Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is preparing to invest $250 million in its Lawton, Okla., plant so the factory can make 17-inch and larger passenger and light truck OE and replacement tires.
The upgrade will be split into two phases, according to a Goodyear spokesman. The first, which Goodyear officials hope to kick off this quarter, will take 18 to 24 months to complete.
"The whole process will take four to five years total."
Goodyear may receive $3 million for the project from a proposed sales tax referendum that local citizens will vote on in early March.
The Lawton facility employs 2,300 people and produces 60,000 passenger tires a day at full capacity, according to Modern Tire Dealer statistics; the upgrade could create an extra 100 positions.
