FINDLAY, Ohio—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has snagged its first passenger tire OE contract with a U.S. auto maker, a fitment on the 2013 Ford Focus SE and Titanium models.
Ford Motor Co. selected Cooper's Zeon RS3-A UHP tire, size 215/50R17, as standard original equipment on the Focus special models.
“This new relationship with Ford marks our company's entry into the U.S. passenger car OE tire market, a strategic decision aligned with our goal to drive profitable sales by diversifying product mix, expanding sales channels and leveraging technology,” said Cooper Tire Chairman, CEO and President Roy Armes.
“Cooper Tire will remain primarily focused on the replacement tire business where we've built a strong brand and enduring customer relationships,” he added. “Our partnership with Ford provides another opportunity for growth and speaks to the increasing demand for our products as well as the value proposition we deliver.”
The Cooper Zeon RS3-A is a performance all-season tire that Cooper said features advanced technology and lighter weight construction providing maximum levels of traction, responsiveness and reduced rolling resistance for improved fuel efficiency. It features a formulated silica-based tread compound and asymmetrical tread design that provides a quiet ride, the Findlay-based tire maker said.