Cooper raises US performance tyre capacity

From Rubber & Plastics News

Tupelo, Mississippi-Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is investing $7.5 million in its Tupelo passenger car tyre plant to boost capacity for larger-diameter performance tyres.

The investment will allow Cooper to add capacity starting early next year for 17- and 18-inch high-performance Zeon tyres. Eventually the plant will add equipment to increase capacity for sizes up to 22 inches in rim diameter, Cooper said.

The plant upgrade includes new tyre building equipment as well as the transfer of equipment from other Cooper plants, according to John Ebert, plant manager, who called the project a “continued retooling of the plant for new-growth product lines.”

All told, the investment will add capacity for 50 new sizes and will create 35 new jobs at the 1500-employee plant.