SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION-5.625% CONVERTIBLE NOTES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 459,233	$ 404,447	$ 922,321	$ 685,276
Cost of Goods Sold	377,147	340,113	746,872	564,670
Gross Profit	82,086	64,334	175,449	120,606
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	23,410	16,573	54,245	41,866
Research and Development Expense	1,189	1,014	2,697	2,197
Royalty Expense	2,652	2,350	5,001	5,267
Supply agreement termination income	(26,134)	0	(26,134)	0
Operating Income (Loss)	80,969	44,397	139,640	71,276
Interest expense	(6,217)	(6,149)	(12,512)	(12,429)
Induced Conversion of Convertible Debt Expense	0	0	0	(16,135)
Other income	613	2,270	3,724	2,463
Income (loss) before income taxes	75,365	40,518	130,852	45,175
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	31,040	14,962	51,133	22,655
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	44,325	25,556	79,719	22,520
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	269	(8)	244	(8)
Net income attributable to Titan	44,056	25,564	79,475	22,528
Comprehensive Income Statement [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	44,325	25,556	79,719	22,520
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax	(5,580)	14,645	337	13,652
Currency translation adjustment	(8,136)	2,932	(4,569)	2,932
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax	836	592	1,672	1,185
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	31,445	43,725	77,159	40,289
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	269	(8)	244	(8)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Titan	31,176	43,733	76,915	40,297
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	149,450	114,162	149,450	114,162	129,170	114,162	239,500
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	237,418		237,418		189,527
Inventory, Net	214,858		214,858		190,872
Prepaid Expense, Deffered Income Taxes and Other Assets, Current	68,410		68,410		55,024
Assets, Current	670,136		670,136		564,593
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	324,676		324,676		334,742
Equity Method Investments	0		0		0
Other Assets, Noncurrent	99,187		99,187		110,951
Assets	1,093,999		1,093,999		1,010,286
Short-term debt	7,596		7,596		11,723
Accounts Payable, Current	109,555		109,555		76,574
Other current liabilities	70,464		70,464		87,469
Liabilities, Current	187,615		187,615		175,766
Long-term debt	312,881		312,881		317,881
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	116,427		116,427		119,760
Due to Related Parties	0		0		0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	475,276		475,276		395,239
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,800		1,800		1,640
Liabilities and Equity	1,093,999		1,093,999		1,010,286
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	48,683		48,683	(30,632)
Capital expenditures	(19,006)		(19,006)	(10,196)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired			0	99,118
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	453		453	1,395
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(18,553)		(18,553)	(107,919)
Early Repayment of Senior Debt			0	(1,064)
Repayments of Other Debt	(14,226)		(14,226)	0
Term loan borrowing	4,378		4,378	14,148
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	887		887	477
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	190		190	0
Payments of Dividends, Common Stock	(423)		(423)	(387)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(9,194)		(9,194)	13,174
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(656)		(656)	39
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	20,280		20,280	(125,338)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	149,450	114,162	149,450	114,162	129,170	114,162	239,500
Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes 5.625 Percent [Member]
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value						114,162	239,500
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities				(30,632)
Capital expenditures				(10,196)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired				(99,118)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities				1,395
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities				(107,919)
Early Repayment of Senior Debt				1,064
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised				477
Payments of Dividends, Common Stock				(387)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities				13,174
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)				(125,338)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value						114,162	239,500
Parent [Member] | Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes 5.625 Percent [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Cost of Goods Sold	257	541	559	902
Gross Profit	(257)	(541)	(559)	(902)
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	3,396	4,551	13,983	19,956
Research and Development Expense	48	4	172	4
Royalty Expense	0	0	0	0
Supply agreement termination income	0		0
Operating Income (Loss)	(3,701)	(5,096)	(14,714)	(20,862)
Interest expense	(6,045)	(6,032)	(12,107)	(12,312)
Induced Conversion of Convertible Debt Expense				(16,135)
Other income	283	1,879	2,457	2,196
Income (loss) before income taxes	(9,463)	(9,249)	(24,364)	(47,113)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,884	(3,397)	(5,068)	(11,436)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	55,672	31,408	99,015	58,197
Net income (loss)	44,325	25,556	79,719	22,520
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Titan	44,325	25,556	79,719	22,520
Comprehensive Income Statement [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	44,325	25,556	79,719	22,520
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax	(5,580)	14,645	337	13,652
Currency translation adjustment	(8,136)	2,932	(4,569)	2,932
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax	836	592	1,672	1,185
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	31,445	43,725	77,159	40,289
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Titan	31,445	43,725	77,159	40,289
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	140,441		140,441		125,266	111,146	239,362
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	0		0		0
Inventory, Net	0		0		0
Prepaid Expense, Deffered Income Taxes and Other Assets, Current	35,691		35,691		27,251
Assets, Current	176,132		176,132		152,517
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	8,159		8,159		9,562
Equity Method Investments	271,414		271,414		184,317
Other Assets, Noncurrent	43,035		43,035		44,918
Assets	498,740		498,740		391,314
Short-term debt	0		0		0
Accounts Payable, Current	939		939		930
Other current liabilities	(3,870)		(3,870)		22,687
Liabilities, Current	(2,931)		(2,931)		23,617
Long-term debt	312,881		312,881		312,881
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	42,996		42,996		29,267
Due to Related Parties	(329,482)		(329,482)		(369,690)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	475,276		475,276		395,239
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		0		0
Liabilities and Equity	498,740		498,740		391,314
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	15,859			(27,035)
Capital expenditures	(1,338)			(1,089)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired				(99,118)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	0			0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(1,338)			(100,207)
Early Repayment of Senior Debt				1,064
Repayments of Other Debt	0
Term loan borrowing	0			0
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	887			477
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	190
Payments of Dividends, Common Stock	(423)			(387)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	654			(974)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0			0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	15,175			(128,216)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	140,441		140,441		125,266	111,146	239,362
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes 5.625 Percent [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	373,035	310,392	744,164	591,221
Cost of Goods Sold	297,636	254,116	582,660	477,870
Gross Profit	75,399	56,276	161,504	113,351
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	15,062	2,462	30,737	5,187
Research and Development Expense	1,081	1,010	2,379	2,193
Royalty Expense	1,779	1,767	3,472	4,684
Supply agreement termination income	0		0
Operating Income (Loss)	57,477	51,037	124,916	101,287
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Induced Conversion of Convertible Debt Expense				0
Other income	313	(39)	810	(241)
Income (loss) before income taxes	57,790	50,998	125,726	101,046
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	18,872	18,808	43,913	37,326
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	38,918	32,190	81,813	63,720
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Titan	38,918	32,190	81,813	63,720
Comprehensive Income Statement [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	38,918	32,190	81,813	63,720
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax	790	553	1,580	1,106
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	39,708	32,743	83,393	64,826
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Titan	39,708	32,743	83,393	64,826
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	6		6		6	7	6
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	185,758		185,758		137,226
Inventory, Net	169,271		169,271		162,134
Prepaid Expense, Deffered Income Taxes and Other Assets, Current	18,288		18,288		15,490
Assets, Current	373,323		373,323		314,856
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	215,056		215,056		219,734
Equity Method Investments	0		0		0
Other Assets, Noncurrent	1,351		1,351		1,454
Assets	589,730		589,730		536,044
Short-term debt	0		0		0
Accounts Payable, Current	41,601		41,601		33,563
Other current liabilities	61,729		61,729		39,457
Liabilities, Current	103,330		103,330		73,020
Long-term debt	0		0		0
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	36,339		36,339		38,187
Due to Related Parties	99,097		99,097		157,264
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	350,964		350,964		267,573
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		0		0
Liabilities and Equity	589,730		589,730		536,044
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	12,406			7,157
Capital expenditures	(12,595)			(8,070)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired				0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	189			914
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(12,406)			(7,156)
Early Repayment of Senior Debt				0
Repayments of Other Debt	0
Term loan borrowing	0			0
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	0			0
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	0
Payments of Dividends, Common Stock	0			0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	0			0
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0			0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	0			1
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	6		6		6	7	6
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes 5.625 Percent [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	86,198	94,055	178,157	94,055
Cost of Goods Sold	79,254	85,456	163,653	85,898
Gross Profit	6,944	8,599	14,504	8,157
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	4,952	9,560	9,525	16,723
Research and Development Expense	60	0	146	0
Royalty Expense	873	583	1,529	583
Supply agreement termination income	(26,134)		(26,134)
Operating Income (Loss)	27,193	(1,544)	29,438	(9,149)
Interest expense	(172)	(117)	(405)	(117)
Induced Conversion of Convertible Debt Expense				0
Other income	17	430	457	508
Income (loss) before income taxes	27,038	(1,231)	29,490	(8,758)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	10,284	(449)	12,288	(3,235)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	18,822	0	18,822	0
Net income (loss)	35,576	(782)	36,024	(5,523)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Titan	35,576	(782)	36,024	(5,523)
Comprehensive Income Statement [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	35,576	(782)	36,024	(5,523)
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax	(5,580)	14,645	337	13,652
Currency translation adjustment	(8,136)	2,932	(4,569)	2,932
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax	46	39	92	79
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	21,906	16,834	31,884	11,140
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Titan	21,906	16,834	31,884	11,140
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	9,003		9,003		3,898	3,009	132
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	51,660		51,660		52,301
Inventory, Net	45,587		45,587		28,738
Prepaid Expense, Deffered Income Taxes and Other Assets, Current	14,431		14,431		12,283
Assets, Current	120,681		120,681		97,220
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	101,461		101,461		105,446
Equity Method Investments	18,822		18,822		0
Other Assets, Noncurrent	54,801		54,801		64,579
Assets	295,765		295,765		267,245
Short-term debt	7,596		7,596		11,723
Accounts Payable, Current	67,015		67,015		42,081
Other current liabilities	12,605		12,605		25,325
Liabilities, Current	87,216		87,216		79,129
Long-term debt	0		0		5,000
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	37,092		37,092		52,306
Due to Related Parties	230,385		230,385		212,426
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	(58,928)		(58,928)		(81,616)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0		0		0
Liabilities and Equity	295,765		295,765		267,245
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	20,418			(10,754)
Capital expenditures	(5,073)			(1,037)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired				0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	264			481
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(4,809)			(556)
Early Repayment of Senior Debt				0
Repayments of Other Debt	(14,226)
Term loan borrowing	4,378			14,148
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	0			0
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	0
Payments of Dividends, Common Stock	0			0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(9,848)			14,148
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(656)			39
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	5,105			2,877
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	9,003		9,003		3,898	3,009	132
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes 5.625 Percent [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Cost of Goods Sold	0	0	0	0
Gross Profit	0	0	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Research and Development Expense	0	0	0	0
Royalty Expense	0	0	0	0
Supply agreement termination income	0		0
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Induced Conversion of Convertible Debt Expense				0
Other income	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(74,494)	(31,408)	(117,837)	(58,197)
Net income (loss)	(74,494)	(31,408)	(117,837)	(58,197)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	269	(8)	244	(8)
Net income attributable to Titan	(74,763)	(31,400)	(118,081)	(58,189)
Comprehensive Income Statement [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	(74,494)	(31,408)	(117,837)	(58,197)
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax	5,580	(14,645)	(337)	(13,652)
Currency translation adjustment	8,136	(2,932)	4,569	(2,932)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax	(836)	(592)	(1,672)	(1,185)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(61,614)	(49,577)	(115,277)	(75,966)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	269	(8)	244	(8)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Titan	(61,883)	(49,569)	(115,521)	(75,958)
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	0		0		0
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	0		0		0
Inventory, Net	0		0		0
Prepaid Expense, Deffered Income Taxes and Other Assets, Current	0		0		0
Assets, Current	0		0		0
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	0		0		0
Equity Method Investments	(290,236)		(290,236)		(184,317)
Other Assets, Noncurrent	0		0		0
Assets	(290,236)		(290,236)		(184,317)
Short-term debt	0		0		0
Accounts Payable, Current	0		0		0
Other current liabilities	0		0		0
Liabilities, Current	0		0		0
Long-term debt	0		0		0
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	0		0		0
Due to Related Parties	0		0		0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	(292,036)		(292,036)		(185,957)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,800		1,800		1,640
Liabilities and Equity	(290,236)		(290,236)		(184,317)
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0