---

Goodyear to Purchase Remaining Shares of South Asia Tyres, Ltd.

17 April 1998

Goodyear to Purchase Remaining Shares of South Asia Tyres, Ltd.

    AKRON, Ohio, April 17 -- As part of its global strategy to
increase its ownership percentage in joint ventures, The Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Company announced today that it has reached an agreement in principle
to purchase the remaining 50 percent of South Asia Tyres, Ltd., a joint
venture with RPG's Ceat Tyre subsidiary.
    RPG Enterprises and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company agreed to end their
joint ownership of South Asia Tyres Ltd., and for Goodyear to continue to
operate the facility in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Western India.  Ceat will
continue to be provided with a product offtake of radial passenger tires.
Goodyear Chairman, Sam Gibara, said:  "This development is consistent with
Goodyear's strategy of expanding our involvement in emerging markets, such as
India.
    "We need to accelerate radialization in Asia.  Additionally, this move
will provide us with our first modern radial truck tire facility in Asia,
substantially expanding capacity for increasing global demand.
    "We have the greatest respect for our partners," Gibara added.  "The
partnership has been a good one for Ceat and Goodyear.  This initiative gives
us the opportunity to increase our participation in the growing Indian economy
and to better serve our auto manufacturing customers in India."
    Both parties must seek approval of the Foreign Investment Review Board and
the Reserve Bank of India.  It is expected that the transaction will be
completed in the third quarter of 1998.  Purchase price was not disclosed.
Production of radial passenger tires began in 1996.

SOURCE  The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company