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Goodyear Announces Conversion Period for Remaining $4 Million in Convertible Notes


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AKRON, Ohio, April 16 -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced that its remaining 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes due June 15, 2034 are now convertible at the option of the holders and will be convertible through June 30, 2008, the last business day of the current fiscal quarter.

The notes became convertible because the last reported sale price of the company's common stock for at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading-day period ending on April 15, 2008 (the 11th trading day of the current fiscal quarter), was greater than 120 percent of the conversion price in effect on such day. The notes have been convertible in previous fiscal quarters.

The company will deliver shares of its common stock or pay cash upon conversion of any notes surrendered on or prior to June 30, 2008. If shares are delivered, cash will be paid in lieu of fractional shares only. Issued in July 2004, the notes are currently convertible at a rate of 83.0703 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, which is equal to a conversion price of $12.04 per share.

During the fourth quarter of 2007, Goodyear completed an exchange offer for outstanding notes for a cash payment and shares of common stock. Approximately 99 percent of the outstanding notes were exchanged. As a result, less than $4 million in aggregate principal amount of notes remain outstanding. If all remaining outstanding notes are surrendered for conversion, the aggregate number of shares of common stock issued would be approximately 0.3 million.

The notes could be convertible after June 30, 2008, if the sale price condition described above is met in any future fiscal quarter or if any of the other conditions to conversion set forth in the indenture governing the notes are met.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. Fortune magazine named Goodyear the World's Most Admired Motor Vehicle Parts Company in its 2008 list of the World's Most Admired Companies. The publication ranked Goodyear No. 1 in innovation, people management, use of assets and global orientation. The company is also listed on Forbes magazine's list of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America and CRO magazine's ranking of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens. Goodyear employs about 70,000 people and manufactures its products in more than 60 facilities in 26 countries around the world. For more information about Goodyear, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate .

Certain information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, which affect our operations, performance, business strategy and results and could cause our actual results and experience to differ materially from the assumptions, expectations and objectives expressed in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: actions and initiatives taken by both current and potential competitors; increases in the prices paid for raw materials and energy; our ability to realize anticipated savings and operational benefits from our cost reduction initiatives or to implement successfully other strategic initiatives; whether or not the various contingencies and requirements are met for the establishment of a Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (VEBA) to provide healthcare benefits for current and future USW retirees; potential adverse consequences of litigation involving the company; pension plan funding obligations; as well as the effects of more general factors such as changes in general market or economic conditions or in legislation, regulation or public policy. Additional factors are discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our estimates only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change.