Who Owns Cooper Tire?
Cooper Tire is owned by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Nasdaq: GT), which acquired Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in 2021 for approximately $2.5 billion. Founded in 1914 in Akron, Ohio, Cooper is Goodyear's mid-tier brand, strongest in light truck and SUV replacement tires such as the Discoverer and Evolution lines.
Parent Company
Acquired
2021
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Cooper Tire Timeline
Who Owns Cooper Tire?
- Parent Company: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Acquisition Year: 2021
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: Nasdaq: GT
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper Tire | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company | Subsidiary |
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
Cooper Tire on AmazonAdvertisement
History of Cooper Tire
- Founded: 1914
- Founders: John Schaefer, Claude Hart
- Acquired by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company: 2021
John Schaefer and Claude Hart founded M&M Manufacturing in Akron in 1914, initially making tire repair materials before moving into tire production. The business merged into Cooper Corporation and grew through the twentieth century as a regional Ohio tiremaker, adopting the Cooper Tire & Rubber name.
For decades Cooper was the quintessential independent mid-tier: profitable, dealer-loyal, and strong in light truck. Its Discoverer line became a fixture on American pickups and SUVs, and the brand expanded through plants in Findlay, Tupelo, Texarkana, and abroad in Mexico, the U.K., Serbia, and China.
By the late 2010s scale pressure made independence harder, and Cooper agreed to the Goodyear takeover in February 2021, closing that June. Under Goodyear the brand has been repositioned deliberately as the portfolio's mid-tier, with investment concentrated on the Discoverer and Evolution families while premium development consolidates under the Goodyear name.
Advertisement
About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Is Goodyear publicly traded?
Yes. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company trades on Nasdaq under the ticker GT. It has been a public company for well over a century and is headquartered in Akron, Ohio.
Who owns Goodyear?
Public shareholders own Goodyear; no family or parent company controls it. The largest shareholders are institutional investors, with Elliott Management having played an influential role in shaping the Goodyear Forward transformation plan.
Advertisement
Does Goodyear still own Dunlop?
No. In May 2025 Goodyear completed the sale of the Dunlop brand rights in Europe, North America, and Oceania to Sumitomo Rubber Industries for $526 million, plus $209 million in transition support and inventory payments. Dunlop is now controlled by Sumitomo.
What tire brands does Goodyear own?
Following the Dunlop sale, Goodyear's principal brands are Goodyear at the premium tier, Cooper in the mid-tier (acquired 2021), and Kelly plus regional names like Sava, Fulda, and Debica in the value segment.
Advertisement
What is Goodyear Forward?
Goodyear Forward is the transformation plan launched in late 2023 under activist pressure, targeting cost reduction, margin expansion, and $2 billion of asset sales. It completed at the end of 2025 having delivered a $1.5 billion benefit run-rate and $2.3 billion of proceeds, both above target.
- Founded: 1898
- Headquarters: Akron, Ohio, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: Nasdaq: GT
- Revenue: $18.3 billion net sales (FY2025)
- Employees: ~63,000
Where Is Cooper Tire Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Findlay, Ohio, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Mexico, China, Serbia, United Kingdom
Cooper Tire Categories & Tags
Cooper Tire Recalls & Controversies
Cooper has issued periodic NHTSA recalls typical for a mass-market tiremaker, most notably a 2021 recall of several Discoverer and Evolution light truck tires for sidewall issues shortly before the Goodyear acquisition closed. There is no sustained brand-level controversy on record; litigation and labor matters attach to the parent.
Advertisement
Brands Owned by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
AutomotiveGoodyear
Owned by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Flagship premium tire brand of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, sold worldwide across consumer, commercial truck, aviation, and racing applications since 1898.
tiresautomotivepremium-tires
AutomotiveKelly Tires
Owned by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Value-tier tire brand owned by Goodyear, sold through independent dealers as the portfolio's budget option.
tiresvalue-tireskelly
Cooper Tire Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Strong independent dealer loyalty
- +Established light truck and SUV niche
- +Goodyear distribution and manufacturing scale behind it
- +Clear mid-tier positioning in a tiered portfolio
- +Continued investment in Discoverer and Evolution lines
Considerations
- -Mid-tier squeezed by premium promotions and cheap imports
- -Brand identity subordinated to portfolio tiering
- -Product development consolidated under Goodyear R&D
- -Exposure to U.S. replacement market cycles
Advertisement
Frequently Asked Questions About Cooper Tire
Sources & Further Reading
Advertisement
Competitors to Cooper Tire
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodyear | USA | 1894 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Hercules Tire And Rubber Company | USA | 1952 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
AutomotiveKelly Tires
Owned by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Value-tier tire brand owned by Goodyear, sold through independent dealers as the portfolio's budget option.
tiresvalue-tireskelly
AutomotiveIronman Tires
Owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company
Budget tire brand owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company, a subsidiary of American Tire Distributors, offering affordable tires for passenger vehicles, light trucks, and commercial vehicles.
tiresbudget-tiresautomotive
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Cooper Tire competes with 2 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Advertisement
Independent Alternatives to Cooper Tire
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
AutomotivecarVertical
Owned by CV Group (carVertical)
Lithuanian vehicle history company that generates VIN-based reports on used cars across 37 markets, operating as the private company CV Group.
vehicle-historyvin-checkused-cars
Privately Owned
carVertical is privately owned, unlike Cooper Tire which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveHyundai
Owned by Hyundai Motor Group
South Korean automobile manufacturer known for its value proposition, quality improvements, and stylish designs in the global automotive market.
korean-carvalue-brandglobal-automaker
Privately Owned
Hyundai is privately owned, unlike Cooper Tire which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveInterstate Batteries
Owned by Interstate Battery System of America
American battery distributor founded in 1952, specializing in automotive, commercial, and consumer batteries, headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
batteriesautomotive-batterieslead-acid-batteries
Privately Owned
Interstate Batteries is privately owned, unlike Cooper Tire which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveIronman Tires
Owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company
Budget tire brand owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company, a subsidiary of American Tire Distributors, offering affordable tires for passenger vehicles, light trucks, and commercial vehicles.
tiresbudget-tiresautomotive
Privately Owned
Ironman Tires is privately owned, unlike Cooper Tire which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveKia
Owned by Hyundai Motor Group
South Korean automobile manufacturer known for sporty design and value positioning, part of Hyundai Motor Group.
korean-carvalue-brandsporty-design
Privately Owned
Kia is privately owned, unlike Cooper Tire which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveAutoNation
Owned by AutoNation, Inc.
America's largest single-brand automotive retailer, operating new-vehicle franchises, collision centers, and service operations under one national banner.
automotive-retailcar-dealershipsautonation
Publicly Traded
AutoNation operates independently without a large parent corporation.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Stock Information
Advertisement
Jobs at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Latest News About Cooper Tire
Advertisement
Related Articles About Cooper Tire
View more articles
Industry Analysis
Tyre Brand Ownership: Who Makes Your Tyres?
The global tyre industry is dominated by 5 companies. Discover who owns Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Continental, and Pirelli and the hidden brands under each. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffApr 17, 2026
AutomotiveTyresMichelin
News & Updates
Monthly IPO Roundup: November 2026 -- October's Biggest Listings
October 2026 IPOs: Jio Platforms set India's all-time record at $3.2B and surged 27%, GCash owner Mynt raised a Philippine-record P60.9B, Anthropic filed publicly for a possible mid-November debut, and U.S. listings were a biotech grab bag. Full recap.
Who Brands StaffNov 6, 2026
Ipo RoundupIpoStock Market
News & Updates
Monthly M&A Roundup: October 2026 Brand Ownership Changes
October 2026's biggest deals: Paramount Skydance closed its $110B Warner Bros. Discovery takeover, Salesforce signed Braze for $5.66B, Proofpoint bought Varonis for $6.3B, the Weston family agreed to buy Boots for $8.9B, and Viatris added Pacira for $1.65B. Full breakdown.
Who Brands StaffNov 6, 2026
M And A RoundupAcquisitionsNews
People Also Searched
Discover popular brands and companies in the Automotive category and related searches from other users.
Brandperformance-cars
Abarth
Iconic Italian high-performance automotive brand specializing in sporty variants of Fiat vehicles, known for its racing heritage, distinctive scorpion logo, and recent expansion into electrified performance models.
Brand in Automotive
italian-brandsporty-vehicles
Brandzero-emissions
Accelera
Zero-emissions technology brand of Cummins Inc., covering battery-electric powertrains, fuel cells, and electrolyzers under the Destination Zero strategy.
Brand in Automotive
electric-powertrainfuel-cell
Brandluxury-cars
Acura
Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Honda Motor Company, launched in the United States in 1986. It was the first Japanese luxury automobile brand sold in North America and is currently sold in the USA, Canada, China, and a limited number of other markets.
Brand in Automotive
hondajapanese-brand