Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 733,843	$ 750,913	$ 2,097,621	$ 2,140,982
Cost of products sold	569,116	597,961	1,692,137	1,657,932
Gross profit	164,727	152,952	405,484	483,050
Selling, general and administrative expense	63,350	63,262	180,605	192,339
Pension settlement charge	0	11,462	0	11,462
Operating profit	101,377	78,228	224,879	279,249
Interest expense	(7,591)	(6,795)	(23,629)	(19,717)
Interest income	1,776	1,018	5,333	2,907
Other non-operating (expense) income	(978)	1,785	(1,468)	4,672
Income before income taxes	94,584	74,236	205,115	267,111
Provision for income taxes	31,924	23,757	67,250	86,509
Net income	62,660	50,479	137,865	180,602
Net income attributable to noncontrolling shareholders' interests	973	1,176	307	1,545
Net income attributable to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company	$ 61,687	$ 49,303	$ 137,558	$ 179,057
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.19	$ 0.91	$ 2.62	$ 3.26
Diluted (in dollars per share)	1.18	0.90	2.59	3.23
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.315	$ 0.315