JKJenn
Adventurer
I am going to be buying tires over the next 6 months. I am currently running BFG M/T 255/75/17. Overall, I have been pleased with their performance, but I can't help but wonder if the Cooper A/T3 or S/T Maxx tires might not be a better match. I am leaning towards the A/T3's and would love other people's feedback. Here is a rough profile of my use:
I drive about 15,000 highway miles a year. The fact that I do so much highway driving is why I am leaning towards the Cooper AT3s. I did hit some pretty good water/mud holes in Colorado and Bald Eagle on the trails this year and the BFGs did very well. The holes were not terrible rutted, however. The two concerns I have about going to the AT vs. S/T's or BFG's is that I will lose an inch of height and the sidewall construction is not quite as strong. I do occasionally hit some remote roads (Cathedral Valley/Baker Ranch Rd in UT) and plan to hit places on the AZ strip (like Torroweap) at some point, so I do want a tire with a pretty tough sidewall. Both the S/T Max and the BFGs have a stronger sidewall than the AT3's.
Also, can I use the BFG's as spares if I do go with one of the Cooper tires or do I need to pick up a 5th Cooper? They have enough tread that I could use them all as spares. I must admit, the low cost of the AT3s makes them rather appealing.
- JK is my daily driver, but I work from home, so not a lot of day to day driving.
- Live in Pittsburgh - a ton of stop and go driving when I do drive in town.
- Frequent short range highway trips (2-4 hours one way)
- Occasional mid-range trips (6-8 hours, 1-3x a year)
- 1 large trip per year - Pittsburgh to CO/UT/WY - approximately 5500 miles per trip
- Off road driving is mostly done on one trip per year to the SW and some occasional in PA (Bald Eagle State Forest or FS roads in WV)
- I never desire to be a huge rock crawler or murder, I just want to see the great scenery. My last trip is probably as difficult as I will ever go, I took the Alpine Loop from Ouray (which seemed to be a little worse than any previous descriptions I have read.) Also took a number of fairly easy trips (Alta Lakes, Last Dollar Rd. (very muddy when I drove it), East and West Dallas Creek Rds, Yankee Boy Basin, Washington Gulch Rd in Crested Butte, plus a number of FSA roads out of Crested Butte. In other words, I am not about to drive the HITR trail or Black Bear Pass.
- I haul a lightweight trailer (T@b - made by Little Guy)
I drive about 15,000 highway miles a year. The fact that I do so much highway driving is why I am leaning towards the Cooper AT3s. I did hit some pretty good water/mud holes in Colorado and Bald Eagle on the trails this year and the BFGs did very well. The holes were not terrible rutted, however. The two concerns I have about going to the AT vs. S/T's or BFG's is that I will lose an inch of height and the sidewall construction is not quite as strong. I do occasionally hit some remote roads (Cathedral Valley/Baker Ranch Rd in UT) and plan to hit places on the AZ strip (like Torroweap) at some point, so I do want a tire with a pretty tough sidewall. Both the S/T Max and the BFGs have a stronger sidewall than the AT3's.
Also, can I use the BFG's as spares if I do go with one of the Cooper tires or do I need to pick up a 5th Cooper? They have enough tread that I could use them all as spares. I must admit, the low cost of the AT3s makes them rather appealing.