First-half 2007 report card: Nexen and Nokian are the big winners

July 2, 2007

Stock prices for 16 of 19 publicly traded tire manufacturers rose in the first half of 2007. Three major United States-based tire manufacturers -- Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Titan International Inc. -- experienced significant increases.

Cooper Tire's stock price rose more than 93% from Dec. 29, 2006, to June 29, 2007. Goodyear (65.6%) and Titan (56.8%) also were big winners.

However, two global tiremakers, Nexen Tire and Nokian Tyres plc, outperformed everyone. Taking the appropriate exchange rate into account, Nexen's stock price was up more than 180%, while Nokian's was up 71%.

Here are the gains and losses in the first six months (companies are listed alphabetically):

* Alliance Tire Co., up 18.8% (from $157.35 to $186.93);

* Bridgestone Corp., down 4.6% (from $22.14 to $21.11);

* Continental AG, up 20.6% (from $116.09 to $140.02);

* Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., up 93.1% (from $14.30 to $27.62);

* Federal Tire Corp., down 5.2% (from $.76 to $.72);

* Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., up 65.6% (from $20.99 to $34.76);

* Groupe Michelin, up 44.7% (from $95.70 to $138.52);

* Hankook Tire Co. Ltd., up 3.4% (from $16.99 to $17.58);

* Kenda Rubber Industrial Corp. Ltd., up 46.7% (from $.62 to $.91);

* Kumho Tire Co., up 9.4% (from $13.54 to $14.82);

* Nankang Rubber Tire Corp. Ltd., up 19% (from $1.58 to $1.88);

* Nexen Tire, up 180.2% (from $18.92 to $53.03);

* Nokian Tyres plc, up 71% (from $20.33 to $34.78);

* Pirelli & Cie SpA, up 19% (from $1.00 to $1.19);

* Stamford Tyre, up 13.3% (from $.30 to $.34);

* Sumitomo, down 8.9% (from $12.76 to $11.62);

* Titan International Inc., up 56.8% (from $20.15 to $31.61);

* Toyo Tire & Rubber, up 6.3% (from $4.87 to $5.18);

* Yokohama Rubber Co., up 21% (from $5.98 to $7.50).

Exchange rates vs. the United States dollar from Dec. 29, 2006, to June 29, 2007, are as follows:

1. Euro: .7575 to .7388.

2. Shekel (Israel): 4.2159 to 4.2517.

3. Taiwanese dollar: 32.584 to 32.744.

4. Won: 929.97 to 923.87.

5. Yen: 119.01 to $123.12.

6. Dollar (Singapore): 1.533 to 1.5312.

From Dec. 30, 2005, to June 29, 2007, Michelin's stock price has increased 146% in U.S. dollars.