Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,521,074	$ 2,752,639	$ 2,808,062
Cost of products sold	2,033,260	2,319,349	2,364,769
Gross profit	487,814	433,290	443,293
Selling, general and administrative expense	244,529	250,017	244,221
Restructuring expense	12,404	8,818	0
Goodwill impairment charge	0	0	33,827
Operating profit	230,881	174,455	165,245
Interest expense	(22,707)	(31,189)	(32,181)
Interest income	3,569	9,458	10,216
Other pension and postretirement benefit expense	(25,419)	(41,567)	(27,806)
Other non-operating income (expense)	4,579	(1,485)	(1,416)
Income before income taxes	190,903	109,672	114,058
Income tax provision	46,999	11,355	33,495
Net income	143,904	98,317	80,563
Net income attributable to noncontrolling shareholders' interests	1,115	1,913	3,977
Net income attributable to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company	$ 142,789	$ 96,404	$ 76,586
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.84	$ 1.92	$ 1.52
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.83	$ 1.91	$ 1.51