EXHIBIT 99.1

[GOODYEAR LOGO]                                                     NEWS RELEASE

    CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS: 1144 EAST MARKET STREET, AKRON, OHIO 44316-0001
                    MEDIA WEBSITE: WWW.GOODYEARNEWSROOM.COM
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                     MEDIA CONTACT:   KEITH PRICE
                                      330-796-1863
                                      KPRICE@GOODYEAR.COM
                     ANALYST CONTACT: BARB GOULD
                                      330-796-8576
                                      GOODYEAR.INVESTOR.RELATIONS @GOODYEAR. COM

                                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

#22630fi.203

                          GOODYEAR ELIMINATES DIVIDEND

         AKRON, Ohio, February 4, 2003 - The Board of Directors of The Goodyear
Tire & Rubber Company today approved the elimination of the company's quarterly
dividend.

         The dividend decision represents an expected annualized cash flow
benefit of approximately $84 million, compared to the previous 12 cents per
share dividend rate.

         "The elimination of the dividend is an important step in a series of
actions the company is taking to improve its financial flexibility in light of
recent disappointing results and challenging economic conditions," said Robert
J. Keegan, president and chief executive officer. "This action follows recent
actions that we have taken to improve our cost structure and strengthen our
balance sheet."

         Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. The company manufactures
tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 90 facilities in 28
countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world.
Goodyear employs about 92,000 people worldwide.

         Certain information contained in this press release constitutes
forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result
of various economic, financial and industry factors including without limitation
the company's ability to implement its cost-cutting plans and achieve its sales
targets. Additional factors that may cause actual results to differ materially
from those indicated by such forward looking statements are discussed in the
company's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2001 and Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended Sept. 30, 2002, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our estimates
only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as
of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements
at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so,
even if our estimates change.