PRESS RELEASE

Goodyear Announces Offtake Agreement with Sumitomo

5 February 1997

    AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 5 -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., today announced that they anticipate signing
separate offtake agreements next week involving two of Sumitomo Rubber's
affiliate companies, resulting in the exchange of U.S. replacement tire
manufacturing capacity for Japanese capacity.
    These agreements are expected to be signed by Goodyear with Sumitomo
Rubber, Dunlop Tire Corporation U.S., and The OHTSU Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. --
Japan, for up to two million passenger and light truck tires a year, according
to Goodyear Chairman, Samir G. Gibara and Sumitomo Rubber President, Naoto
Saito.
    In anticipation of the agreement, Gibara and Saito said the reciprocal
arrangement supports the global requirements of each company by providing a
stronger, sustainable global manufacturing base.
    "By better utilizing the existing manufacturing assets of both companies,
this agreement would avoid creating over-capacity in the industry.  It also
would reduce the exposure of both companies to future economic cycles in the
United States and Japan," said Gibara.
    Saito said Sumitomo Rubber and its subsidiaries will benefit from the
global cooperation and "continue to build our business, sell our products and
strive to manufacture the best products in the world."
    Under the agreement, Goodyear will produce tires for Sumitomo Rubber's
affiliate companies, Dunlop Tire Corporation and The OHTSU Tire & Rubber Co.
Ltd. in North America while Sumitomo Rubber will provide tires for Nippon
Goodyear in Japan.
    Terms of the agreement run through Dec. 31, 2000.

SOURCE  Goodyear Tire & Rubber