GOODYEAR <GT> PREDICTS FIRST QUARTER NET Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co said it expects to report earnings from continuing operations of over one dlr per share on 71.3 mln average shares outstanding. In last year's first quarter the company lost 60.0 mln dlrs or 55 cts per share on 108.4 mln shares outstanding, after a 110.8 mln dlr writedown of oil reserves of its Celeron Corp unit. Goodyear said it will report first quarter results April 27. Goodyear chairman Robert E. Mercer also told the annual meeting that unless there is a major downturn in the economy, it expects to work its debt down to normal levels in three years through its restructuring and cash flow from improved margins. The company set up its restructuring program to fend off a hostile takeover attempt by Sir James Goldsmith. As part of the restructuring, Goodyear executed a major stock buyback program that resulted in an increase in its debt.