Full Description

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear) is a manufacturer of tires. The Company, along with its United States and international subsidiaries and joint ventures, develops, manufactures, market and distribute tires for applications. Goodyear also manufactures and markets rubber-related chemicals for various applications. The Company is an operator of commercial truck service and tire retreading centers. In addition, it operates more than 1,600 tire and auto service center outlets where it offers its products for retail sale and provides automotive repair and other services. The Company manufactures its products in 61 manufacturing facilities in 25 countries, including the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2008, Goodyear operated its business through four segments: North American Tire; Europe, Middle East and Africa Tire; Latin American Tire, and Asia Pacific Tire.

The Company manufactures and markets numerous lines of rubber tires for automobiles, trucks, buses, aviation, motorcycle, farm implements, earthmoving equipment, industrial equipment and various other applications. Goodyear tires are offered for sale to vehicle manufacturers for mounting as original equipment (OE) and for replacement worldwide. The Company manufactures and sells tires under the Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Fulda, Debica, Sava and various other Goodyear-owned house brands, and the private-label brands of certain customers. In certain geographic areas, Goodyear also retreads truck, aviation and off-the-road (OTR) tires; manufactures and sells tread rubber and other tire retreading materials; provides automotive repair services and miscellaneous other products and services, and manufactures and sells flaps for truck tires and other types of tires. The Company’s principal products are new tires for most applications. During 2008, approximately 87.1% of its sales were for new tires.

North American Tire

North American Tire develops, manufactures, distributes and sells tires and related products and services in the United States and Canada. North American Tire manufactures tires in eight plants in the United States and two plants in Canada. Certain Dunlop-related businesses of North American Tire are conducted by Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America, Ltd., which is 75% owned by Goodyear and 25% owned by SRI. North American Tire manufactures and sells tires for automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, buses, earthmoving and mining equipment, commercial and military aviation and industrial equipment and for various other applications.

Goodyear radial passenger tire lines sold in the United States and Canada include Assurance, including Assurance featuring ComforTred Technology and TripleTred Technology; Eagle, including Eagle featuring ResponsEdge Technology, and Run on Flat extended mobility technology (EMT) tires. The range of Goodyear brand radial tires offered in the United States and Canada for sport utility vehicles and light trucks include Wrangler and Fortera, including Fortera featuring TripleTred Technology and SilentArmor Technology. Goodyear also offers Dunlop brand radial passenger tire lines, including Signature and SP Sport performance tires, and Dunlop brand radials for light trucks, such as the Rover and Grandtrek lines. Additionally, North American Tire also manufactures and sells several lines of Kelly, Republic, Remington and Fierce brands, as well as house and private brand radial passenger and light truck tires in the United States and Canada.

North American Tire manufactures all steel radial medium truck tires in the Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly brands for sale to customers for use on commercial trucks and trailers. North American Tire has new technology product lines, Fuel Max, Duraseal and Armor Max. North American Tire also retreads truck, aviation and OTR tires, primarily as a service to its commercial customers; manufactures tread rubber and other tire retreading materials for trucks, heavy equipment and aviation; provides automotive maintenance and repair services at approximately 720 retail outlets primarily under the Goodyear or Just Tires name; provides trucking fleets with new tires, retreads, mechanical service, preventative maintenance and roadside assistance from 178 Wingfoot Commercial Centers, sells automotive repair and maintenance items, automotive equipment and accessories and other items to dealers and consumers; sells chemical products to Goodyear’s other business segments and to unaffiliated customers, and provides miscellaneous other products and services.

North American Tire competes with Bridgestone, Michelin, Continental and Cooper.

Europe, Middle East and Africa Tire

The Company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa Tire segment develops, manufactures, distributes and sells tires for automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, farm implements and construction equipment throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, exports tires to other regions of the world and provides miscellaneous other products and services. Europe, Middle East and Africa Tire manufactures tires in 16 plants in England, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, South Africa and Turkey. Substantially all of the operations and assets in Western Europe are owned and operated by Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe B.V., which is 75% owned by Goodyear and 25% owned by SRI.

Europe, Middle East and Africa Tire segment manufactures and sells Goodyear, Debica, Sava, Dunlop and Fulda brands and other brand passenger, truck, motorcycle, farm and OTR tires; sells new aviation tires, and manufactures and sells retreaded aviation tires; exports tires for sale in North America and other regions of the world; provides various retreading and related services for truck and OTR tires, primarily for its commercial truck tire customers; offers automotive repair services at retail outlets, and provides miscellaneous other products and services.

Europe, Middle East and Africa Tire competes with Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental and Pirelli.

Latin American Tire

Its Latin American Tire segment manufactures and sells automobile, truck and farm tires throughout Central and South America and in Mexico; sells tires to various export markets, retreads and sells commercial truck, aviation and OTR tires, and provides other products and services. Latin American Tire manufactures tires in six facilities in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. Latin American Tire manufactures and sells several lines of passenger, light and medium truck and farm tires. Latin American Tire also manufactures and sells pre-cured treads for truck tires; retreads, and provides various materials and related services for retreading, truck and aviation tires; manufactures other products, including OTR tires; manufactures and sells new aviation tires, and provides miscellaneous other products and services.

Latin American Tire competes with Pirelli, Bridgestone, Michelin and Continental.

Asia Pacific Tire

The Company’s Asia Pacific Tire segment manufactures and sells tires for automobiles, light and medium trucks, farm, construction and mining equipment and the aviation industry throughout the Asia Pacific region. Asia Pacific Tire manufactures tires in nine plants in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand. Asia Pacific Tire also retreads truck and aviation tires; manufactures tread rubber and other tire retreading materials for truck and aviation tires; provides automotive maintenance and repair services at retail outlets, and provides miscellaneous other products and services.

Asia Pacific tire competes with Bridgestone, Michelin, Continental, Dunlop, Yokohama and Pirelli.