Cooper tire construction

[Shocker]

I had a nice 30 minute conversation with 2 senior engineer's at Cooper today. I have to say what a bunch of great folks over there. I have entered analysis paralysis on tire selection for VanDOOM and thought I would give them a call to get some clarity on the various products they offer.

Ya see, starting March 1st, Cooper is offering a $80 rebate card on select Cooper tires, plus Discount Tire Direct has a $100 instant rebate on any tire purchase over $400 on eBay. That is alot of coin to save on new tires. Unfortunately the obvious best choice for VanDOOM is the ST Maxx and it is not included on the rebate and so far DTD hasn't posted any Maxx's on eBay for the 100 rebate.

But they do have the Cooper Discoverer ATP. That tire is a Discount Tire exclusive. They are an AT3 with a different tread face, same carcass. So I went on down to Discount and they mounted a 285/75-16 on one of my spares for me to test fit (alternator is out) to see if there is any interference. Man they look good and fit well and they are pretty stiff. Stiffer that the comparable Hankook ATM.

But, with VanDOOM weighing in at maybe 9-10k once it is done, I was concerned about the 2 ply sidewall. Would it be tough enough? I am still on the fence about them, but with a price of about 460 shipped for 4, it is hard to ignore.

The engineers both were on the fence as well, but said the Maxx would be the better choice depending on the terrain.

The construction of the tires is what I was most interested in. It is one thing to say 3 ply sidewall, but without knowing what they are made of it is kind of a crapshoot IMHO. So here it what I found out -

Cooper Discoverer ATP/AT3 - 2 ply sidewall, 1500 denier poly, full ply (load range E only. C has 2 1000 denier poly)
Cooper ST Maxx - 3 ply sidewall, 1500 denier poly for the inner 2 and the 3rd is angled; made from 1000 denier poly

In comparison -
General Grabber AT2 - 2 Ply sidewall, 1500 denier poly.
BFG AT KO2 - 3 ply sidewall, 1000 denier poly.

So you see, the ATP sidewall is as thick as the BFG. And the Grabber AT2 everyone talks about being tough as nails is the same. Ahhh, decisions, decisions...

What do you guys think?

 

[nely]

I was contemplating a tire change on my van. The Cooper stt was up near the top. I'm gonna give them some more consideration. Look forward to others opinions.

 

[Shocker]

The STT and ST Maxx share the same carcass so construction is the same.

 

[rogerapage]

Hello,
I bought four of these exact tires last May, (2013) I have around 3000 miles on them now. I also talked to the engineer. Two weeks ago I heard something fly of off my right rear tire, it had to be of off the highway. In less than a half mile I noticed road noise was getting louder. I was on a four lane at 65 miles an hour. My truck was empty with no load in it. I pulled off within .9 of a mile (I measured later) the tire was half flat with at least five bulges on the side wall, tire was ruined. It went flat by the time I aired it up to get the truck to work . No I did not drive on it flat. The side wall delamanated the first time when half flat in less than a mile. Discount tire warrantied the tire at a cost to me of 31 dollars. I had to go to Discount Tire for warranty. Cooper tire store would not warranty it. I am now worried that the side walls are not what they should be, not sure if I would buy again. If you buy a set you might buy the extended road hazard, twenty three dollars a tire. Hope this helps.

 

[TJO116]

I got them a few months ago in 285/75-17. I really like em so far. Haven't really taken them off road yet though.

 

[Shocker]

Sounds like of like a fluke there Roger. Just one tire correct?

 

[rogerapage]

Just the right rear. I plugged the hole just to see if it would hold air, it did. I thought maybe it was half flat when I left my house but the size of the hole let the air out in less than a mile, when I heard the noise I was six miles from my house. I would have seen the tire low on air when I cleaned the snow off of that morning. I run them at 34psi. I have mounted and balanced tires for years and to the best of my knowledge I have never seen one do this unless the tire was extremely low on air pressure. I am sure the tire was not low on air when I left my house. When I pulled over the tire still had enough air in it that the white Cooper name was not damage, as in running it at speed with no air.
I do not want to sound like I am bashing the tires. If it was a fluke I can understand that this may happen, like I said I have a lot of experience with tires and have seen tires go bad for no reason. I do not want to end up with three more flukes. If I have more problems with them it would be more of a confirmed opinion on the quality of tire. I plan on doing some camping this summer and I do not want to be out in the middle of no where and have tire issues. Hope this helps.
Roger

 

[Shocker]

I hear ya, but I wouldn't worry too much. They make millions of tires so some are going to be bad.

 

[phydough]

Go with the three ply. You are going to be running heavy full time, no sense going with 2 ply when 3 ply is right there.
I have been running BFG's on my Raptor. I picked up a railroad spike (15 miles from the nearest RR) in an KO M/T, the tire, fender and fender liner lost. Any tire would have lost. Last week, I cut a slice in my KO A/T spare. 3" long in the sidewall. The sidewall measures .400" at it's thinnest point in the cut. I would not have thought that a sidewall would be almost a half inch thick on a light truck tire.
Now that I am due for a new set of tires, I will be choosing the Cooper STT. The third sidewall ply, in my head anyway, is an extra layer of protection from injury.

 

[Shocker]

Yeah, I am thinking the same thing. Now to find a deal. I need more cashola.

 

[phydough]

I am from the days of Firestone greatness (sarcasm). I had a 1990 Chevy Suburban work truck, that, the state, in their infinite wisdom, bought Firestone tires for patrol vehicles (trucks anyway, cars got Generals). I went through about 20 tires a month, all from tread ply separation. They called me onto the carpet about changing out tires out so much. I went to the main auto shop, they took all four tires off and spun them on the balance machine, 4 of 5 tires on the truck were bad. I drove out of the shop with a set of shiny new Goodyears, never to have a problem again. It really came down to the tires not being rated for the speeds I was driving, Firestone or Goodyear. I don't recall if they were even speed rated at all. In fact, the only speed rated tires I remember, back then, were the Mustang Gatorback tires.

Sorry, a little off topic. What I am getting at, is that a little extra money spent, for a better product is worth it in the long run. It is no fun losing a tire at 135 MPH or even at all for that matter.
I still wish I could have gotten that Sub at auction.

 

[Shocker]

Yeah, but why go 135 in a Suburban? I don't expect to see much over 70mph in VanDOOM.

 

[phydough]

Highway Patrol, worked over 454. Faster than the Crown Vics of the time. To see the looks of the Corvette drivers in their rear view mirrors at 120 MPH, was priceless. When I mile'd out the Sub, I got a '96 Bronco that went 89 MPH. The department rolled a couple of them because of Firestones coming apart.

You are gonna be pushing 10,000 pounds in a high profile, top heavy rig. The last thing you want is a flat. If you really wanted to drop "some" change, you could go for the Rickson 19.5" wheels and tires that are F or G rated. Very strong tire, that will last forever. HUGE $$$, though.

 

[Shocker]

Hehe, I was wondering that, but why a tire like that on those? Seems that you could fit a more appropriate tire for that use. Good to know that though.

 

[Kytann]

As an added datapoint. I've been running the STTs for about two years now. Deep snow, ice, rocks, mud, dirt they do fine. Better than fine, in that I've got more ice traction with these mud terrain tires than the wifes car with her brand new touring tires. They're also really quiet on the highway.

Also tough. At the beginning of last winter I had a bunch of construction staples in m tires. I just pulled them out. I also seem to have picked up a screw that's embedded in the tire something fierce. I can't seem to pull it out, and the head is broken / worn off. Been driving like that for the last few weeks until I can buy a replacment, and no problems with air leakage or anything.

I've currently got about 20k miles on them, and they still look almost new. In all, it's the happiest I've been with a tire purchase ever.