Cooper Tire to Report Higher-Than-Expected Fourth Quarter Earnings.

FINDLAY, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 1999--COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE:CTB) said it expects to report record results for the fourth quarter of 1998. Sales are expected to be approximately $496 million, and earnings per share are anticipated to be in the 48-to-50 cents range, which exceed current analysts' expectations. Management said fourth quarter results also exceeded its own earlier expectations due to a strong pickup in both its house brand tire sales and engineered products operations as the quarter progressed. Full details of the fourth quarter and year-end results will be provided on February 9th.

Commenting further on the fourth quarter, chairman and CEO Patrick W. Rooney said, "Fourth quarter earnings per share are expected to be favorably affected relative to the prior year period by a slight decrease in our effective tax rate during the quarter, as well as a one-cent per share gain from the previously announced sale of our New Brunswick, New Jersey warehouse."

Continuing, Mr. Rooney said, "In our tire operations, our operating environment reflected relatively little change in tire pricing from the third quarter and continued favorable raw material pricing. We expect our tire sales will show a modest decline compared to the 1997 period due to lower shipments to a major customer. However, the strength of our house brands, which have a richer product mix and shipments to new private brand customers, offset most of that decline. Engineered products sales, after a slow start as General Motors recovered from its strike, turned in a much better than anticipated performance as well as strong improvement from a year ago. These are the primary factors that allowed us to outperform our own earlier expectations for the quarter."

Founded in 1914, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a leading manufacturer of tires and engineered rubber products that is widely recognized for its strong customer service commitment. In tires, the company exclusively targets the larger, higher gross margin, replacement market, with a mix equally divided between proprietary house brand and private label customers. Cooper markets its tires in more than 100 countries around the world.

In engineered rubber products, the company serves virtually every light vehicle manufacturer in the U.S. and Canada, as well as an expanding number of European-based original equipment manufacturers. For more information on Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, visit the company's web site at www.coopertire.com.

This release may contain forward-looking statements relating to future financial results. Actual results may differ materially as a result of factors over which the company has no control. These risk factors and additional information are included in the company's reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.