Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 29,381	$ 58,772
Numerator
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share - Net income attributable to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company common stockholders	$ 30,561	$ 59,005
Denominator
Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	52,835	55,535
Effect of dilutive securities - stock options and other stock units (in shares)	587	597
Denominator for diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	53,422	56,132
Basic earnings per share:
Net income attributable to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58	$ 1.06
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income attributable to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.57	$ 1.05