Goodyear Announces Conversion Period for Convertible Notes

AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT) today announced that its 4.00 % Convertible Senior Notes due June 15, 2034 are now convertible at the option of the holders and will remain convertible through March 31, 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 January 16, 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 March 31, 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. As a result, less than $4 million in aggregate principal amount of notes remain outstanding. If all 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 March 31, 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. The company 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 the company's control, which affect its operations, performance, business strategy and results and could cause its 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; the company's ability to realize anticipated savings and operational benefits from its cost reduction initiatives, including those expected to be achieved under the company's master labor contract with the United Steelworkers (USW) and those related to the closure of certain of the company's manufacturing facilities; 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 the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's annual reports 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.

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