Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
An American replacement-tire manufacturer whose former public company was acquired by Goodyear in 2021.
Last updated August 21, 2026
AI crawler reads
1requests
1companies- Anthropic1
- Profile
- 1
- Controversies
- 0
- JSON · MD
- 0
- First read
- Nov 4, 2026
- Latest read
- Nov 4, 2026
Since Oct 28, 2026 · from this site's server log
Overview
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.
History
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.
- 2021
Acquired by Goodyear
[1]Goodyear completed its acquisition of Cooper in June, ending Cooper’s independent public-company status.
- 2013
Apollo Tyres transaction abandoned
[1]A proposed acquisition by Apollo Tyres ended after disputes involving the Chinese business.
- 2011
Serbian manufacturing operation established
[1]Cooper acquired a unit of Trayal Corporation and formed Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Serbia.
- 1999
Standard Products acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded Cooper into automotive sealing, trim, vibration-control, and related rubber businesses.
- 1997
Avon Tyres acquired
[1]Cooper acquired Avon’s tire business in the United Kingdom.
- 1960
Listed on the New York Stock Exchange
[1]Cooper became a public company under ticker CTB.
- 1946
Corporate name changed to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
[1]The company adopted the name by which it became internationally known.
- 1945
Army-Navy ‘E’ Award received
[1]The wartime company was recognized for excellence in supporting Allied production.
- 1930
Master Tire and Rubber Company formed
[1]M and M, Cooper Corporation, and Falls Rubber merged.
- 1920
Giant Tire & Rubber acquired
[1]M and M purchased the Akron tire-rebuilding company The Giant Tire & Rubber Company.
Products and positioning
A replacement-tire brand positioned around durability, value, road performance, and applications for passenger vehicles, SUVs, light trucks, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and motorsport.
Passenger and commercial tires
Cooper 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.
SUV and light-truck tires
Discoverer
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.
Passenger and performance tires
Evolution
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.
Motorcycle, road-car, and racing tires · 1997
Avon Tyres
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.
Performance and off-road tires
Mickey Thompson
Mickey Thompson is an associated Cooper brand known for performance, enthusiast, and off-road tire applications.
Replacement tires
Mastercraft
Mastercraft is an associated replacement-tire brand within Cooper’s historical brand portfolio, serving passenger, light-truck, and related applications.
Replacement tires
Hercules
Hercules-branded tires were manufactured by Cooper, including production at the company’s Findlay operation.
Marketing campaigns
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Brand decisions
2021
Goodyear acquisitionM&ABackground
Goodyear sought to expand its tire portfolio and distribution reach through Cooper’s replacement-tire brands and operations.
Action taken
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)
2013
Withdraw from Apollo Tyres saleM&ABackground
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.
Action taken
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)
2007
Sell Oliver Rubber to MichelinM&ABackground
Oliver Rubber produced tread rubber and equipment for the truck-retread industry and had been part of Cooper’s Standard Products acquisition.
Action taken
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.
Recent events
Reported
Goodyear completes acquisition of Cooper Tire[3]
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company completed its acquisition of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, finalizing the merger agreement announced on February 22, 2021.
Reported
Goodyear agrees to acquire Cooper Tire[4]
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company agreed to purchase Cooper Tire and Rubber Company in a deal valued at $2.5 billion. The transaction was expected to close in the second half of 2021.
Reported
Cooper Tire introduces Discoverer EnduraMax tire[5]
Cooper Tire introduced its Discoverer EnduraMax all-season SUV tire at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The tire was stated to be available in early summer 2020.
Sources5 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/cooper-tire-and-rubber-company · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled