Cooper Becomes Official Tire Of ROUSH Performance

ROUSH Performance has announced Cooper will become the OEM tire on many of the company's Mustang applications. The Zeon 2XS will be found on the Stage 1 and Stage 2 while the new Zeon RS3 will be featured on the hotter 430 HP Stage 3 and the upcoming 510 HP P-51B. Both tires replace the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD. But why the change? As one PR flack remarked, "Jack Roush didn't want to get shaken to death while going to get ice cream." According to Roush,"Cooper is a perfect fit to be our supplier on the ROUSH Stage 1, 2 and 3 and the P51B Ford Mustangs. Their engineering and technical capabilities and continued commitment to designing and developing a tire for our Mustangs was unwavering." Marketing spin aside, the Mustang tuner ended up with a better tire for the Stage 3 and P-51B that stops shorter, is supposed to be significantly better in the rain (Cooper says the tire stops from 60 mph 18 feet shorter in the wet compared to the KD – a huge improvement), and a better vehicle offering as a result. Cooper, for its part, finally gets to be an Original Equipment manufacturer, the first step towards getting Cooper Tires under new Camrys and Civics in the showroom — a highly profitable enterprise, to say the least. Press release follows.

Cooper Tire Named the "Official Tire of ROUSH Performance" The new extreme max performance Cooper Zeon RS3 debuts on ROUSH Stage 3 Mustangs FINDLAY, OHIO, OCTOBER 1, 2008 – COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE: CTB) and ROUSH Performance have teamed up to provide you with a Mustang that is far from ordinary. Now the world's hottest car comes fully equipped with Cooper ultra-high performance tires. As the "Official Tire of ROUSH Performance," Cooper will supply ultra-high performance tires for Stage 1, 2 and 3, and other limited edition vehicles such as the P51B ROUSH-customized Mustangs that are now available at select Ford dealerships nationwide. "The ROUSH name is an icon in American motorsports and vehicle modifications, synonymous with superb quality and unparalleled performance," said Roy Armes, Chairman, President and CEO for Cooper Tire. "At Cooper, we want to work with companies like ROUSH who have a tremendous passion for cars and driving. This association gives us a platform to showcase our products on one of the fastest and best handling vehicles available today, and an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities and state-of-the-art technology engineered into our high performance products." The ROUSH partnership gave Cooper the opportunity to design and develop a new extreme max performance tire to match the power of the Stage 3 Mustang and other ROUSH platforms. As a result of more than a year of collaboration, intense development and testing, Cooper engineers developed the new RS3 to match up to one of the highest performing cars in the industry – the Roush Stage 3 Mustang. Now performance enthusiasts have a tire that combines the rich heritage of Cooper's motorsports technology and innovative engineering with the quality and performance that's in every Cooper tire and ROUSH Mustang. "Cooper is a perfect fit to be our supplier on the ROUSH Stage 1, 2 and 3 and the P51B Ford Mustangs," said Jack Roush, Chairman of ROUSH Enterprises and CEO & Co-Owner of Roush Fenway Racing. "Their engineering and technical capabilities and continued commitment to designing and developing a tire for our Mustangs was unwavering. Cooper's ultra-high performance tires were the only tires that met the standards and cutting-edge styling of the ROUSH brand and is unmatched in performance." The anxiously-awaited, race-inspired RS3 was given its premiere at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich., where a number of automotive journalists and high performance experts were given a firsthand look and feel of the performance of the RS3. Designed to provide superior performance, the RS3 features a unique tread pattern, profile and construction. Featuring cutting edge R-Tech technology, this tire delivers maximum dry traction, unrivaled grip with split-second steering response, and a unique footprint that is engineered to deliver consistent handling performance at high G-forces. ROUSH Performance will place Cooper Zeon 2XS tires in two sizes, the 275/40ZR18 and 255/35ZR20, on both Stage 1 cosmetic-only modified Mustangs and on the Stage 2 vehicles which include an upgraded suspension package for improved handling. The Cooper Zeon RS3 is available in 275/40ZR18 on Stage 3 and P51B Mustangs. "This partnership with ROUSH Performance allows Cooper to tie into an original equipment platform," said Armes. "With all the high-level experience in racing and advanced product development that ROUSH Performance has to offer, the marriage between Cooper and the ROUSH-modified Mustangs results in a statement without ever turning the key." The new Cooper Zeon RS3 – scientifically designed, engineered and road proven to leave your ROUSH Performance Mustang beyond speechless. Cooper Tire. Don't Give Up A Thing. About Roush Performance
 Based in Livonia, Mich., "The Art of Performance Engineering" takes place at ROUSH Performance. To get a look behind the scenes at what goes on at ROUSH and how the vehicles are designed, manufactured and produced logon to www.ROUSHtv.com. In addition to the array of Ford Mustang and F-150 styling, handling and performance upgrades, a complete line of performance parts and crate engines are offered. For more information see your local ROUSH dealer, visit www.ROUSHperformance.com or telephone toll-free (800) 59-ROUSH. About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company 
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car and light truck tires and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 10 countries around the world. For more information, visit Cooper Tire's web site at www.coopertire.com.