Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, contributed $72 million to...

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, contributed $72 million to its $4.13 billion worldwide pension plans through the first six months of the year, according to its latest 10-Q filing. The company plans to contribute a total of $160 million to its $2.9 billion U.S. plan this year, and $325 million to $350 million in 2005. The estimated contributions reflect pension legislation passed earlier this year that changed ERISA funding requirements to allow companies to defer certain contributions, according to the filing. Goodyear also reiterated its expectation that contributions after 2005 will be "substantial"