Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	Income Taxes We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method. The asset and liability method requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for expected future tax consequences of temporary differences that currently exist between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of our assets and liabilities. We calculate current and deferred tax provisions based on estimates and assumptions that could differ from actual results reflected on the income tax returns filed during the following years. Adjustments based on filed returns are recorded when identified in the subsequent years. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that the tax rate change is enacted. In assessing the likelihood of realization of deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred income taxes when, in our judgment, based upon currently available information and other factors, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of such deferred income tax assets will not be realized. The determination of the need for a valuation allowance is based on an on-going evaluation of current information including, among other things, historical operating results, estimates of future earnings in different taxing jurisdictions and the expected timing of the reversals of temporary differences. We believe that the determination to record a valuation allowance to reduce a deferred income tax asset is a significant accounting estimate because it is based, among other things, on an estimate of future taxable income in the United States and certain other jurisdictions, which is susceptible to change and may or may not occur, and because the impact of adjusting a valuation allowance may be material. The valuation allowances carried against our deferred tax assets totaled $3.4 million as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012. The company adopted the U.S. GAAP method of accounting for uncertain tax positions during 2007. The purpose of this method is to clarify accounting for uncertain tax positions recognized. The U.S. GAAP method of accounting for uncertain tax positions utilizes a two-step approach to evaluate tax positions. Step one, recognition, requires evaluation of the tax position to determine if based solely on technical merits it is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. Step two, measurement, is addressed only if a position is more likely than not to be sustained. In step two, the tax benefit is measured as the largest amount of benefit, determined on a cumulative probability basis, which is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement with tax authorities. If a position does not meet the more likely than not threshold for recognition in step one, no benefit is recorded until the first subsequent period in which the more likely than not standard is met, the issue is resolved with the taxing authority, or the statute of limitations expires. Positions previously recognized are derecognized when we subsequently determine the position no longer is more likely than not to be sustained. Evaluation of tax positions, their technical merits, and measurements using cumulative probability are highly subjective management estimates. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Presently, we have not recorded a deferred tax liability for temporary differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries that are essentially permanent in duration. These temporary differences may become taxable upon a repatriation of earnings from the subsidiaries or a sale or liquidation of the subsidiaries. At this time, the company does not have any plans to repatriate additional income from its foreign subsidiaries. For the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2013 the provision for income taxes was $2.5 million, which was an effective income tax rate of 33 percent. The effective tax rate was favorably affected by income tax credits and foreign income taxes that are taxed at rates lower than the U. S. statutory rates, partially offset by unfavorable non-deductible expenses incurred during the quarter, interest on unrecognized tax benefits and state income taxes (net of federal tax benefit). The provision for income taxes for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2013 was $8.0 million, which was an effective income tax rate of 33 percent. The effective tax rate was favorably impacted by foreign income taxes (taxed at rates lower than the U. S. statutory rates) and tax credits, including credits recognized as a result of the 2013 enactment of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 and the settlement of a tax audit at our Mexican subsidiary discussed below, partially offset by state income taxes (net of federal tax benefit). For the thirteen weeks ended September 23, 2012 the benefit from income taxes was $5.2 million, which was a negative effective income tax rate of 52 percent. For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 23, 2012 the provision for income taxes was $1.0 million, which was an effective income tax rate of 3 percent. During the third quarter of 2012, the Mexican taxing authorities finalized their audit of the 2004 tax year of Superior Industries de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (SIM), our wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary. As a result of this settlement, the company paid $0.9 million and reversed approximately $21.7 million of liabilities for uncertain tax positions, which was partially offset by the reversal of competent authority deferred tax assets of $12.7 million that were recorded in the U.S. The reversals recorded during the third quarter of 2012 caused the negative effective income tax rate for the thirteen week period ended September 23, 2012 and caused the effective tax rate for the thirty-nine week period ended September 23, 2012 to be substantially lower than the U.S. federal tax rate of 35 percent. The effective tax rates for the thirteen week period and the thirty-nine week period ended September 23, 2012 were also impacted by increases in unrecognized tax benefit positions, foreign income taxes (taxed at rates lower than the U. S. statutory rates) and state income taxes (net of federal tax benefit). Within the next twelve month period ending September 28, 2014, we do not expect any of the yet unrecognized tax benefits to be recognized due to the expiration of related statutes of limitations or completion of any income tax examinations. Mexico's Tax Administration Service (Servicio de Administracion Tributaria, or "SAT"), finalized its examination of the 2007 tax year of Superior Industries de Mexico S.A. de C.V., our wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary, during February 2013. As a result, we reached a settlement with SAT for the 2007 tax year and made a cash payment of $0.3 million. During the first three quarters of 2013, the liability for uncertain tax positions increased by $1.0 million to $12.3 million from $11.3 million at December 30, 2012. The increase primarily resulted from $1.3 million of liabilities established against tax credits recognized during the first three quarters of 2013 and $0.5 million of interest and penalties which were recognized in income tax expense, partially offset by a $0.9 million reduction resulting from the settlement of the 2007 tax year described above and $0.1 million of foreign currency translation adjustments. In September 2013 the Executive Branch of the Mexican government presented a 2014 tax reform proposal to the Congress of Mexico. In addition, the lower house of the Congress of Mexico approved a tax bill which was sent to the upper house of Congress in October 2013. The proposed bill contains provisions that could have a significant impact on our future foreign income tax expense. However, we do not know which provisions, if any, in the current proposal will ultimately be enacted into law. We conduct business internationally and, as a result, one or more of our subsidiaries files income tax returns in U.S. federal, U.S. state and certain foreign jurisdictions. Accordingly, in the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including taxing authorities in Mexico, the Netherlands, India and the United States. We are no longer open for examination by taxing authorities regarding any U.S. federal income tax returns for years before 2010 while the years open for examination under various state and local jurisdictions vary.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method. The asset and liability method requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for expected future tax consequences of temporary differences that currently exist between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of our assets and liabilities. We calculate current and deferred tax provisions based on estimates and assumptions that could differ from actual results reflected on the income tax returns filed during the following years. Adjustments based on filed returns are recorded when identified in the subsequent years.

The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that the tax rate change is enacted. In assessing the likelihood of realization of deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred income taxes when, in our judgment, based upon currently available information and other factors, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of such deferred income tax assets will not be realized. The determination of the need for a valuation allowance is based on an on-going evaluation of current information including, among other things, historical operating results, estimates of future earnings in different taxing jurisdictions and the expected timing of the reversals of temporary differences. We believe that the determination to record a valuation allowance to reduce a deferred income tax asset is a significant accounting estimate because it is based, among other things, on an estimate of future taxable income in the United States and certain other jurisdictions, which is susceptible to change and may or may not occur, and because the impact of adjusting a valuation allowance may be material. The valuation allowances carried against our deferred tax assets totaled $3.4 million as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012.

The company adopted the U.S. GAAP method of accounting for uncertain tax positions during 2007. The purpose of this method is to clarify accounting for uncertain tax positions recognized. The U.S. GAAP method of accounting for uncertain tax positions utilizes a two-step approach to evaluate tax positions. Step one, recognition, requires evaluation of the tax position to determine if based solely on technical merits it is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. Step two, measurement, is addressed only if a position is more likely than not to be sustained. In step two, the tax benefit is measured as the largest amount of benefit, determined on a cumulative probability basis, which is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement with tax authorities. If a position does not meet the more likely than not threshold for recognition in step one, no benefit is recorded until the first subsequent period in which the more likely than not standard is met, the issue is resolved with the taxing authority, or the statute of limitations expires. Positions previously recognized are derecognized when we subsequently determine the position no longer is more likely than not to be sustained. Evaluation of tax positions, their technical merits, and measurements using cumulative probability are highly subjective management estimates. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

Presently, we have not recorded a deferred tax liability for temporary differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries that are essentially permanent in duration. These temporary differences may become taxable upon a repatriation of earnings from the subsidiaries or a sale or liquidation of the subsidiaries. At this time, the company does not have any plans to repatriate additional income from its foreign subsidiaries.

For the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2013 the provision for income taxes was $2.5 million, which was an effective income tax rate of 33 percent. The effective tax rate was favorably affected by income tax credits and foreign income taxes that are taxed at rates lower than the U. S. statutory rates, partially offset by unfavorable non-deductible expenses incurred during the quarter, interest on unrecognized tax benefits and state income taxes (net of federal tax benefit). The provision for income taxes for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2013 was $8.0 million, which was an effective income tax rate of 33 percent. The effective tax rate was favorably impacted by foreign income taxes (taxed at rates lower than the U. S. statutory rates) and tax credits, including credits recognized as a result of the 2013 enactment of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 and the settlement of a tax audit at our Mexican subsidiary discussed below, partially offset by state income taxes (net of federal tax benefit).

For the thirteen weeks ended September 23, 2012 the benefit from income taxes was $5.2 million, which was a negative effective income tax rate of 52 percent. For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 23, 2012 the provision for income taxes was $1.0 million, which was an effective income tax rate of 3 percent. During the third quarter of 2012, the Mexican taxing authorities finalized their audit of the 2004 tax year of Superior Industries de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (SIM), our wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary. As a result of this settlement, the company paid $0.9 million and reversed approximately $21.7 million of liabilities for uncertain tax positions, which was partially offset by the reversal of competent authority deferred tax assets of $12.7 million that were recorded in the U.S. The reversals recorded during the third quarter of 2012 caused the negative effective income tax rate for the thirteen week period ended September 23, 2012 and caused the effective tax rate for the thirty-nine week period ended September 23, 2012 to be substantially lower than the U.S. federal tax rate of 35 percent. The effective tax rates for the thirteen week period and the thirty-nine week period ended September 23, 2012 were also impacted by increases in unrecognized tax benefit positions, foreign income taxes (taxed at rates lower than the U. S. statutory rates) and state income taxes (net of federal tax benefit).

Within the next twelve month period ending September 28, 2014, we do not expect any of the yet unrecognized tax benefits to be recognized due to the expiration of related statutes of limitations or completion of any income tax examinations. Mexico's Tax Administration Service (Servicio de Administracion Tributaria, or "SAT"), finalized its examination of the 2007 tax year of Superior Industries de Mexico S.A. de C.V., our wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary, during February 2013. As a result, we reached a settlement with SAT for the 2007 tax year and made a cash payment of $0.3 million. During the first three quarters of 2013, the liability for uncertain tax positions increased by $1.0 million to $12.3 million from $11.3 million at December 30, 2012. The increase primarily resulted from $1.3 million of liabilities established against tax credits recognized during the first three quarters of 2013 and $0.5 million of interest and penalties which were recognized in income tax expense, partially offset by a $0.9 million reduction resulting from the settlement of the 2007 tax year described above and $0.1 million of foreign currency translation adjustments. In September 2013 the Executive Branch of the Mexican government presented a 2014 tax reform proposal to the Congress of Mexico. In addition, the lower house of the Congress of Mexico approved a tax bill which was sent to the upper house of Congress in October 2013. The proposed bill contains provisions that could have a significant impact on our future foreign income tax expense. However, we do not know which provisions, if any, in the current proposal will ultimately be enacted into law.

We conduct business internationally and, as a result, one or more of our subsidiaries files income tax returns in U.S. federal, U.S. state and certain foreign jurisdictions. Accordingly, in the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including taxing authorities in Mexico, the Netherlands, India and the United States. We are no longer open for examination by taxing authorities regarding any U.S. federal income tax returns for years before 2010 while the years open for examination under various state and local jurisdictions vary.