8-K

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): March 18, 2005

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio	1-1927	34-0253240
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
1144 East Market Street, Akron, Ohio		44316-0001
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 330-796-2121

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On March 18, 2005, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (the "Company") issued a news release announcing that it intends to seek commitments to add a $300 million third-lien secured term loan facility to the planned $3.35 billion refinancing previously announced on February 23, 2005. The previously announced refinancing as well as the additional $300 million third-lien secured term loan facility are subject to the receipt of lender commitments and the execution of definitive documentation and are expected to close in early April. The news release dated March 18, 2005, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit 99.1 --- News Release dated March 18, 2005

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
March 18, 2005	By:	Richard J. Kramer
		Name: Richard J. Kramer
		Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	News Release dated March 18, 2005

EX-99.1

	News Release
Corporate Headquarters:
1144 East Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44316-0001	Media Website: www.GoodyearNewsRoom.com

#23069fi.305

Goodyear Adding $300 Million to New Financing

AKRON, Ohio, March 18, 2005 — The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced that it intends to seek commitments to add a $300 million third-lien secured term loan facility to the previously announced new credit facilities financing of approximately $3.35 billion maturing in 2010.

The third-lien term loan facility would be due in March 2011 and be secured equally with Goodyear’s existing secured bonds due in 2011. The $300 million third-lien secured term loan is being arranged by JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

The facility is subject to the receipt of lender commitments and the execution of definitive documentation and would be expected to close in early April.

Goodyear is the world’s largest tire company. Headquartered in Akron, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 85 facilities in 28 countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world. Goodyear employs more than 80,000 people worldwide.

Certain information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, without limitation, the receipt of lender commitments and the execution of definitive documentation as described above. Additional factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such

forward-looking statements are discussed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our estimates only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change.

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