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Cooper Tire Announces Acquisition of Mickey Thompson

FINDLAY, OHIO – MARCH 11, 2003 – COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE: CTB) today announced the purchase of Max Trac Tire Company, Inc., better known as Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. The company, with leased locations in Stow, Ohio and Temecula, California, designs, develops and distributes specialty tires for the street, strip, track and off-road racing. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Two well-known brand names are a part of this purchase. Mickey Thompson and Dick Cepek are highly respected brands among motorsport enthusiasts in the performance, racing and off-road markets.

Cooper has a 17 percent market share in the U.S. passenger tire replacement market, much of which is considered broadline tires. “We have an aggressive plan to grow sales in the H-V-Z segments which are the fastest-growing tire lines in the U.S. today. And, we have an even stronger presence in the radial light truck and SUV segments. This Mickey Thompson deal, with its racing and off-road connections, will help us in these efforts,” concluded Armstrong.

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