supported virtual Road to Indy races using the iRacing simulation platform.

  Outcome. The racing program continued in digital form during the disruption to physical events.

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• 2014FIA World Rallycross supply

  International

  Cooper became the official tire supplier associated with the FIA World Rallycross Championship and related Americas rallycross competition.

  Outcome. The program strengthened Cooper’s motorsport positioning.

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• 2009Cooper British Formula Three sponsorship

  United Kingdom

  Cooper became title sponsor of the British Formula Three Championship after Avon had supplied the series, helping connect the Cooper name with professional single-seater racing.

  Outcome. The association continued through at least the 2014 season.

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• 2021Goodyear acquisitionM&A

  Goodyear sought to expand its tire portfolio and distribution reach through Cooper’s replacement-tire brands and operations.

  What changed. Goodyear announced the transaction in February and completed it in June 2021 using cash and shares.

  Aftermath. Cooper ceased to be an independently listed company and became part of Goodyear’s brand portfolio. Cooper shareholders were expected to own approximately 16% of the combined company.

  Transaction value. Approximately $2.8 billion (2021)

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• 2013Withdraw from Apollo Tyres saleM&A

  Apollo Tyres had agreed to acquire Cooper for approximately $2.5 billion, but issues concerning Cooper’s Chinese operations and a strike complicated the transaction.

  What changed. Apollo withdrew from the proposed acquisition on December 30, 2013.

  Aftermath. Cooper remained independent until its later acquisition by Goodyear.

  Proposed transaction value. Approximately $2.5 billion (2013)

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• 2007Sell Oliver Rubber to MichelinM&A

  Oliver Rubber produced tread rubber and equipment for the truck-retread industry and had been part of Cooper’s Standard Products acquisition.

  What changed. Cooper agreed to sell Oliver Rubber to Michelin.

  Aftermath. The transaction reduced Cooper’s involvement in retreading-related products and sharpened its focus on tires.

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• 2022Avon Tyres plans closure of Melksham site

  Goodyear announced plans to close the historic Avon Tyres site in Melksham, England by the end of 2023 after production had increasingly focused on motorcycle and motorsport tires.

  Other
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• 2021Goodyear announces agreement to acquire Cooper Tire

  Goodyear announced an agreement to acquire Cooper in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $2.8 billion.

  M&A
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• 2021Goodyear completes acquisition of Cooper Tire

  The acquisition closed in June 2021, ending Cooper’s independent listing and incorporating the company into Goodyear.

  M&A
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• 2020Cooper announces new Indiana distribution center

  Cooper announced plans for a regional distribution center in Whiteland, Indiana, intended to replace its Franklin facility and expand storage capacity.

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• 2013Apollo Tyres acquisition agreement collapses

  Apollo Tyres withdrew from its proposed purchase of Cooper after disputes concerning information and control related to Cooper’s Chinese business.

  M&AOther
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1. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
2. Cooper Tire official website