Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                  EXHIBIT 4.1

                                   AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of February 8, 2000 (this
"Amendment Agreement") between The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, an Ohio
corporation (the "Company"), and FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, a New
York corporation (the "Rights Agent").

WITNESSETH; that,

         WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent are parties to that certain
Rights Agreement, dated as of June 4, 1996 (the "Rights Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company, comprised entirely of
Independent Directors (as defined in the Rights Agreement) at its meeting duly
convened and held on February 8, 2000, in accordance with the authority
conferred upon it under Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, unanimously declared
that it would be desirable and appropriate and in the best interests of the
holders of the Common Stock and the Rights (as defined in the Rights Agreement)
to amend the Rights Agreement to modify the definition of "Independent Director"
and add certain related definitions;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:

         1. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Amendment Agreement,
capitalized and other terms for which meanings are provided in the Rights
Agreement shall have such meanings when used in this Amendment Agreement.

         2. Effective February 8, 2000, the Rights Agreement shall be, and it
hereby is, amended by:

                  (a) Deleting paragraph (u) of Section 1 of the Rights
         Agreement in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new paragraph
         (u) of Section 1 of the Rights Agreement providing in its entirety as
         follows:

                           "(u) "Independent Director" shall mean any member of
                  the Board of Directors of the Company, while such person is a
                  member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person, or an
                  Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a
                  representative or nominee of an Acquiring Person or any such
                  Affiliate or Associate, and was a member of the Board prior to
                  the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, and any
                  successor of any Independent Director, while such successor is
                  a member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person or an
                  Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a
                  representative or nominee of an Acquiring Person

                                       1
                                    X-4.1-1

<PAGE>   2

                  or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and is elected by a
                  vote of the shareholders of the Company or by a majority of
                  the Independent Directors; provided, that any member of the
                  Board who is a Qualified Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or
                  Associate of a Qualified Acquiring Person or a representative
                  or nominee of a Qualified Acquiring Person or of any such
                  Affiliate or Associate, who was elected by the shareholders of
                  the Company or by a majority of the Independent Directors
                  shall also be an Independent Director."

                  (b) Inserting a new paragraph (ss) of Section 1 of the Rights
         Agreement providing in its entirety as follows:

                           "(ss) "Qualified Acquiring Person" shall mean any
                  Person (including an Acquiring Person) who or which has made a
                  Qualified Offer."

                  (c) Inserting a new paragraph (tt) of Section 1 of the Rights
         Agreement providing in its entirety as follows:

                           "(tt) "Qualified Offer" shall mean an offer for all
                  of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock which meets all
                  of the following requirements:

                           (i) such offer is: (1) an all-cash offer for all of
                  the shares of the Common Stock outstanding and the Person
                  making the offer (prior to the date such offer is commenced
                  within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and
                  Regulations under the Exchange Act) has (A) cash or cash
                  equivalents on hand for the full amount necessary to
                  consummate such all-cash offer and has irrevocably committed
                  in writing to the Company to utilize such cash or cash
                  equivalents for such purpose, or (B) has obtained financing in
                  the full amount necessary to consummate such offer and has
                  entered into, and provided to the Company with complete copies
                  of, definitive financing agreements for funds for such offer
                  which, when added to the amount of cash and cash equivalents
                  available as provided in clause (A) above, are in an amount
                  not less than the full amount necessary to consummate such
                  offer, which agreements are with one or more responsible
                  financial institutions having the capacity to provide such
                  funds; where "the full amount" shall be an amount sufficient
                  to pay for all shares of the Common Stock outstanding on a
                  fully diluted basis in cash pursuant to the offer and to pay
                  all related expenses; or (2) an exchange or other similar
                  offer to acquire all of the shares of the Common Stock
                  outstanding for securities or a combination of securities and
                  cash (which cash component, if any, shall be fully-financed as
                  provided at subpart (1) above); and

                                       2
                                    X-4.1-2
<PAGE>   3

                           (ii) such offer remains open for at least 60 Business
                  Days; provided, however, that (A) if there is an increase in
                  the price of such offer, such amended offer shall remain open
                  for at least an additional 30 Business Days after the last
                  such increase, and (B) such offer must remain open for at
                  least an additional 30 Business Days after the date, if any,
                  on which such Person reduces the per share price offered; and

                           (iii) such offer is accompanied by a written opinion,
                  in customary form, of a nationally recognized investment
                  banking firm which is addressed to the Company and the holders
                  of the Common Stock (other than the Person making such offer)
                  and states that the consideration to be paid (whether in cash,
                  securities or a combination of cash and securities) to the
                  holders of the Common Stock pursuant to the offer is fair to
                  such holders from a financial point of view and includes any
                  written presentation of such firm showing the analysis and
                  range of values underlying such conclusion and such written
                  opinion is dated, and is provided to the Company, within five
                  Business Days and not less than two Business Days prior to the
                  date such offer is commenced, and an updated version of such
                  opinion is dated and provided to the Company with two Business
                  Days prior to the date the offer is consummated.

         3. Nothing set forth in this Amendment Agreement shall in any manner be
construed to alter the rights of the holder of the Rights or the terms and
conditions of the Rights or the Rights Agreement other than expressly as set
forth herein.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to
Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized as of the day and year first above written.

                                   THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY

                                   By: /s/ C. Thomas Harvie
                                      -----------------------------------
                                      C. Thomas Harvie, Senior Vice President

ATTEST:
         /s/ James Boyazis
----------------------------------------
         James Boyazis, Secretary

                                        FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK

                                        By: /s/ Michael S. Duncan
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Michael S. Duncan, Director Corporate
                                           Actions
                                       3
                                    X-4.1-3<PAGE>   1
                                  EXHIBIT 10.1

                          PERFORMANCE RECOGNITION PLAN
                          ----------------------------

                                       OF

                       THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
                       ----------------------------------

                           Effective January 1, 2000

                        (hereinafter called the "Plan")

I.    PURPOSE AND POLICY

         It is the declared policy of the Board of Directors of The Goodyear
Tire & Rubber Company, in order to provide incentive for extra effort, that key
personnel of the Company shall be compensated in addition to their fixed
compensation by participation in a performance recognition plan. Such key
personnel shall be selected, as hereinafter provided, from the elected officers
and other key employees of the Company.

         The Plan is designed to reinforce Participant effort and responsibility
towards achieving the total Company business objectives, the objectives of
specific business units and objectives established for individual Participants.
Awards to Participants provided under this Plan will vary to the extent these
goals and objectives are attained. The basic intent is to tie Awards directly to
results that reflect Company growth and success achieved through customer
satisfaction, quality products and enhanced shareholder value.

         The Plan shall be subject to discontinuance, or amendment by the Board
of Directors, at any time.

II.   DEFINITIONS

         For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:

         A) Award. Cash payments approved by the Committee and made pursuant to
the objectives established pursuant to the Plan in respect of any Plan Year.

         B) Company. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company or any of its
subsidiaries and affiliates.

         C) Participant. With respect to any Plan Year, a salaried employee of
the Company who has been selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the
Plan for such Plan Year subject to the attainment of the established goals and
objectives.

         D) Plan Year. Each period of one year beginning January 1 and ending
December 31, commencing January 1, 2000.

         E) Retirement. Termination of employment at any age with 30 or more
years of continuous service with the Company and its subsidiaries or at age 55
or older with at least 10 years of continuous service with the Company and its
subsidiaries.

                                    X-10.1-1
<PAGE>   2

III.  THE COMMITTEE

         The Plan shall be administered by a Committee, the "Committee", to be
comprised of each member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
of the Company, as such Committee is constituted from time to time, that is
neither an employee or an officer of the Company and is not participating, and
has not and will not participate, in the Plan. Action by the Committee pursuant
to any provision of the Plan may be taken at any meeting held upon not less than
five days' notice of its time, place and purpose given to each member, at which
meeting a quorum of not less than four members is present. If less than a
majority of the whole Committee is present, such action must be by the unanimous
vote of those present, otherwise by a majority vote. The minutes of such meeting
(signed by its secretary) evidencing such action, shall constitute authority for
Goodyear to proceed in accordance therewith.

IV.   TARGET BONUS

         Each Participant in a Plan Year is granted a target bonus with respect
to such Plan Year which is subject to adjustment between zero percent and such
amount as the Committee may determine, depending upon the extent to which the
business goal or goals established for the Participant for such Plan Year are
achieved.

V.    SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS

         A) With respect to each Plan Year, after consultation with the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company (or, if he be unavailable, with the next
ranking officer of the Company who may be available), the Committee shall
determine the Participants and establish their respective target bonuses for
such Plan Year. The Committee shall also review and approve the goals
established for the Participants for such Plan Year. As to such determination,
the Committee may rely, to the extent it deems available, upon any information
and recommendations obtained from the officer so consulted. As soon as
practicable after the selection of Participants for a Plan Year, the Company
shall notify them of their participation and target bonuses for such Plan Year.

         B) A list, certified by the Committee (or by the officers as to action
pursuant to subparagraph A above), shall evidence the determination of those
persons who are Participants in the Plan for such Plan Year and their respective
target bonuses and goals therein.

         C) With respect to employees who are not officers of Goodyear, the
Chairman of the Board of the Company may add such employees as Participants in
the Plan during a Plan Year and report such additional Participants to the
Committee from time to time.

         D) The Chairman of the Board of the Company may, at his discretion,
terminate the participation of any associate in the Plan at any time and may
reduce or eliminate the target bonus granted to any associate for any Plan Year
at any time prior to the payment of an Award in respect of such grant.

VI.   PAYMENT

         The Committee, at its sole discretion, shall determine if a payment
shall be made to Participants in respect of any Plan Year notwithstanding the
fact that the established goals and objectives may have been achieved. If the
Committee determines that there will be a payment in respect of a Plan Year,
payment of Awards due Participants with respect to the Plan will be made after
the close of such Plan Year once the achievement of the performance goals have
been determined. All Awards are contingent upon the achievement of the stated
performance goals for the Plan Year and a determination by the Committee that a
payment shall be distributed to

                                                                          Page 2

                                    X-10.1-2
<PAGE>   3

Participants in respect of such Plan Year. All Awards shall be in cash. There
shall be deducted from each Award under the Plan the amount of any tax required
by governmental authority to be withheld and paid over by the Company to such
government for the account of a Participant entitled to an Award.

VII.  CHANGE IN PARTICIPANT'S STATUS

         A) Any Participant who is not an employee of the Company on December 31
of a Plan Year forfeits his or her participation for such Plan Year unless
employment termination was due to the employee's death or Retirement.

         B) Any Participant whose employment terminates due to Retirement shall
be entitled only to a pro rata portion of the target bonus for the Plan Year
during which the associate's last day worked occurred, subject to the adjustment
as provided herein. Such pro rata bonus is calculated by multiplying the
percentage of days actually worked of the year (ie, number of days worked
divided by 365) by the target bonus. Notwithstanding the above, a Participant
who, after Retirement, enters into a relationship either as an employee,
consultant, agent or in any manner whatsoever with an entity that sells products
in competition with products sold by the Company and its subsidiaries, forfeits
the right to receive a distribution under this Plan in respect of such Plan
Year. In the event such Participant enters into such a relationship with a
competitor within six months from a distribution under this Plan during such
Plan Year, the Participant agrees to refund to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Company any such distribution the Participant had received.

         C) Any Participant whose employment status changes during a Plan Year
due to layoff, leave of absence or disability shall be entitled only to a pro
rata portion of the target bonus, subject to the adjustment as provided for in
Section IV hereof. Such pro rata bonus is calculated by multiplying the
percentage of days actually worked during the Plan Year (ie, number of days
worked divided by 365) by the target bonus for such Plan Year.

         D) A Participant whose employment terminates during a Plan Year due to
death shall be entitled only to a pro rata portion of a target bonus for such
Plan Year and the target bonus shall not be adjusted under Section IV hereof.
Such pro rata bonus is based on days actually worked during such Plan Year and
calculated in the same manner as if the Participant had retired and distribution
of the bonus shall be made to the participating employee's executors,
administrators, or such other person or persons as shall, by specific bequest
under the last will and testament of the participating employee, be entitled
thereto.

VIII. MISCELLANEOUS CONDITIONS

         The Plan and all participation therein shall be subject to the
following conditions:

          A) For all purposes of the Plan, termination of a Participant's
employment shall be deemed to have occurred whenever he or she is no longer
employed by the Company.

         B) Nothing in the Plan shall obligate the Company with respect to
tenure of office or duration of employment of any Participant or to provide for
or continue participation in the Plan by any Participant in the Plan for any
Plan Year in respect of any subsequent Plan Year.

         C) All right, title and interest in the Plan shall be personal to the
Participant and not subject to voluntary or involuntary alienation,
hypothecation, assignment or transfer, except that participation is subject to
forfeiture as provided in Section VII hereof.

                                                                          Page 3

                                    X-10.1-3
<PAGE>   4

         D) The Committee shall have power finally to interpret any of the
provisions of the Plan and to lay down any regulations not inconsistent herewith
for its administration.

         E) Nothing in the Plan shall prevent or interfere with any
recapitalization or reorganization of the Company or its merger or consolidation
with any corporation. In any such case, the recapitalized, reorganized, merged,
or consolidated Company shall assume the obligations of the Company under the
Plan or such modification hereof as, in the judgment of the Board of Directors,
shall be necessary to adapt it to the changed situation and shall provide
substantially equivalent benefits to the Participants.

         F) The Company may terminate, suspend, amend, modify or otherwise act
in respect of the Plan at any time and from time to time.

                                                                          Page 4

                                    X-10.1-4

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00002-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00002-of-00352.parquet"}]]