Our Cooper STT experience
Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 16:02
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Montemoo
Howdy. I know from reading recent posts that alot of people don't like Cooper tyres. We bought 6 STTs a few months back and have just done 12,000km on them. About 6,000km of that was done offroad (Kidson Track, some of the
Canning Stock Route,
Talawana Track, Old Ghan &
Oodnadatta tracks). Our tyres held up
well in regards to punctures etc, in fact we were with 6 other vehicles and the only ones who had puncture/sidewall probs were the Bridgestone tyres.
Our worst experience with the Cooper STTs is that they have worn a fair bit. We have lost about 3mm in the 12,000km so we don't see them lasting beyond 50,000 if we keep travelling the way we do.
So what am I really saying?? Our experience with Cooper STTs has been a fairly positive one, however we will seriously think about getting an A/T tyre when it's time to change again. We were lucky in that we had fairly expert advice on dropping tyre pressures etc for our driving conditions. I believe this plays a huge part in the way your tyres will perform.
Reply By: Member - Craig D (SA) - Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 16:31
Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 16:31
Hi Montemoo,
I agree that the Coopers get a fair bagging here, but I'll back up your observations as I, too, have the STTs. I have recently done the Oodnadatta/Simpson/
Birdsville run, using pressures that work for me and I had no troubles whatsoever. In fact, the grip on the dirt tracks was quite phenomenal compared to my older BS A/Ts.
My rears are showing some very minor cuts but the fronts look like new still.
As you say - it's all in the pressures :)
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260515
Reply By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 17:10
Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 17:10
I think most of the bagging has been about the AT -
mine was anyway .
I will never have anymore problems with them though .
Willie
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Willem - Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 17:13
Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 17:13
As I have said before on the
forum.....Coopers are good on sand, gravel and bitumen but not so good on off track excursions. I suppose I expected too much from them.
Good to hear that you have had positive results from them but the tracks you have travelled are pretty free from stakeable material
Cheers
AnswerID:
260528
Follow Up By: Montemoo - Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 22:26
Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 22:26
Yeah we went out playing when we first got the STTs. Lots of rock and shale and they got pretty badly cut up. As we are travelling Oz we decided to give them a go, hubby usually runs Wranglers when he is playing.
I beg to differ about the tracks being pretty free from stakeable material. The Kidson and Canning, through to the Gunbarrel all have alot of Mulga on them which is a nightmare for tyres. not to mention the dog spikes on the Old Ghan, it was like running the gauntlet at the beginning of the track. Needless to say others got stakes but not us, the BF Goodrich tyres on other cars held up
well too.
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Follow Up By: Willem - Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 22:44
Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 22:44
Well I have been on all the tracks you have mentioned and have never had an issue with sidewall stakes. As for Dog Spikes on the track from Finkle to Alice.... I have driven that track a number of times and never even seen a spike. Just lucky, I guess. All my multiple punctures have come from driving cross country. I have reverted to Crossply tyres and run MRF Super Tractions with no punctures off track to date. Mind you, every tyre is stakeable...lol
Cheers
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Dion - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 09:26
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 09:26
Willem,
suggest you slow down to a suitable speed for this track, unless of course you are racing, and you will see there are plenty of dog spikes to dodge.
Cheers,
Dion.
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Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 10:50
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 10:50
Willem m8,
Get your glasses prescription checked ol' fella...
If there is one dog spike on the Finke road there are 10,000.
Cheers
Andrew.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 16:31
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 16:31
Hmmmm. You fellas must be driving up along the old railway line.
Never seen a spike on the Finke Track. But my last yrip there was a while ago. Maybe they have resurfaced after being buried for years. Maybe some seeded the 10,000 spikes. Maybe I'm just a lucky traveller. Glasses are OK
young fella. Sit on 40kmh on the track and bounce along. Geez this is a weird post
Cheers
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Follow Up By: Montemoo - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 19:27
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 19:27
Yeah we did the Old Ghan which was along the old railway track. At the north end of the track there are dog spikes everywhere, they think out as you go along but they are still on the track and further down they start to get plentiful again.
Had a blast and as I said, no stakes or punctures.
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Reply By: Member - Tim - Stratford (VIC) - Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 19:09
Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 19:09
Montemoo,
I've had a similar experience with the ST's on a heavily loaded 100s.
No punctures, a fair bit of chipping in the High Country - but 80% worn with only 42,000ks - I reduce pressure off-road too.
Tim
AnswerID:
260551
Reply By: equinox - Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 22:26
Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 22:26
Montemoo,
I also have had positve results with the STT.
After only getting them after my local supplier stuffed up my BFG M/T order I could not be happier.
Recently I went on a 7000km bush trip with almost 500 km offtrack in the Gibson. I got no punctures on tracks and only 10 punctures offtrack.
This equates to about 1 puncture offtrack for every 50 kms.
I will certainly be getting them again as they have proved themselves - "when you're onto a good thing...."
I cannot explain why most others have dramas with them. Perhaps I just got a "good batch".
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Reply By: Redback - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 08:17
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 08:17
COOPERS ARE CRAP
I got 25.000ks from my STTs, you blokes must drive very sedatlely to get good feedback from your Coopers.
I have Nankang Mudstars on now with just over 18,000ks and they look new.
I do a lot of different terrain and so far these Nankangs have been far far superior to the Coopers, my theroy is Coopers don't handle excessive wheel spin or rocky terrain.
Oh and don't go crapping on about i must be running the wrong pressure, because i told the Cooper Rep the pressures i run and he said they where fine, my STs (6000ks) were replaced by ST/Cs, the supposed new no chip (20.000ks) were then replaced with STTs under warrenty by Cooper with no complaints by the rep.
The STTs were the last straw, i could of had them replaced under warrenty too, but i didn't want to go through all the crap again, so i tossed them and got the Nankangs.
Just my experiences with Coopers.
Baz.
AnswerID:
260636
Follow Up By: Brew34.5(SA) - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 19:55
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 19:55
You tell em Baz lol..............I've never owned a set and from the reading on this site over the last few years am never likely to. I wouldn't put one on a wheelbarrow. :-)
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Follow Up By: Member - 'Lucy' - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 23:12
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 23:12
Dear Latent Pink Nissan Mafioso
Thats because you are driving a Wheelbarrow - dufus.
And
bet you wished you had a Cooper or anything other than the piece of Nissan crud that you had on the old beastie when it let go and flogged the 'nipper' to within an inch of its worthless life.
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Reply By: Lochmonster - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 08:59
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 08:59
Cooper ST's. My local Coopers dealer replaced my four stuffed tyres 'pro-rata exchange' because severe chipping of the outer lugs exposed the steel belting. Yes, I experienced wheel spin whilst negotiating rocky
hill climbs, but even with reduced tyre pressure, one would expect tearing like
mine not to occur.
As far as traction (apart from the
hill climb, but thats to be expected) I find them great. All surfaces, sand, mud, dirt, gravel, blacktop, all good. The chipping, because STT's don't come in 15 inch, I'll probably experience it again. My next tyre may
well be a different brand.
The A/T's I was told are poor. With a trip to
Cape York in two weeks, I'll be able to compare my ST's with my travelling companions A/T's. Both of us are towing campers with family's on board with new tyres travelling the same terrain. But the main thing, having a ball getting away from the rat race enjoying the Australian bush.
Tally Ho!
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Redback - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 09:41
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 09:41
I'd be interested in your comments between the 2 vehicles after you get back, like you i tow a camper and wheel spin is unavoidable in loose rocky terrain with the camper on.
Here's hoping they fair
well on your trip.
Baz.
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Reply By: Member - 'Lucy' - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 18:56
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 18:56
Montemoo
You are definitely on 'the right train' with this observation.
The only negative reports, whinges moans, sooks etc etc re Coopers, come from Nissan Fairies, Disco Dancers and Pajero pajeros.
What more can one say.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Brew34.5(SA) - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 19:57
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 19:57
Hmmmmm.........careful mate or the tyre genie will post pictures of your good self with the droopy carrrier on three legs. :)
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Follow Up By: Member - 'Lucy' - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 23:18
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 23:18
Not a problem there - post away.
She is on Generals there which will never be placed on the princess of 4WD's again.
Soon its off to the Cooper man along with the JEEP for a full set of STT's on both of them. (with inbuilt rim protector)
Only reason that Coopers aren't on it at the moment is that when I went from split rims to wider safari style the ST-C's didn't have an inbuilt Rim Protector.
I just luv Coopers and I don't give a hoot who knows.
I compromised rim proector for thin side walls with the Generals and have had nothing but slashed side wall grief ever since.
But thats show biz and life experience the hard way.
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Follow Up By: Member - 'Lucy' - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 23:20
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 23:20
Ooops forgot - if must post pic , NO plumbers crack
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Follow Up By: Member - 'Lucy' - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 23:20
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 23:20
Otherwise those Queerlander Toads will have a field day. (ROFLMAO)
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