Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 25, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-4329
Entity Registrant Name	COOPER TIRE & RUBBER CO
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	34-4297750
Entity Address, Address Line One	701 Lima Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Findlay
Entity Address, State or Province	OH
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	45840
City Area Code	419
Local Phone Number	423-1321
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $1 par value per share
Trading Symbol	CTB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		50,183,978
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0000024491
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31