Cooper cautious about market share gains amid 'industry noise'

FINDLAY, Ohio (Feb. 7)—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. gained market share in the light and medium truck tire segments during the final quarter of 2001, Thomas A. Dattilo, Cooper chairman, CEO and president, said during a year-end conference call. But Dattilo said he isn't getting too excited. "Whether you're gaining market share or losing market share, there has been so much noise in this industry since August of 2000, it can be misleading," he said. "I didn't overplay our loss in market share during the (fourth) quarter last year, for that reason, and I'm sure not going to trumpet (gains) this year for that reason." In January, Cooper's tire operations, for the most part, performed well, he said. Quoting numbers compiled by the Rubber Manufacturers' Association, Dattilo told analysts and shareholders that Cooper beat the industry increase of 8.8 percent in passenger tires, did slightly worse than the industry average decline of 3 percent in light truck tires and performed "dramatically better" than the industry average increase of 26 percent in medium truck tires.