Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. Acquired businesses are included in the consolidated financial statements from the dates of acquisition. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The Company consolidates into its financial statements the accounts of the Company, all wholly-owned subsidiaries, and any partially-owned subsidiary that the Company has the ability to control. Control generally equates to ownership percentage, whereby investments that are more than 50-percent owned are consolidated, investments in subsidiaries of 50 percent or less but greater than 20-percent are accounted for using the equity method, and investments in subsidiaries of 20 percent or less are accounted for using the cost method. The Company does not consolidate any entity for which it has a variable interest based solely on power to direct the activities and significant participation in the entity’s expected results that would not otherwise be consolidated based on control through voting interests. Further, the Company’s joint ventures are businesses established and maintained in connection with the Company’s operating strategy.

Cash and cash equivalents – The Company considers highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

The Company’s objectives related to the investment of cash not required for operations is to preserve capital, meet the Company’s liquidity needs and earn a return consistent with these guidelines and market conditions. Investments deemed eligible for the investment of the Company’s cash include: 1) U.S. Treasury securities and general obligations fully guaranteed with respect to principal and interest by the government; 2) obligations of U.S. government agencies; 3) commercial paper or other corporate notes of prime quality purchased directly from the issuer or through recognized money market dealers; 4) time deposits, certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of banks rated “A-” by Standard & Poor’s or “A3” by Moody’s; 5) collateralized mortgage obligations rated “AAA” by Standard & Poor’s and “Aaa” by Moody’s; 6) tax-exempt and taxable obligations of state and local governments of prime quality; and 7) mutual funds or outside managed portfolios that invest in the above investments. The Company had cash and cash equivalents totaling $371,684 and $504,423 at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The majority of the cash and cash equivalents were invested in eligible financial instruments in excess of amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and, therefore, subject to credit risk. Management believes that the probability of losses related to credit risk on investments classified as cash and cash equivalents is remote.

Notes receivable – The Company has received bank secured notes from certain of its customers in the PRC to settle trade accounts receivable. These notes generally have maturities of six months or less and are redeemable at the bank of issuance. The Company evaluates the credit risk of the issuing bank prior to accepting a bank secured note from a customer. Management believes that the probability of material losses related to credit risk on notes receivable is remote.

Accounts receivable – The Company records trade accounts receivable when revenue is recorded in accordance with its revenue recognition policy and relieves accounts receivable when payments are received from customers.

Allowance for doubtful accounts – The allowance for doubtful accounts is established through charges to the provision for bad debts. The Company evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts throughout the year. The evaluation includes historical trends in collections and write-offs, management’s judgment of the probability of collecting specific accounts and management’s evaluation of business risk. This evaluation is inherently subjective, as it requires estimates that are susceptible to revision as more information becomes available. Accounts are determined to be uncollectible when the debt is deemed to be worthless or only recoverable in part, and are written off at that time through a charge against the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Inventories – In 2017, the Company adopted Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2015-11, "Inventory-Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory," which changed how inventory is valued. Inventories are valued at cost, which is not in excess of the net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Inventory costs have been determined by the LIFO method for substantially all U.S. inventories. Costs of other inventories have been determined by the FIFO method. Inventories include direct material, direct labor, and applicable manufacturing and engineering overhead costs.

Long-lived assets – Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the following expected useful lives:



Land improvements		10 to 20 years
Buildings		10 to 40 years
Machinery and equipment		5 to 14 years
Molds, cores and rings		2 to 10 years

The Company capitalizes certain internal and external costs incurred to acquire or develop internal-use software. Capitalized software costs are amortized over the estimated useful life of the software, which ranges from three years to nine years.

Intangibles with definite lives include trademarks, technology and intellectual property which are amortized over their remaining useful lives, which range from one to three years. Land use rights are amortized over their remaining useful lives, which range from 38 years to 45 years. The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets based on undiscounted projected cash flows, excluding interest and taxes, when any impairment is indicated. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles are assessed for potential impairment at least annually or when events or circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred.

Earnings per common share – Net income per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding each year. Diluted earnings per share includes the dilutive effect of stock options and other stock units. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:



(Number of shares and dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)
	2017		2016		2015
Numerator
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share - income from continuing operations available to common stockholders	$	95,400	$	248,381	$	212,766
Denominator
Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares outstanding	52,206		54,480		57,012
Effect of dilutive securities - stock options and other stock units	467		610		611
Denominator for diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted average shares outstanding	52,673		55,090		57,623
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	1.83	$	4.56	$	3.73
Diluted	$	1.81	$	4.51	$	3.69

At December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 all options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock were included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as the options’ exercise prices were less than the average market price of the common shares.

Derivative financial instruments – Derivative financial instruments are utilized by the Company to reduce foreign currency exchange risks. The Company has established policies and procedures for risk assessment and the approval, reporting and monitoring of derivative financial instrument activities. The Company does not enter into financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The Company offsets fair value amounts recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets for derivative financial instruments executed with the same counter-party.

The Company uses foreign currency forward contracts as hedges of the fair value of certain non-U.S. dollar denominated net asset and liability positions. Gains and losses resulting from the impact of currency exchange rate movements on these forward contracts are recognized in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income in the period in which the exchange rates change and offset the foreign currency gains and losses on the underlying exposure being hedged.

Foreign currency forward contracts are also used to hedge variable cash flows associated with forecasted sales and purchases denominated in currencies that are not the functional currency of certain entities. The forward contracts have maturities of less than twelve months pursuant to the Company’s policies and hedging practices. These forward contracts meet the criteria for and have been designated as cash flow hedges. Accordingly, the effective portion of the change in fair value of unrealized gains and losses on such forward contracts are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and reclassified into earnings as the hedged transaction affects earnings.

The Company assesses hedge effectiveness quarterly. In doing so, the Company monitors the actual and forecasted foreign currency sales and purchases versus the amounts hedged to identify any hedge ineffectiveness. The Company also performs regression analysis comparing the change in value of the hedging contracts versus the underlying foreign currency sales and purchases, which confirms a high correlation and hedge effectiveness. Any hedge ineffectiveness is recorded as an adjustment in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income in the period in which the ineffectiveness occurs.

The Company is exposed to price risk related to forecasted purchases of certain commodities that are used as raw materials, principally natural rubber. Accordingly, it uses commodity contracts with forward pricing for a portion its production requirements. These contracts generally qualify for the normal purchase exception under guidance for derivative instruments and hedging activities, and therefore are not subject to its provisions.

Income taxes – Income tax expense is based on reported earnings or losses before income taxes in accordance with the tax rules and regulations of the specific legal entities within the various specific taxing jurisdictions where the Company’s income is earned. Taxable income may differ from earnings before income taxes for financial accounting purposes. To the extent that differences are due to revenue or expense items reported in one period for tax purposes and in another period for financial accounting purposes, a provision for deferred income taxes is made using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is recognized if it is anticipated that some or all of a deferred tax asset may not be realized. Deferred income taxes generally are not recorded on the majority of undistributed earnings of international subsidiaries based on the Company’s intention that these earnings will continue to be reinvested. Upon enactment of the Tax Act, the Transition Tax was recorded based on approximately $495 million of unremitted foreign earnings. While the Company has accrued Transition Tax payable on the deemed repatriation of earnings that were previously indefinitely reinvested, it was unable to determine a reasonable estimate of the remaining tax liability, if any, under the Tax Act for its remaining outside basis differences or assess how the Tax Act will impact the Company's existing assertion of indefinite reinvestment. As such, no change has been made with respect to that assertion for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Product liability – The Company accrues costs for product liability at the time a loss is probable and the amount of loss can be estimated. The Company believes the probability of loss can be established and the amount of loss can be estimated only after certain minimum information is available, including verification that Company-produced products were involved in the incident giving rise to the claim, the condition of the product purported to be involved in the claim, the nature of the incident giving rise to the claim and the extent of the purported injury or damages. In cases where such information is known, each product liability claim is evaluated based on its specific facts and circumstances. A judgment is then made to determine the requirement for establishment or revision of an accrual for any potential liability. Adjustments to estimated reserves are recorded in the period in which the change in estimate occurs. The liability often cannot be determined with precision until the claim is resolved.

Pursuant to ASU 450 "Contingencies", the Company accrues the minimum liability for each known claim when the estimated outcome is a range of probable loss and no one amount within that range is more likely than another. The Company uses a range of losses because an average cost would not be meaningful since the product liability claims faced by the Company are unique and widely variable, and accordingly, the resolutions of those claims have an enormous amount of variability. The costs have ranged from zero dollars to $33 million in one case with no “average” that is meaningful. No specific accrual is made for individual unasserted claims or for premature claims, asserted claims where the minimum information needed to evaluate the probability of a liability is not yet known. However, an accrual for such claims based, in part, on management’s expectations for future litigation activity and the settled claims history is maintained. The Company periodically reviews such estimates and any adjustments for changes in reserves are recorded in the period in which the change in estimate occurs. Because of the speculative nature of litigation in the U.S., the Company does not believe a meaningful aggregate range of potential loss for asserted and unasserted claims can be determined. While the Company believes its reserves are reasonably stated, it is possible an individual claim from time to time may result in an aberration from the norm and could have a material impact.

The product liability expense reported by the Company includes amortization of insurance premium costs, adjustments to liability reserves and legal costs incurred in defending claims against the Company. Legal costs are expensed as incurred and product liability insurance premiums are amortized over coverage periods.

Advertising expense – Expenses incurred for advertising include production and media and are generally expensed when incurred. Costs associated with dealer-earned cooperative advertising are recorded as a reduction of the revenue component of Net sales at the time of sale. Advertising expense for 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $52,798, $53,715 and $53,007, respectively.

Stock-based compensation – The Company’s incentive compensation plans allow the Company to grant awards to employees in the form of stock options, stock awards, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance stock units, dividend equivalents and other awards. Compensation related to these awards is determined based on the fair value on the date of grant and is amortized to expense over the vesting period. If awards can be settled in cash, these awards are recorded as liabilities and marked to market. See Note 12 – Stock-Based Compensation for additional information.

Warranties – Warranties are provided on the sale of certain of the Company’s products, and an accrual for estimated future claims is recorded at the time revenue is recognized. Tire replacement under most of the warranties the Company offers is on a prorated basis. The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties based primarily on historical return rates, estimates of the eligible tire population and the value of tires to be replaced. The following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s product warranty liabilities which are recorded in Accrued liabilities and Other long-term liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets:



	2017		2016		2015
Reserve at beginning of year	10,634		12,339		14,005
Additions	10,310		8,349		9,122
Payments	(8,851	)	(10,054	)	(10,788	)
Reserve at December 31	12,093		10,634		12,339

Use of estimates – The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of: (1) revenues and expenses during the reporting period; and (2) assets and liabilities, as well as disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue recognition – Revenues are recognized when title to the product passes to customers. Shipping and handling costs are recorded in cost of products sold. Allowance programs such as volume rebates and cash discounts are recorded at the time of sale as a reduction to revenue based on anticipated accrual rates for the year.

Research and development – Costs are charged to cost of products sold as incurred and amounted to approximately $59,869, $55,534 and $51,793 during 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Related Party Transactions – The Company’s COOCSA joint venture paid $40,279, $33,774 and $26,598 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, to an employment services company in Mexico owned by members of the joint venture workforce. COOCSA also recorded sales of $8,209, $6,335 and $6,555 to the noncontrolling shareholder in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Truck and Bus Tire Tariffs – Antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into certain truck and bus tires imported from the PRC into the United States were initiated on January 29, 2016. The preliminary determinations announced in both investigations were affirmative and resulted in the imposition of significant additional duties from each. The Company incurred expense of $22,042 over the final seven months of the year-ended December 31, 2016 related to these additional duties. On February 22, 2017, the U.S. International Trade Commission determined the U.S. market had not suffered material injury because of imports of truck and bus tires from China. As a result of this decision, preliminary antidumping and countervailing duties from Chinese truck and bus tires imported subsequent to the preliminary determination are not to be collected and any amounts previously paid have been refunded by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Further, prospective imports of truck and bus tires from the PRC are not subject to these additional duties. In the first quarter of 2017, the Company reversed the previously expensed preliminary duties of $22,042 due to the decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission. This amount was recorded as a reduction of Cost of products sold in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2017.

North American Distribution Center – On January 22, 2017, a tornado hit the Company’s leased Albany, Georgia distribution center, causing damage to the Company's assets and disrupting certain operations. Insurance, less applicable deductibles, covers the repair or replacement of the Company's assets that suffered loss or damage, and the Company is working closely with its insurance carriers and claims adjusters to ascertain the full amount of insurance proceeds due to the Company as a result of the damages and the loss the Company suffered. The Company's insurance policies also provide coverage for interruption to its business, including lost profits, and reimbursement for other expenses and costs that have been incurred relating to the damages and losses suffered. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company incurred direct expenses of $12,569 related to the disposal of damaged tires, freight to move product to other warehouses, professional fees to secure and maintain the site and for the rental of additional storage facilities, less proceeds of $7,000 recovered from insurance. These amounts were recorded as a component of Cost of products sold in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2017. At this time, the full amount of combined property damage and business interruption costs and recoveries cannot be estimated, and accordingly, no additional amounts, including amounts for insurance recoveries, have been recorded as of December 31, 2017.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Each change to U.S. GAAP is established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in the form of an accounting standards update (“ASU”) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Pronouncements – Recently adopted

Stock Compensation

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory withholding requirements, as well as classification in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Application of the standard is required for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2017. As a result of the adoption, on a prospective basis, $1,877 of excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation was recognized as discrete items in the provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2017. Additionally, the cash flow benefit of the excess tax benefits is included as an operating activity in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2017. In accordance with the standard, the prior year Consolidated Statement of Income and Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows presentation of the Company's excess tax benefits have not been restated. The new standard also requires that employee taxes paid when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes be reported as financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows on a retrospective basis. Previously, this activity was included in operating activities. The impact of this change in the years ended 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $7,002, $2,948 and $3,993, respectively, reported as Payments of employee taxes withheld from share-based awards in the Consolidated statement of cash flows. Finally, as permitted by the standard, the Company will account for forfeitures of share-based payments when they occur.

Inventory

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory,” which is intended to simplify the subsequent measurement of inventories by replacing the current lower of cost or market test with a lower of cost or net realizable value test. The guidance applies only to inventories for which cost is determined by methods other than last-in, first-out and the retail inventory method. Application of the standard, which should be applied prospectively, is required for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted the new standard in the first quarter of 2017. The new standard did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Pronouncements – To be adopted

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The standard provides a five-step model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions of the standard include capitalization of certain contract costs, consideration of time value of money in the transaction price, and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The standard also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. In July 2015, the FASB approved the deferral of the new standard's effective date by one year. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. In 2016, the FASB issued several amendments to the standard, which provide clarification, additional guidance, practical expedients, technical corrections and other improvements to ASU 2014-09.

The guidance permits two methods of adoption: the full retrospective method, in which case the standard would be applied to each prior reporting period presented and the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recognized at the earliest period shown, or the modified retrospective method, in which case the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recognized at the date of initial application.

The Company has substantially completed its evaluation of significant contracts and the review of its current accounting policies and practices to identify potential differences that would result from applying the requirements of the new standard to the Company’s revenue contracts. The Company has also identified, and is in the process of implementing, appropriate changes to business processes, systems and controls to support recognition and disclosure under the new standard. In addition, the Company has drafted its accounting policy for the new standard based on a detailed review of its business and contracts.

While the Company continues to assess all potential impacts of the new standard, the Company expects to adopt the new revenue standard in the first quarter of 2018 applying the modified retrospective transition method. The Company does not expect the adoption of the new revenue standard to have a material impact on the amount and timing of revenue recognized in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases,” which requires balance sheet recognition of lease liabilities and right-of-use assets for most leases having terms of twelve months or longer. Application of the standard, which should be applied using a modified retrospective approach, is required for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. In 2017, the FASB issued multiple amendments to the standard which provided clarification, additional guidance, practical expedients, and other improvements to ASU 2016-02. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the new standard, including optional practical expedients, and assessing our existing lease portfolio in order to assess the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment," which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. The standard requires goodwill impairment to be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of its goodwill. Application of the standard, which should be applied prospectively, is required for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

Pensions and Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, “Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost,” which requires changes to the income statement presentation of net periodic benefit cost. The service cost component of net periodic benefit cost will continue to be classified in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside of operating profit. In addition, the new standard will allow only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization, when applicable. Application of the standard, which should be applied retrospectively for the income statement presentation changes and prospectively for the capitalization changes, is required for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. As reported in Note 9 - Pensions and Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions, the 2017, 2016 and 2015 net periodic benefit costs were $49,386, $64,842 and $58,384, respectively. The service cost component of these amounts in 2017, 2016 and 2015, which will remain as a component of operating profit, were $11,863, $11,771 and $13,559, respectively. Net income will not change as a result of the adoption of this standard. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2018.

Derivatives and Hedging

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, “Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities,” which expands and refines hedge accounting for both financial and non-financial risk components, aligns the recognition and presentation of the effects of hedging instruments and hedge items in the financial statements, and includes certain targeted improvements to ease the application of current guidance related to the assessment of hedge effectiveness. Adoption of the new standard is required for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.