Cooper Tires

This seems to be a more and more reported problem with Coopers across various forums but I think that the amount of tyres that are out there I doubt if they are any worse than the other top brands. Quite a few RV's look to be going over to Mickey Thompson tyres and some even claim they are better than Coopers..


Cheers
Merv

Once bitten, twice shy, here!

For starters I love Toyo Open Country M/T's and think they are one of the best allround 4x4 tyres available....... quiet, handle well (on/off/wet/dry) and are mega strong in construction, but they don't do a tyre size to suit out 200 series in Australia.

We needed some tyres and one of a few that sounded good was Mickey Thompson MTZ.... all the magazines rave about them and they have a big following amongst the 4x4 world....... after using them for about 20,000k I can to the conclusion 1)advertising dollars speak louder than fact 2) these 4x4ers how love and rave about them know very little about a good 4x4 tyre....... they were a disgusting tyre verging on the edge of being dangerous, wear was poor and the noise was unbearable.

After the 20,000k stint with the below average MTZ's I went looking for another tyre and thought of going to an aggressive A/T over a M/T....... liked the look of the Cooper ST MAXX and read some good reviews, they seemed to tick all the right boxes.

Have a friend who manages mining vehicle outfitters company here in SA and he has a lot of 4x4 product experience including a long stint at a leading 4x4 accessory retailer/manufacturer.

He has a 200 series which has the ST Maxx's fitted and we borrowed that one day to see what the were like, we were very surprised in the way they performed and the low road noise was a high priority for us.

We got a set of S/T MAXX's fitted and the following week did a 3000k trip over the the Gawler Ranges here in SA..... we had a good mix of all types of road conditions including a 80km drive on 4 inch wet muddy slippery clay.

We are trying something different with theses tyres but not buckling to the trend of lowering tyre pressure for most of our driving (unless in soft sand or very rocky outcrops), we are running about 42psi in the front and 44 in the rear (sure I'm going to get some comments).

After having these tyres for nearly 20,000k with 14,000k being off road I am really happy with them, still very quiet for an aggresive A/T, handle all terrain very well and with ease, are wearing even and have no signs of chipping or lug damage.

How many K's I will get out of them is not a big concern but I would expect 60-80,000k.

AS a very good all round tyre I would rate them highly and much better that the MTZ's even in mud.

As for the above comment about more Copper sold than any other brand vs damage.... I would agree, even years ago when we used Cooper ST/C's the general conception was they are were no good, we had a good run out of the ST/C but they had very soft side walls leading to damage.

With the ST Maxx's you will be very happy.

Hi,

I have the Cooper S/T Maxx & am happy with them. I've done almost 40,000kms on them, approx. 1/3rd off road, with no problems and so far they look in good condition.
Olcoolone mentions above about running them at what looks like fairly high tyre pressures but I think I agree with him. I've been running mine recently at 37 - 38 but think they need a bit more.

One thing is for sure, Cooper and Micky Thompson, spend a lot of money on advertising and they throw a hell of a lot of tyres at 4wd personalities.

If you read the magazines and watch the videos, you'd think that every man and his dog was running one or the other.

If you get out there and see what real people have on the vehicles you will see a very wide range of tyres.
In mud terrain around here the biggest following by far is the BFG KM2.

and there are plenty running a variety of other brands. like Maxxis.

Now all these compaines that have some sort of...um...problem... with a product will sprout the old chestnut....we have no more problems than any other brand.....OH BS.

Anybody see post after post on various forums with BFG having problems with premature failure.

Even the Ching Shin rubber company..makers of Maxxis, know enough about making tyres not to stuff up a rubber compound...AND let it go to market.

But Cheng Shin have been making tyres quite a while and actually wholly own factores and research facilities.

Then you have the issue that neither Cooper nor Micky Thompson make a full range of tyres in sizes.,,or at least we don't see them.

Sorry not impressed by Cooper / Micky Thompson / Dick Cepek / Kenda ...why does the one company need to sell tyres under so many names in the same market

Check around, look at the price V quality v service that is available.

cheers

Aren't Coopers Tires made in India now?
That might explain a few things.

Hi Iceman,

I have just replaced the ST Maxx on my cruiser with the same again.

I, unfortunately, probably do most of my driving on bitumen, but Strezleki, Oodnadatta and Birdsville track were all done in the first month of use, as well as other off road trips.

They travelled 90,000klms trouble free in just under two years and are now adorning my camping trailer, with still legal tread depth.

I was always a fan and user of BFG at's, until I had a set delaminate a few years ago and was told that if you run them under inflated there is no warranty. Great for an off road tyre!

Not saying they are the best choice, but I am happy with their performance on my vehicle.

I have been a member on this site since about 2004 and was a visitor here long before that.

For as long as I can remember there have been, at times heated, debates about tyres. Back in 1999 I had a poor experience with Coopers. Following that I ran about 4 or 5 sets of BFG All Terrains and was always happy. Except the last set which scrubbed out and started to shed tread blocks in less than 27,000km. I would have persisted with BFGls but the dealer abused me when I showed him the dodgy set.

Following that episode I reluctantly tried another set of Coopers. That was in 2004 and I have not bought another brand since. I ran ST/Cs all that time and never had what I would call a problem. I did have a couple of punctures but picking up nails etc is not a fault of the tyre. I had similar issues with BFGs.

I have just put a set of ST Maxx on the car. Its too early to tell if they are any good or not but I have no reason to doubt them. I have a good friend who is on his second set and loves them.

What I don't understand is the passion that seems to surround the argument. Why do people feel the need to bag one brand or the other?

Sure tyres are a big investment but I spend my money not yours so why does this subject more than any other generate so much passion?

So Iceman I reckon you should by the ST Maxx but if you try something else thats cool. Let us know how they go.

Duncs

Well I would like to thank everyone for their input into my thread on Cooper Tyres. I think at the end of the day it does come down to personal choice. I think I will follow Duncs advice and will be getting a set of ST Maxx and I'm sure they will be as every bit as good as my ST's I have on my Patrol now.


Once again thank you all for your informative inputs. This is a good site for answering queries and getting advice.

Regards,

Iceman

Hi Iceman,
put 2 new A/T 3 on 4 mths ago.I am very impressed with the noise factor,they are very quite and the tread pattern is great.Handles well,only have them on the front at the moment.should get another 4 out of the old st's.Haven't done any serious off rd yet.