time for tires....cooper?

[Twisted Copper]

Currently using my XJ as a DD, I recently switched from Goodyear MT/R's to Cooper ST's in the 265x75x16 (32x10.50) size. They kind of bridge the gap between a mudder and an all-terrain:

Big improvement on the road in all conditions (siping helps), and a much better ride, but haven't hit the trail with them yet. They have a better tread pattern than BFG AT/KO's for mud (outside lugs are slightly larger and further apart), but not as aggressive as a mudder. Hopefully they will do better in the mud than the BFG AT's I had on a YJ a few years ago, as they left much to be desired in that department.

 

[Eagle]

I have run the original Cooper Discoverer (which is what they now call the LT, I believe) and I think they are the best all-around A/T type tire on the market. They work well in snow and they work pretty well on trails. (They are not an all-out mud tire, but Cooper makes a different tire for that.) And they last forever.

Despite rumours that they will be discontinued, AFAIK they are still available. Cooper now also offers a Discoverer A/T, which comes with a 50,000 mile tread life warranty where the original Discoverer LT has no tread life warranty. I have heard good things about the new A/T but never tried them. If I were buying new today, I might have to worry a bit but I think I would go with the originals again.

Either way, I think Coopers are good tires, reasonably priced, and made in the USA. I don't think you would regret buying either one.

 

[Rescue xj]

Im doing a set of Firestone Discoverer ATs at the suggestion of my tire guy/former assistant scoutmaster. Hes been doing tires for almost 30 years, and professes them to be the best AT he has.

 

[asatxj]

I have mastercraft Courser LT (cooper family like the last pic above). They wear well and have handled everything I've thrown at them. Good on the pavement and even able to pull a severely overloaded boat out of a "boat ramp" that was nothing more than loose sand without getting stuck. For my next set it's the new STT's or one of the Mickey ATZ/MTZ family (made by cooper also according to the local tire guy)

 

[lighthouse jim]

. For my next set it's the new STT's or one of the Mickey ATZ/MTZ family (made by cooper also according to the local tire guy)

Can anyone add input to this? I'm shopping for tires too and I like to buy American made, not just American named..

 

[HeightsHoustonXJ]

Can anyone add input to this? I'm shopping for tires too and I like to buy American made, not just American named..

To me it depends on what is important to you because the question isn't as easy as it used to be 30 years ago. Is it more important to buy from an American-owned company or that the tire itself is made in America?

There are Cooper tires made in other countries, there are Michelin-owned brands of tires made by US workers in America. So what's the most important, that American workers are working or that the tires you buy are built by a US-based company?

Me, I've softened my view in the past few years. At some point I stopped caring who owned a company (say, like Daimler owning Jeep) and became more interested in whether the product itself was made in America.

 

[mikereid350]

i have a set of cooper at 31x10x15 i use them for winter(snow) tires only they are a good street tire and little bit off road but they puncture easy if used on rocky trails or on gravel roads with crushed rock....it your not a big off roader this tire is good

 

[Atl XJ]

Im doing a set of Firestone Discoverer ATs at the suggestion of my tire guy/former assistant scoutmaster. Hes been doing tires for almost 30 years, and professes them to be the best AT he has.

They're pretty good tires, especially for the money, but he's an idiot if he recommends them over Revos.

 

[Atl XJ]

I like my Yokohama Geolandar AT II's. Great in the snow and look good too. I complained about the soft ride a while back but now I like it.

How do you feel about their wet weather traction? I found mine to be horrible in the rain. I had trouble getting traction when accelerating, I had to feather touch the pedal to keep from spinning the tires, and pulling out into traffic was nearly impossible. I often wished that I had selectrac for driving in the rain. They locked up way too easily when braking too. I got rid of them well before they were worn out because I couldn't deal with it anymore. I hated them that much.

I have Revos now, there isnt an A/T tire on the market that can compare with their wet traction. I've run several different A/T brands over the years (BFG, Michelin, Toyo, Yokahama, etc) and they blow away the competition. I couldn't be happier with them.

 

[asatxj]

I have Revos now, there isnt an A/T tire on the market that can compare with their wet traction. I've run several different A/T brands over the years (BFG, Michelin, Toyo, Yokahama, etc) and they blow away the competition. I couldn't be happier with them.

While it is hard to beat the Revos they do have an equal that is much lower priced. Nokian Vatiiva. My BIL has Revos on his Expy and Nokians on his Super duty. Since I've put lots of miles on both I thought I'd check prices as they look similar and performed well. The Nokians were about $30 cheaper per tire so I bought them for my Expy. Excellent tire, wet traction is great, phenomenal in snow (rarely have to use awd or 4wd) and the mileage is also. I have around 25k on them and they look like they have 50k or more to go. I may even use them for DD tires on the XJ when the Mastercrafts (coopers) wear out. Check them out. Any place that sells them will give you free balance and rotate every 5k as Nokian specifies it in their warranty.
my .02 FWIW YMMV

 

[Atl XJ]

I've never heard of them, but I'll check them out, thanks.

 

[bgwyllys61]

well, i would quit bs'n around, and just buy the cooper discoverer stt's ive got a set on my tow rig, and they have shown zero wear in 5000 miles, and its alot heavier than the xj.....ive played with it some, and have no complaints about them at all. they work well in any terrain including the just starting to rain wet pavement....im probably going to get a set for my wifes xj, and if my swampers ever wear out, might get a set of 35s for mine.....just my opinion, but out of all the different tires ive had, i would strongly reccomend the STTs

 

[Atl XJ]

Honestly, I've heard a lot of good things about Coopers and if I was on a budget I think I would give them a shot.

 

[Rescue xj]

They're pretty good tires, especially for the money, but he's an idiot if he recommends them over Revos.

Sorry the Transforce ATs. The transforce ATs are the number one ranked tire in their class. They blow the revos out of the water in what Ive seen in person. Ive only heard mixed reviews about the revos, and the revo ATs. They are noisey. Plus Im paying sixty eight dollars per tire.

 

[asatxj]

Sorry the Transforce ATs. The transforce ATs are the number one ranked tire in their class. They blow the revos out of the water in what Ive seen in person. Ive only heard mixed reviews about the revos, and the revo ATs. They are noisey. Plus Im paying sixty eight dollars per tire.

I just scoped those Transforce tires, nice STREET tire, I wouldn't take that tire off road unless it was just a dirt trail. I am sure they are a good tire for their purpose but a Revo or a Vatiiva are WAAAAY more aggressive and can do quite well in dirt/mud while providing good mileage and quiet riding. I'm not sure what you are driving that a Revo would be noisy but they arent. My Mastercrafts are much louder than my Vatiivas or my BIL's Revo's.
If you want some reviews on the Revo head to the FTE fourms. It's the gold standard for the Expy . We Nokian people are making some positive noise as well. For $68 per tire I would put them on a vehicle that I'm selling so I can tell the new owner that it has new tires. They look a little like the wrangler RTS that came stock on my 99. My wfe took one look at them and said "toss 'em, they look like car tires!"
I love that girl!!

 

[Atl XJ]

Sorry the Transforce ATs. The transforce ATs are the number one ranked tire in their class. They blow the revos out of the water in what Ive seen in person. Ive only heard mixed reviews about the revos, and the revo ATs. They are noisey. Plus Im paying sixty eight dollars per tire.

I think you might be a little bit confused on the Revos. There is only one tire called the Revo and its the Dueler A/Ts Revo. My Revos arent even close to loud, you can't even hear them, they arent any louder at 40K than they were new.

 

[Rescue xj]

I just scoped those Transforce tires, nice STREET tire, I wouldn't take that tire off road unless it was just a dirt trail. I am sure they are a good tire for their purpose but a Revo or a Vatiiva are WAAAAY more aggressive and can do quite well in dirt/mud while providing good mileage and quiet riding. I'm not sure what you are driving that a Revo would be noisy but they arent. My Mastercrafts are much louder than my Vatiivas or my BIL's Revo's.
If you want some reviews on the Revo head to the FTE fourms. It's the gold standard for the Expy . We Nokian people are making some positive noise as well. For $68 per tire I would put them on a vehicle that I'm selling so I can tell the new owner that it has new tires. They look a little like the wrangler RTS that came stock on my 99. My wfe took one look at them and said "toss 'em, they look like car tires!"
I love that girl!!

68 on sale, theyre awesome off road, they clear mud well and seem ok in sand. Dont knock em till you try em. I dont care about what anyone puts on fords, this is a jeep forum.

 

[javajeep]

In your position, I would agree that the Revos are probably the right tire for you. I put Bridgestone Dueller Alenza's on my wife's jeep, because she does not want or need an aggressive tread, but I was lusting for the Revos.

Check out Tirerack.com. I don't want to sound like a commercial, but there are two reasons to check them out.

First, online reviews by tire professionals and previous buyers of tires. They have ratings on wet traction, dry traction, tread wear, etc., that I used to choose tires.

Second, I bought tires from them and had them shipped to my indy shop to mount and balance them. I don't remember exactly, but I saved about $200 compared to buying the tires at the Bridgestone shop in town. This includes the Road Hazard Warranty that I purchased from Tirerack.com. I saved on the price of the tires and on mounting and balancing.