AKRON, Ohio, June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT) has again been recognized as one of America's most reputable companies by Forbes magazine.

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Goodyear ranked 26th on the magazine's seventh annual ranking of corporate reputation in the United States, up from its 38th place ranking in 2011.  Goodyear is the only tire maker on the list and the highest-ranked company in the automotive industry.  The full list is available on www.forbes.com. 

The list is based on the results of the Reputation Institute's U.S. Reputation Pulse consumer survey, which was conducted in the first quarter of 2012.  The survey measures the overall trust, esteem, admiration and good feelings more than 10,000 consumers hold toward 150 of the country's largest companies.

Scores are based on RI's seven dimensions of reputation: products/services, innovation, governance, workplace, citizenship, leadership and financial performance.  RI said the 2012 survey indicates that perceptions of the enterprise (workplace, governance, citizenship, financial performance and leadership) were more important than product perceptions (products/services and innovation) in driving consumer behaviors.

"This recognition is particularly significant as it goes beyond the value consumers place on our brands and innovative products," said Richard J. Kramer, Goodyear chairman and chief executive officer. 

"It reflects the public's perception of the goals and shared values articulated in The Goodyear Mission that guides our associates every day.  The survey shows that consumers continue to recognize that the Goodyear brand stands for great citizenship in addition to great tires."

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies.  It employs about 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 53 facilities in 22 countries around the world.  Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.  For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company