Site Search
Print Page Setup Profile Login
Section Image

18" Coopers in the High Country

Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 08:18

Wayne (NSW)

Coopers are trying a new compound and I had the opportunity to try the tyres in the Vic High Country last week.

The tyres are 275x65x18" S/T. The same rolling diameter as a 265x75x16" but have a lower side wall.

I did notice that when the Troopie was pushed hard into a corner there was not as much body roll.

On the tracks in the VHC I could not feel any difference. They got the Troopie through with out any trouble, and at the end of the trip there was no sign of chipping or cuts on the tread. The trip was not long enough for a true test but for the time that I had the tyre on they were good.

I also asked Terry Smith from Coopers if the STT were the best tyre for what I am doing. He said that the ST/C would be a better option because of the compound. When I get the new tyres for next years trip I will go for the ST/C and see how they go.

While I was down in Bright I got talking to a bloke about the Canning Stock Route. He said that he wanted to do the trip but because he had been on the Great Central Road and the Tanami Track years ago in an old holden, he did not to do those roads again. I am sure the area and roads have changed in 20 years and there would be something new to see.

On the last VHC trip I had a bloke from Tasmanian, who in the week before, do the VHC trip with another Tour Company. The trip was basically in reverse to the way we go and some of the tracks he had been over the week before. What he did experience was seeing snow on Howitts Hut and a week later very dry and warm at the same place. Doing tracks in the opposite direction is also very different. Going down Herne Spur is a lot different than driving up it.

We also go up Billy Goat Bluff Track and call in to the fire tower. Norm, who looks after the tower, was busy spotting fires but still took time out to show the group how the fire spotting works in the area. A lot of the fire are started by lighting strikes but there are a few that are deliberately lit. If you get up there make sure you call in to the tower and say G-Day to Norm and he will show you the best office view in Australia.

Rob, the bloke from Tasmanian, drives a Discovery 3. A 2.7 Turbo diesel mid spec Disco. The air suspension lifted the vehicle when the going got tough, but if he went too fast in low range with the suspension raised a chime would rind out and a message on the dash would tell him to slow down or else the suspension will be lowered. I don't know if I like a on board computer telling me to slow down when I am in low range.

I did get to have a drive of the vehicle and the traction control in that vehicle worked extremely well. The vehicle did lift wheels but it the vehicle kept moving, and going down some rutted tracks the vehicle didn't run away but was held back by the gearbox even though it is a automatic.

At the time I was looking at getting another vehicle and thought about the Discovery 3, for about 30 seconds and then snapped back to reality. If they could make a Troopie with its motor and the traction control of a Discovery 3. That vehicle would be worth a test drive.

Wayne
Canning Stock Route 2009
Click Image to Enlarge
Good - Better - Best
Never Let It Rest
Till Your Good Is Better
And Your Better Best

VKS Mobile 2292
Advertisement
ThreadID: 40011 Replies: 5
Views: 688 FollowUps: 14
This Thread has been Archived
Thread Summary
Thread Watch Back To Forum Alert Moderator FAQ
AnswerID: 208303   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 10:40

Member - Arkay (SA) replied:

Did the Tanami a couple of years ago. Halls Creek to Alice Springs. We owned Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater on our own overnight. Don't know if that was safe now they've made that movie! There is quite a bit of truck traffic Alice to Tanami Gold mines so the track is now a road. The rest of it would normally have been a doddle were it not for the fact that there was 4" of rain while we were overnight at Wolfe Creek. Tilmouth Well was excellent place to stay over about 50km to (or from) the end of the bitumen from Alice Springs. try not to have to rely on getting fuel between Alice and Halls Creek, or if you do need fuel carefully research opening times and availablilty, Yuendumu, Rabbit Flat, Billiluna. The operator at Rabbit Flat can be "interesting", or was. IMHO you could currently easily traverse the Tanami Road in an old Holden at the right time of year.
If you're not living on the edge you're taking up too much space
Reply 1 of 5
AnswerID: 208318   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 12:58

Big Kidz (Andrew & Jen) replied:

So the ST/C's are better for what you are doing than the STT's because of the compound? What are you planning to do - what sort of trip?

On Coopers website under the STT's it says this....
"Australia played a pivotal role in the development of the new STT tread compound. Cooper analysed the results of a prototype set of STT's that were especially sent to Australia and were tested in an outback trip across Australia and back. Cooper also analysed feedback on the Cooper ST-C cut and chip compound tyre that was specially developed to achieve greater mileage on Australia's coarse rocky roads to develop the compound for the new STT."

Also says it is a "specially developed cut, chip and tear resistant tread compound".

Interesting that Terry would think that the ST/C's were better for what you were doing which I would imagine is outback stuff. I wonder what the feedback was about the ST-C's that they used to make the compound for the STT's considering that they consider the STT's inferior still.

Andrew
Yes - Luke's got a bigger one than me
Click Image to Enlarge
2001 Landcruiser 100S Turbo Diesel
"We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing"
Reply 2 of 5
AnswerID: 208327   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 14:33

Redback replied:

Coopers are crap, pure and simple.
Reply 3 of 5
FollowupID: 468344   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 19:57

Willem posted:

Yerrrrrr...ya right there, mate......LOL
Karoo Jackal
Click Image to Enlarge
Willem

There is more than one way to get a rabbit

FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 468534   Submitted: Monday, Dec 04, 2006 at 17:45

Eric from Cape York Connections posted:

What I think is funny they keep trying these new compounds and new methods of making the same tyre but advertise they are the best tyre on earth.
I have personly heard more bad things than good about coopers.
I have also seen the results of coopers after one trip to the cape and back.

All the best
Eric
Cape York ConnectionsCape York Connections
Member: Lapsed Membership
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 468552   Submitted: Monday, Dec 04, 2006 at 18:57

Redback posted:

I think instead of bringing out new tyres they should sort out the bloody tyres they have out now, first!!!!!!!!
FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 208350   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 17:11

GaryInOz (Vic) replied:

I wouldn't go ANYWHERE offroad with anything less than a 75 series tyre. They are making these 65 series for the SUV market, not the 4WD market if you understand the difference. By the time you air down to prevent punctures in the tread, you end up causing punctures in the sidewalls from pinching.

Sure, they handle well on road, but if all you are going to do is drive on road then you really don't need an aggressive tyre tread, or for that matter a 4WD................
Reply 4 of 5
Activities Index
Blues Harmonica Fundamentals - NSW Blues Harmonica Fundamentals - NSW
Sydney - NSW
Love the sound of blues harmonica music but don't know where to start?
Helicopter Flight - Just the Alice - 10 minutes Helicopter Flight - Just the Alice - 10 minut
Alice Springs and Central Australia - NT
Exciting from lift off to touchdown, take to the sky in one of our bubble-cabined Bell 47 helicopter
Blue Mountains with Lunch (Tour 234) Blue Mountains with Lunch (Tour 234)
Sydney - NSW
A full day in the Beautiful Blue Mountains.
Dolphin and Seal Swim Dolphin and Seal Swim
Mornington / Bellarine - VIC
Swimming with wild dolphins and seals is an awesome experience.
Book Now - Things To Do
AnswerID: 208372   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 18:27

Gerhardp1 replied:

I think it's encouraging to see a tyre (tire?) manufacturer build a tyre for the upmarket market.

There are many superb 4WDs sometimes labelled SUV by people who won't come of age. For example, Mercedes ML, BMWXx, AudiQ7, etc.

These vehicles have superb engines, suspensions, electronics and comfort, and only need tyres to complete the picture. (And maybe a snorkel available.)

Some of the owners of those vehicles probably don't want to scratch the paint, but do want to travel the high country, Cape York, Outback trails, etc.

To have a suitable tyre for this is the way to go. A 65 profile just re-inforces that these vehicles are not from the last century.
Reply 5 of 5
FollowupID: 468315   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 18:50

GaryInOz (Vic) posted:

Mercedes ML, (no suspension travel, too much plastic "protection")
BMWXx, (PMSL, no low range, no wheel travel)
AudiQ7, (as for BMW)....

Even my crappy little Kia could outdo any of them off road.

But they will all get you to 100km/h in less than 8 seconds (SO F'N WHAT!!!!)

Let's see how they do the Simpson (French line)....Good thing is it will be a VERY short tow back to their starting point.

The real point of the Euro wagons you mention is they are SOLELY for getting to and from the snowfields on made roads. Absolutely unsuited in any capacity for the terrain and heat of the Australian outback. Ditto for the tyres and profiles. Useless POS's, all of them.
FollowUp 1 of 11
FollowupID: 468317   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 18:59

Gerhardp1 posted:

Even my crappy little Kia could outdo any of them off road. (SO F'N WHAT!!!!)

No need to take offense because someone is providing for a market you can't afford :)
FollowUp 2 of 11
FollowupID: 468319   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 19:03

GaryInOz (Vic) posted:

Even my crappy little Kia could outdo any of them off road. (SO F'N WHAT!!!!)

No need to take offense because someone is providing for a market you can't afford :)

No need to prance around this forum hinting at your affluence all the time either.....

And I still stand by the LOGIC of what I have said (as distinct from taking offence at your statements)
FollowUp 3 of 11
FollowupID: 468320   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 19:05

GaryInOz (Vic) posted:

Yeah some people actually buy 4WD's to do more than negotiate the speed humps outside Coles supermarket and outside their kids private school.
FollowUp 4 of 11
FollowupID: 468321   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 19:11

Gerhardp1 posted:

I have tried to work out how that last crap has anything to do with Cooper making a 65 series tyre, but it defies LOGIC.
FollowUp 5 of 11
FollowupID: 468326   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 19:17

GaryInOz (Vic) posted:

I'm still wondering what "Audi", "BMWXx", and "Mercedes ML" were doing in the same sentence as "4WD" PMSL!!!!!
FollowUp 6 of 11
FollowupID: 468329   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 19:27

Gerhardp1 posted:

Again, I have tried to work out how that last crap has anything to do with Cooper making a 65 series tyre, but it defies LOGIC.

The original post was to do with a 265/65-18 tyre. Can't figure how that has anything to do with private schools and Coles.
FollowUp 7 of 11
FollowupID: 468331   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 19:35

GaryInOz (Vic) posted:

.....or Audis, BMW's, or Mercedes Benz either for that matter.......
FollowUp 8 of 11
FollowupID: 468334   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 19:42

Gerhardp1 posted:

I used some logic and figured these tyres were aimed at the vehicles which come with 18" wheels. That means Audis, BMW's, or Mercedes Benz etc. but not necessarily limited to them.

You wouldn't use these tyres on anything that comes with 15" or 16" or 17" wheels because they would need 18" rims which would very probably be illegal.

FollowUp 9 of 11
FollowupID: 468340   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 19:52

Wayne (NSW) posted:

Just to add my two bobs worth.

The Discovery 3 that was on the trip with us had 18" tyres. It did brake the hard plastic rear mud flap off but it went every where the other vehicles went and with less wheel spin.

I have also seen Mercedes M Class cross the Simpson Desert.

The new Pajero will have 18", as well as the new Land Cruiser.

The only reason, I think, that they have gone to the bigger rims is to get bigger brakes and better traction control.

Wayne
Canning Stock Route 2009
Click Image to Enlarge
Good - Better - Best
Never Let It Rest
Till Your Good Is Better
And Your Better Best

VKS Mobile 2292
FollowUp 10 of 11
FollowupID: 468341   Submitted: Sunday, Dec 03, 2006 at 19:54

GaryInOz (Vic) posted:

Stiil like chocolate pizza. Both good in their own right (Low profile for handling, off road tread for ability) but it doesn't really mean they make much sense when put together, as the ideal of one side of the equation is diametrically opposite the ideals of the other.

Quite simply you NEED sidewall flex on 4WD tyres for safety, grip and floatation, but you do not have sidewall flex on low profile tyres (by design).
FollowUp 11 of 11