Cooper Tire Announces Increase in Tire Production.

Business Editors & Automotive Writers

FINDLAY, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 2000

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE:CTB) today announced that it has significantly boosted production of certain tires to address increased demand by consumers.

Cooper has already doubled production in three of the company's tire lines in sizes suitable for SUVs and light trucks. This includes all proprietary and private label lines manufactured by the company. Further, Cooper is planning to add a minimum 50 percent additional capacity in these sizes to meet consumer needs.

Cooper's chairman, president and CEO Thomas A. Dattilo said, "We are pleased with the overwhelming consumer confidence in our SUV and light truck product lines. We expect the strong demand we experienced for these tires in the first and second quarters to escalate."

In response to numerous inquiries, the company has advised Cooper brand dealers that its popular Discoverer Radial, Discoverer A/T and Discoverer H/T tire lines are suitable replacements for Ford Explorers, Mercury Mountaineers, and other SUVs and light trucks.

Dattilo offered a safety message to consumers: "In addition to buying the proper tire, we urge all motorists to take the time to regularly rotate their tires, have them routinely inspected by a dealer and make sure they always maintain the correct inflation pressure."

Company Description

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is headquartered in Findlay, Ohio and specializes in the manufacture and marketing of automotive products. Products for Cooper's tire group include automotive, motorcycle and truck tires, inner tubes, tread rubber and equipment. In the automotive group, Cooper is an original equipment supplier of sealing, trim, NVH control systems and fluid handling systems for the automotive industry in North America, Europe, Australia and South America. Cooper has more than 23,000 employees and 63 manufacturing facilities in 13 countries. For more information, visit the Company's web site at: www.coopertire.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 

This report contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding expectations for future financial performance, which involve uncertainty and risk. It is possible the Company's future financial performance may differ from expectations due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to: changes in economic and business conditions in the world, increased competitive activity, achieving sales levels to fulfill revenue expectations, consolidation among the Company's competitors and customers, technology advancements, unexpected costs and charges, fluctuations in raw material and energy prices, changes in interest and foreign exchange rates, regulatory and other approvals, the cyclical nature of the automotive industry, the loss of a major customer, risks associated with integrating the operations of The Standard Products Company and Siebe Automotive, and the failure to achieve anticipated synergies, savings and other capital avoidance.

It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors. Any forward-looking statements in this report are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The Company makes no commitment to update any forward-looking statement included herein, or to disclose any facts, events or circumstances that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement.

Further information covering issues that could materially affect financial performance is contained in the Company's periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.