The Weather-Master WSC (which stands for Winter and Snow Confidence) represents the next generation of tires designed to deliver superior winter performance. This tire’s unique directional design, combined with a high silica tread compound, is ideally suited for the toughest winter conditions. The WSC was developed for drivers of newer SUVs, CUVs, smaller pickups and some passenger car applications looking for improved traction on winter’s slushy and snow-covered roads. Applications include but are not limited to the BMW X3, Lexus RX350/450, Mazda 3 and 5, Lincoln MKS, Toyota Rav-4 Sport, Nissan Murano and Ford Explorer Ltd. 

With one of the fastest tracks of the season under his belt, Verdier marked 100 mph plus as he slid his way to victory on Cooper Zeon 2XS ultra-high performance tires at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., August 21-22. Adding to the excitement, fans were also treated to both drifting and IndyCar Series racing during the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend.

The 2009 Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda waves the green flag for the first time this weekend at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla., with more prize money at stake than ever before. “Cooper Tire’s partnership with The Atlantic Championship continues to pay tremendous dividends,” said Chris Pantani, Director of Motorsport and Event Marketing for Cooper Tire. “Our involvement provides a great research and development environment, as well as marketing opportunities. It also provides an excellent platform for Cooper to showcase its ultra-high performance racing products and technological capabilities to enthusiasts throughout the race season.”

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE: CTB) announced today that to meet consumer demand for greater vehicle fuel efficiency, it has added its first low-rolling resistance tire line — the Cooper GFE (Greater Fuel Efficiency) — to its product portfolio. The Cooper GFE is now available at dealers nationwide. “With the recent volatility in gasoline prices, customers are looking for ways to improve their vehicle fuel economy,” said Chuck Yurkovich, Vice President of Global Technology. “Tire rolling resistance has a significant impact on vehicle fuel economy, so Cooper responded with a new tire specifically designed for fuel-efficient vehicles.”

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE: CTB) officially announced the start of its national “Take the Money and Ride” promotion. The event, which runs through December 31, 2008, gives consumers a $50 rebate with the purchase of four qualifying Cooper tires at participating dealers nationwide. “We are confident in the quality and performance of our tires,” said Hal Gardner, Vice President of Marketing for Cooper Tire. “A large-scale event like the national tire sale gives us the opportunity to share that quality and performance with consumers at a price that is affordable even in a tight economy.”

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE: CTB) and ROUSH Performance have teamed up to provide you with a Mustang that is far from ordinary. Now the world’s hottest car comes fully equipped with Cooper ultra-high performance tires. As the “Official Tire of ROUSH Performance,” Cooper will supply ultra-high performance tires for Stage 1, 2 and 3, and other limited edition vehicles such as the P51B ROUSH-customized Mustangs that are now available at select Ford dealerships nationwide.

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE:CTB) and Professional Bull Riders Inc. (PBR) are teaming up to offer one lucky fan of professional bull riding a dream trip to New York City for the 2009 VERSUS Invitational through the “Big Rides in the Big Apple” sweepstakes. During the 2008 season, bucking bronco fans can enter online at coopertire.com to win the ultimate grand prize trip courtesy of Cooper Tire: round trip airfare for two, hotel accommodations, tickets to the 2009 VERSUS Invitational in January, spending money and a full set of four Cooper tires.

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE: CTB) announced a partnership with Formula DRIFT for the fifth consecutive year for the entire seven round 2008 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship Series, a fully sanctioned national premier drifting event competition. The series got underway in Long Beach, Calif., April 12 and continued into Braselton, Ga., May 9-10. Many exciting events are slated for the coming months:

Team Primitive Arctic Challenger chose Cooper Tire’s Weather-Master S/T 2 tires for their battle with the icy terrain of America’s northernmost points during the 24th Alcan Winter Rally. The partnership resulted in first place finishes in Classes II and III, as well as the First Place Team Award.

The rally took 24 vehicles and 55 contestants from Kirkland, Wash., on February 16 to Jasper, Alberta, on February 26. The Cooper-sponsored, three-vehicle team consisted of Glenn Wallace and R. Dale Kraushaar in a Subaru Forester XT in Class II, Paul Eklund and Kala Rounds in a Subaru Forester XT in Class III, and Steve Perret and Kathryn Hansen in a Subaru Impreza in Class III.

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE: CTB) today announced a renewed partnership with NOPI Motorsports for the entire eight event calendar of the 2008 NOPI Drift Series, a fully sanctioned national premier drifting event competition. Cooper will be designated a “Drift Presenting Tire Partner” by NOPI for the second year and will showcase the Cooper Tire mobile marketing rig at all NOPI Drift events, including:

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY is proud to introduce one of its most luxurious all-season premium sport truck tires yet – the Cooper Zeon XSTA.  Based on the performance and reliability of the Cooper Zeon XST, the XSTA’s enhancements will put the world of light trucks, SUVs and cross-over vehicles on notice.

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE: CTB) and the Champ Car Atlantic Championship proved that a grid rich with talent, power and performance is what it takes for aspiring racers to bring the highest level of racing competition to motorsports. The 2007 Atlantic season was no exception, as drivers put rubber on the racetrack and performed record-setting achievements.

An advanced open-wheel racing series, the Cooper Tire presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda series offers the most skilled drivers the chance to shift their passion for motorsport into high gear. For this select group of driving talent, the Atlantic series is an ideal introduction to the world of professional racing, and with the addition of Cooper Tire as the new series presenting sponsor and exclusive tire supplier, the bar has been raised. Putting physics, technology and performance into one of its best open-wheel race tires ever built, the Cooper Atlantic tires allowed drivers to perform ground-breaking miracles of speed and endurance from both automobile and driver, setting new track records at half the season’s races. 

With his sights set firmly on the top step of the podium, Raphael Matos (Sierra Sierra Enterprises) ended the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic season as he began it – a winner. On his way to winning the series championship, he secured six wins and a total of nine podium finishes. In addition to taking home the crown, Matos placed himself in the record book a total of five times setting a new race record (full distance) in Las Vegas, Nev., qualifying and race records in Long Beach, Calif., and captured qualifying and full distance race records in Houston, Texas, with every mile driven on Cooper Atlantic tires.

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE: CTB) and the Champ Car Atlantic Championship proved that a grid rich with talent, power and performance is what it takes for aspiring racers to bring the highest level of racing competition to motorsports. The 2007 Atlantic season was no exception, as drivers put rubber on the racetrack and performed record-setting achievements.

An advanced open-wheel racing series, the Cooper Tire presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda series offers the most skilled drivers the chance to shift their passion for motorsport into high gear. For this select group of driving talent, the Atlantic series is an ideal introduction to the world of professional racing, and with the addition of Cooper Tire as the new series presenting sponsor and exclusive tire supplier, the bar has been raised. Putting physics, technology and performance into one of its best open-wheel race tires ever built, the Cooper Atlantic tires allowed drivers to perform ground-breaking miracles of speed and endurance from both automobile and driver, setting new track records at half the season’s races. 

With his sights set firmly on the top step of the podium, Raphael Matos (Sierra Sierra Enterprises) ended the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic season as he began it – a winner. On his way to winning the series championship, he secured six wins and a total of nine podium finishes. In addition to taking home the crown, Matos placed himself in the record book a total of five times setting a new race record (full distance) in Las Vegas, Nev., qualifying and race records in Long Beach, Calif., and captured qualifying and full distance race records in Houston, Texas, with every mile driven on Cooper Atlantic tires.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company today announced the appointment of two key executives to its newly formed 50-50 joint venture company, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company de Mexico SA de CV, located in Querétaro, Mexico.

Jim Smith, the joint venture’s newly appointed general director, was formerly Cooper Tire’s plant controller at the Texarkana, Ark., tire manufacturing plant.  Assisting Smith in the position of director of marketing will be Chris Barbara, formerly Cooper Tire’s manager of sales training.  These two individuals, along with Hugo Ybarra, director of sales, will lead the core team primarily responsible for all activities associated with the new trading company.

Smith joined Cooper Tire in 1988 as a cost accountant and budget analyst and since 1990, has worked as controller at the Texarkana, Ark., plant. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Tiffin University, Tiffin, Ohio, and is a certified public accountant. Smith is past treasurer and past board member of the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Accountancy Board of Ohio.

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY today announced an exclusive entitlement sponsorship with ABC College Football Halftime Show that puts it on the field for some hard-hitting tackles and game-winning passes during exciting college football action!  And, Cooper is launching a Fall advertising campaign featuring new commercials with the memorable brand promise “Don’t Give Up A Thing.”

Cooper Headlines Halftime Show
The Cooper Tire Halftime Show is part of an exclusive sponsorship with ABC and is scheduled to run on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, starting in September. The sponsorship will also be featured on-line at ESPN.com. During the show, the Cooper Tire logo will be prominently displayed in a number of prime locations. The Halftime Show brings viewers all the latest scores, game previews and expert analysis that college football fans have come to expect. During the second half of regionally televised college football games, the “Cooper Tire Defensive Stop of the Game” will be featured, which will highlight a great block and profile the player who made it.