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Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Comments on First Quarter Results

FINDLAY, Ohio, April 25 -- As a result of the challenging economic environment, the Company expects to report modest earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. Our current estimate is considerably below expectations, due primarily to continued increases in raw material costs globally, increased charges for product liability claims related primarily to revised estimates on existing claims, and the decline in the volume of unit shipments in North America, particularly in March.

Recent changes in macroeconomic conditions in North America have created a new set of challenges for our Company. Consumers have reduced the number of miles driven in reaction to the economic slowdown, and subsequently are delaying tire purchases. The declining dollar's impact and other factors that have driven record-high raw material prices, specifically, in natural rubber and oil-derived materials, coupled with the use of last-in, first-out cost flow assumptions for inventory accounting in North America, have all contributed to the increased volatility in expected earnings.

Roy Armes, Chief Executive Officer, said, "Despite these headwinds, we are well-positioned and fully committed to our long-term strategy to build a sustainable and cost competitive supply of tires, profitably grow our business, and increase our organizational capabilities. We are fortunate to be in a position to deal with this current economic environment with a strong balance sheet, high liquidity levels and the anticipated sale of our investment in Kumho Tire Company. We have the financial strength to pursue these goals going into the second quarter, the rest of the year and beyond.

"We will increase our focus on delivering cost improvements during 2008, with the many initiatives we already have in place. These efforts, seasonal volume increases, very good order patterns in specific profitable tire lines, sequential improvements in plant operations and success in implementing price increases, provide support for our belief that results will be appreciably more favorable as the economy improves."

The Company will provide additional details on its operations and the impact of these factors when first quarter results are reported to the public on May 7, 2008.

Company Description

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car, light truck, medium truck tires and subsidiaries that specialize in motorcycle and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has 65 manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located around the world. For more information, visit Cooper Tire's web site at: COOPER TIRES.