Redesigned Cooper Tire Mobile Tour Expands 2006 Schedule
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 20, 2006 Company Contact: David S. Craig (419) 429-4459 Redesigned Cooper Tire Mobile Tour Expands 2006 Schedule FINDLAY, OHIO, February 20, 2006 - COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY has more than doubled its mobile tour schedule for 2006 and given the interactive marketing tool a facelift to better reflect the new company logo and brand identify that Cooper launched in November 2005. The expanded schedule features four Funkmaster Flex Custom Car & Bike Shows, four Extreme Autofest events, six Hot Import Nights (HIN), seven Formula D Drift events, two DUB Custom Auto Show and Concert Tour events (DUB) and the NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow. "We were encouraged by the overwhelming response the mobile tour received from the tuner market last year, and so we added some elements and expanded the schedule this year in an effort to further that positive brand interaction," said Christopher P. Pantani, director, Ultra-High Performance marketing and business development for Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. "One of the unique, new elements that will appeal to tuners is the capability for well-known, local DJs to come out and spin sets when the tour hits the DUB, Hot Import Nights and Extreme Autofest events." The interactive tour will feature XBox gaming systems, interactive racing simulators and an impressive sound system accompanied by twin 45-inch flat-panel televisions. Throughout the schedule the tour will host gaming competitions to match scores of drivers from all over the country. The product focus of the 2006 mobile tour continues to be the Cooper Zeon line of ultra-high performance tires, including the 2XS, ZPT, XST and brand-new Sport A/S. Each of these tires is designed to match a vehicle's performance capabilities by providing the driver with an enhanced degree of handling, grip and cornering capability. 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, as well as tread rubber and related equipment for the retread industry. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has 40 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: www.coopertireandrubber.com <file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\pjbrown\Local%20Settings\Temporar y%20Internet%20Files\OLK107\www.coopertireandrubber.com> 2006 Cooper Tire Mobile Tour Schedule Date Event Location March 12, 2006 A1 Grand Prix Race Laguna Seca Raceway March 19, 2006 Funkmaster Flex Custom Car & Bike Show Tour Daytona Beach, Fla. March 25, 2006 Hot Import Night McCormick Place April 2, 2006 Formula D Drift Event Streets of Long Beach April 22, 2006 Hot Import Night Dulles Expo Center April 29, 2006 Hot Import Night Bayside Expo Center May 7, 2006 DUB Custom Auto Show & Concert Tour Cook Convention Center May 13, 2006 Formula D Drift Event Road Atlanta June 11, 2006 Formula D Drift Event Solider Field June 17, 2006 Hot Import Night Indy Convention Center June 24, 2006 Funkmaster Flex Custom Car & Bike Show Tour Edison, N.J. July 9, 2006 Formula D Drift Event Infineon Raceway July 15, 2006 Extreme Autofest Las Vega, Nev. July 22, 2006 Funkmaster Flex Custom Car & Bike Show Tour Hartford, Conn. August 5, 2006 Funkmaster Flex Custom Car & Bike Show Tour Ocean City, Md. August 13, 2006 Extreme Autofest San Diego, Calif. August 19, 2006 Formula D Drift Event Evergreen Raceway August 27, 2006 Extreme Autofest Sonoma, Calif. September 9, 2006 Formula D Drift Event Wall Speedway September 16, 2006 NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow Atlanta Speedway September 24, 2006 DUB Custom Auto Show & Concert Tour San Mateo Expo Center September 30, 2006 Hot Import Night Stadium Expo October 21, 2006 Formula D Drift Event Irwindale Motor Speedway October 22, 2006 Extreme Autofest Pomona Raceway November 4, 2006 College Football: Texas vs. Oklahoma St. Austin, Texas November 11, 2006 College Football: USC vs. Oregon Los Angeles, Calif. November 18, 2006 College Football: Ohio State vs. Michigan Columbus, Ohio December 2, 2006 SEC College Football Championship Atlanta, Ga. December 16, 2006 Hot Import Night Miami, Fla. Note: Schedule is subject to change throughout the year without prior notice. - # # # -