Cooper Tire & Rubber Company

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Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Type Public (NYSE: CTB)
Founded 1926
Headquarters Findlay, Ohio, U.S.
Melksham, Wiltshire, UK
Industry Manufacturing
Products Tires
Website CooperTire.com

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) is a United States based company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of replacement[1]automobiles and truck tires, with additional subsidiaries that specialize in motorcycle and racing tires, as well as tread rubber and related equipment for the industry. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has 59 manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located around the world.

In 1941, the first year the Cooper oval trademark with the Cooper Knight head gear was registered and used. In those early years of the brand's identification, the logo also included a banner proclaiming the tires' "armored-cord" construction. The company's red, white, and blue logo would become one of the most easily recognized emblems in the tire industry.

During World War II the company manufactured pontoons, landing boats, waterproof bags and camouflage items, inflatable barges, life jackets and tank decoys, and, of course, tires, to benefit the Allied effort. The company's contribution to the war effort was acknowledged in 1945 by the armed forces in a special ceremony bestowing the Army-Navy ‘E’ Award (for excellence). Soon after the war the company name was officially changed to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, in recognition of Cooper's contribution to Master Tire & Rubber

Cooper also owns the UK Avon Tyres brand, which also produces tires for motorcycles, road cars, and for motor racing.

Its slogan is "The tire with two names....the company and the man who built it."

Contents

[edit] History

The Cooper name originates from 1919 with the establishment of The Cooper Corporation in 1919 located in Findlay, Ohio when Cincinnati auto parts dealer I.J. Cooper formed the company to manufacture new tires. The M and M Company, which was formed by two brother-in-laws in Akron, Ohio in 1914 acquired the Giant Tire and Rubber Company and moved to Findlay, Ohio at a site at the intersection of Lima and Western Avenue still occupied by Cooper Tire and adjacent to The Cooper Corporation facilities. The Cooper Corporation, the M and M Company, and The Falls Rubber company merged in 1930 to form the Master Tire and Rubber Company. The company name was changed to Cooper Tire and Rubber Company in 1946.[2]

[edit] Avon Rubber plc

In 1997, the tire business of Avon Rubber plc of Melksham, Wiltshire, in the United Kingdom was sold to Cooper Tire. This left Avon able to concentrate on its core businesses of automotive components, technical products, and protective equipment. The Cooper Tire site remains a major employer in central Melksham.

Avon Tyres Logo

[edit] Other brands

In addition to Avon, Cooper Tire manufactures tires under associated brands[3] names, Mastercraft, Dean, Lexington, Mickey Thompson, Dick Cepek[4], and Starfire.[5] Starfire, which was fit between the Cooper and Mastercraft lines, was discontinued in 2007 in North America but continues to be sold in Asia. Outside of the United States, Cooper markets its associated brand, Kenda. [6] Cooper also produces tires under private labels such as Sears (Sears Guardsman Plus tire[7]) and PepBoys.[8] PepBoys markets the Cornell and Futera tire lines, which Cooper produces.

[edit] A1 Grand Prix

Cooper Tire became the official tire of the A1 Grand Prix, dubbed the World Cup of Motorsports, for the series' initial 2005-2006 season. Cooper was under contract to produce slick tires and treaded rain tires for the series championship until 2008.

[edit] Champ Car Atlantic Championship

Cooper Tire became the official tire of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship in 2007.

[edit] Drifting involvement

Cooper is heavily involved in the sport of drifting by supplying tires to several drifters in both the Need for Speed Formula D Drift series and U.S. Drift series.

[edit] Management and company personnel

Cooper employes 13,311 employees. Roy V. Armes is Chairman, President, and CEO.[9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=CTB Profile for Cooper Tire Rubber, Yahoo. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  2. ^ http://www.coopertires.com.au/cooper/index.htm History of Cooper Tyres. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  3. ^ http://www.coopertire.com/html/products/associatedbrands.aspx?tab=3 Cooper Tire Associated Brands. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  4. ^ http://www.aftermarketnews.com/Item/25746/cooper_drops_starfire_brand_in_north_america.aspx Cooper Drops Starfire Brand in North America, Aftermarket news. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  5. ^ http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/product-compint-0000302148-page.html Goliath: Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  6. ^ http://www.aftermarketnews.com/Item/25746/cooper_drops_starfire_brand_in_north_america.aspx Cooper Drops Starfire Brand in North America, Aftermarket news. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  7. ^ http://www.coopertire.com/html/company/news_newsreleases.aspx?tab=7&rtId=2&rId=877. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  8. ^ http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/product-compint-0000302148-page.html Goliath: Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  9. ^ http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=CTB Profile: Cooper Tire Rubber, Yahoo. Retrieved 2009-10-06.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Tire_%26_Rubber_Company"