Cooper Tire Acquires Max Trac Tires.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. said it has purchased Max Trac Tire Co., Inc., better known as Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. The company, with leased locations in Stow, Ohio and Temecula, California, designs, develops and distributes specialty tires for the street, strip, track and off-road racing. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Two well-known brand names that are a part of this purchase - Mickey Thompson and Dick Cepek - are used by motorsport enthusiasts in the performance, racing and off-road markets.

Cooper Tire said it has been a supplier to Mickey Thompson for a number of years, providing specialty and off-road tires under the Mickey Thompson and Dick Cepek names. In addition, Mickey Thompson has distributed and provided trackside assistance for Cooper's Avon racing tires, which are produced in Melksham, England.

Cooper said it has a 17 percent market share in the U.S. passenger tire replacement market, much of which is considered broadline tires.