Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 698,408	$ 720,753	$ 1,299,904	$ 1,363,778
Cost of products sold	604,185	581,202	1,121,196	1,105,642
Gross profit	94,223	139,551	178,708	258,136
Selling, general and administrative expense	61,460	55,350	119,490	115,941
Operating profit	32,763	84,201	59,218	142,195
Interest expense	(8,417)	(8,210)	(16,108)	(16,037)
Interest income	1,988	1,755	4,303	3,557
Other pension and postretirement benefit expense	(6,967)	(9,369)	(13,953)	(18,693)
Other non-operating expense	(1,391)	(255)	(3,050)	(491)
Income before income taxes	17,976	68,122	30,410	110,531
Provision for income taxes	2,267	22,298	5,718	35,325
Net income	15,709	45,824	24,692	75,206
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling shareholders' interests	701	514	1,400	(666)
Net income attributable to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company	$ 15,008	$ 45,310	$ 23,292	$ 75,872
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0.86	$ 0.46	$ 1.44
Diluted (in dollars per share)	0.30	0.85	0.46	1.42
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.21	$ 0.21