Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S?

[Twisties]

2011 Pro-4X. Will be used street, mountain highway, mountain winters, and trails (not rock crawling, not lifted, no winch).

BFG All-Terrain T/A (KO2) came on it when I bought it in July. They seem nearly new. One has evidently had an internal separation and I'm advised to change out at least two, keeping the matching tires on the same axle. I feel like they have performed well on both rocky and deep sand trails. Only a little mud, but nothing scary happened on those bits. They seem noisy and vehicle highway handling is maybe not the best, but I have no basis of comparison. They are an LT tire with a E load rating and 10-plies. They do not meet the speed rating specification, but I really can't see this is relevant.... I'm not going over 106 mph in the Xterra.

Tire Rack suggests Cooper AT3 4S, among others. While both tires are considered all-terrain, they seem considerably different to me. The Cooper's are described as

The internal construction of the Discoverer AT34Sconsists of a durable, two-ply polyester casing. A single-ply, nylon reinforcement above two high-strength steel belts further increases durability and handling response, along with providing high-speed stability.

Both tires have the mountain snowflake emblem. I guess my expectation is that the AT3 4S might have a bit better street manners. Possibly quieter and a little better handling. If I went with these, I'd probably change out all 4. That would be welcome, but would I be giving up much performance on the trails?

I usually air down to about 32 psi (measured on a hot tire, generally reading about 39-40 psi before airing down) on trails, and air back up to 39 psi (also measured hot) when returning to the street. When I recheck them cold they are generally within 1 lbs of the specified 35 psi.

Your thoughts?

 

[TerryD]

I loved my E rated Cooper AT3s. I have a set of the XLT that will be going on my Xterra soon to get rid of these stupid Nittos.

I don't know what you consider trails but the Load Es I had I regularly ran at 18psi offroad. On the street I ran them around 35-36. I put over 50k miles on a set of 5 and sold them as a streetable set to a guy for a work truck with plenty of life left.

I would want the load E for offroad use. The heavier sidewall helps protect from punctures and slices or pinching if you're aired down pretty low.

@ffxcores just made the switch to load E on his.

 

[Twisties]

We had the AT3 XLT's on our Ram 3500 Diesel that we recently sold. So I know that tire reasonably well. We thought it was a pretty good tire for the behemoth.

 

[Brunnie]

My thoughts.... Discount tires...
FalkenWildpeak A/T3WP 265 /75 R16 116T SL RBL
Item #26508

Run'em at 37 on road and 18-20 off road.

 

[MisterH]

My co-worker has Cooper Discoverer on his 2011 Pathfinder. My 2013 Xterra has General Grabber A/TX.

 

[IM1RU]

I usually air down to about 32 psi (measured on a hot tire, generally reading about 39-40 psi before airing down) on trails, and air back up to 39 psi (also measured hot) when returning to the street. When I recheck them cold they are generally within 1 lbs of the specified 35 psi.

Your thoughts?

With an E rated tire; anything from the Duratrac (which is by far the best in the snow and Ice of any of these) to the Coopers, Nitto's and Grabbers, "Airing down to 32 psi", isn't airing down. I consistently, and constantly air down to 15 when the tire is already hot, 18 if it's going to be dirt roads in good condition. (actually 12 psi on the Grabbers)

I have never blown a bead, I have never had a sidewall issue, I have run multiple sets of of BFG TA KO's and Duratracs, one set of General Grabber 3, and now have Nitto Ridge Grapplers. I've run 70 plus trails in Moab most multiple times (I've lost track), lead multiple trails for Gone for multiple years, run every Funtreks trail in the Ouray area at least 3-4 times, and countless other miles on dirt from graded to extreme. Have run at least 20k-25k miles on dirt / rock in my 2011 likely more.

My advice, buy a tire that will do all well, and none great. Over the course of a Nissan Hardbody truck, a Jeep Liberty, and 2 Xterra's from 1992 until now, my choice for "all around" is the Duratrac, if you can get over the fact they wear faster. Next is the Nitto Trail Grappler, but I haven't had them in the snow yet (much better wear, and far less chunking than the Duratrac). The Grabbers excelled off road and down right killed it in the mud, and sucked ass on road. The BFG's wore like steel, and suck donky dongs in the snow and ice, and IMO were just ok on the slickrock of Moab.

Not to rain on any particular parade, but those Cooper AT3's are some corporate pencil pushers idea of an AT tire. While they may have the tread depth, they lack any real side wall lug. The siping should make them reasonable or better in the snow, but that's an all season tire with another name. That said, depending on your needs, it may be just the ticket.

Think long and hard about the REAL use they are going to get. There are no tires that excel in all conditions, but there are some that will do it all and get you home.

 

[Prime]

12-15 psi is wheeling pressure.

 

[Prime]

those Cooper AT3's are some corporate pencil pushers idea of an AT tire. While they may have the tread depth, they lack any real side wall lug. The siping should make them reasonable or better in the snow, but that's an all season tire with another name.

This is what is holding me back from getting a set. I don't need mud tires anymore. But I want an aggressive AT. Better on the road, but still competent off road.

 

[MisterH]

With an E rated tire; anything from the Duratrac (which is by far the best in the snow and Ice of any of these) to the Coopers, Nitto's and Grabbers, "Airing down to 32 psi", isn't airing down. I consistently, and constantly air down to 15 when the tire is already hot, 18 if it's going to be dirt roads in good condition. (actually 12 psi on the Grabbers)

I have never blown a blead, I have never had a sidewall issue, I have run multiple sets of of BFG TA KO's and Duratracs, one set of General Grabber 3, and now have Nitto Ridge Grapplers. I've run 70 plus trails in Moab most multiple times (I've lost track), lead multiple trails for Gone for multiple years, run every Funtreks trail in the Ouray area at least 3-4 times, and countless other miles on dirt from graded to extreme. Have run at least 20k-25k miles on dirt / rock in my 2011 likely more.

My advice, buy a tire that will do all well, and none great. Over the course of a Nissan Hardbody truck, a Jeep Liberty, and 2 Xterra's from 1992 until now, my choice for "all around" is the Duratrac, if you can get over the fact they wear faster. Next is the Nitto Trail Grappler, but I haven't had them in the snow yet (much better wear, and far less chunking than the Duratrac). The Grabbers excelled off road and down right killed it in the mud, and sucked ass on road. The BFG's wore like steel, and suck donky dongs in the snow and ice, and IMO were just ok on the slickrock of Moab.

Not to rain on any particular parade, but those Cooper AT3's are some corporate pencil pushers idea of an AT tire. While they may have the tread depth, they lack any real side wall lug. The siping should make them reasonable or better in the snow, but that's an all season tire with another name. That said, depending on your needs, it may be just the ticket.

Think long and hard about the REAL use they are going to get. There are no tires that excel in all conditions, but there are some that will do it all and get you home.

I hated my Durtac tires. The road noise was way too much

 

[TerryD]

This is what is holding me back from getting a set. I don't need mud tires anymore. But I want an aggressive AT. Better on the road, but still competent off road.

I had no issues with my AT3s. They did all the clay and sand trails here without issue. They were quiet on the highway too. The only time I ever had to take a strap was beached on my sliders on Pott's. No tires would fix the tires not touching the ground though.

They're not the most aggressive looking tires on the road, but the newer XLT design is more aggressive.

These are the 285s on my truck that will be coming to the X in the near future.

 

[IM1RU]

but the newer XLT design is more aggressive

And has far more side wall lug to help out in those tight spots. An improvement for sure.

I hated my Durtac tires. The road noise was way too much

And I loved both sets of mine, with the exception of wear and chunking. They're soft and sticky on the slickrock of Moab, They're soft enough and have adequate siping to do well in the snow. That same softness is the reason for chunking and wear. The lugs are deep enough and spaced enough to do a near acceptable job in the mud, but not as well as the Grabbers I had (which suck bad on road). They run well on the road, and yes they have a medium amount of road noise that gets worse with wear.

To each their own. Your rig, your way. I'm in the aggressive AT / MT area of the tire world. Every tire in these ranges will have pluses, and minuses. Everyone gets to decide for themselves where their most important attributes lie. Obviously the more aggressive the tire, the more road noise there will be. Same for the opposite. Gotta decide what you you're willing to give up verses what you are not.

Which is why I said:

Think long and hard about the REAL use they are going to get.

The majority of miles on any rig but a trailer queen are on the road. For me that is certainly true, as it is my DD. BUT, and that is a big BUT, when I am out in the southern Utah desert (which I am at least 4 weeks of every year), and the weather turns rainy; having a less aggressive tire will leave me stranded. So, I have to give in on the road noise bit.

 

[IM1RU]

And just in case the OP missed it in my first post.

"Airing down to 32 psi", isn't airing down. I consistently, and constantly air down to 15 when the tire is already hot, 18 if it's going to be dirt roads in good condition.

 

[MisterH]

General Grabber A/TX

 

[Twisties]

Well, I asked on the local 4x4/trails FB group and a lot of folk are running them successfully on the trails. People have them on trucks, work trucks, Wranglers, Cherokees, etc and all express satisfaction. I also found a review based out of SLC and the reviewer ran them on mountain and sand trails in the same environments I will be in. He loved them. So, I'm leaning towards giving them a try.

Yes, I understand they are not 10-ply load range E and lack the sidewall protection features of more rugged offerings. I guess the question really comes down to if I need that, or if I can get by with something that is better on the street. Let's face it, 90% of miles will be street. Just getting to the trails, etc.

Yes, I understand that people like to air down further. We've kept it moderate, or light, as I've described, because:

1. We've had reasonable ride comfort doing it that way. Makes a big difference in that regard.
2. We've had all the performance we need.
3. We're not equipped to air back up that much. We've just got a plug in portable compressor that is only supposed to run 15 minutes without cooling down. It can add about 5 psi to each of the 4 tires in 15 minutes. I've considered getting a built in compressor or getting a second portable, but have so far been satisfied with current performance.

One thing about the 4-ply more street oriented AT tire, I suspect that I won't feel as much need to air down since the tire itself is more compliant. Another thing about the 4-ply more street oriented tire is that it probably shouldn't be aired down that much, anyway.

 

[Brunnie]

One thing about the 4-ply more street oriented AT tire, I suspect that I won't feel as much need to air down since the tire itself is more compliant. Another thing about the 4-ply more street oriented tire is that it probably shouldn't be aired down that much, anyway.

Errrrnnnttt..... Wrong answer. Part of what you are airing down for is the ability of the tire to deform as you pass over rocks and other obstacles on the trail. One sharp rock through the tread and you are hosed, but if the tire is soft enough to deform it will most likely pass over that rock with no consequences. Go to youtube and educate yourself on how and why airing down is a good thing to do. Also, a good inexpensive air compressor is not that hard to come by. I have a Viair 400P, Viair compressor that is perfect for me and is inexpensive.

 

[kirk]

I hated my Durtac tires. The road noise was way too much

This. They wore terribly and got LOUD

 

[Twisties]

Also, a good inexpensive air compressor is not that hard to come by. I have a Viair 400P, Viair compressor that is perfect for me and is inexpensive.

That looks like a great value on a compressor!

 

[Twisties]

Stopped at both major tire shops in town today. One said no on the 4S for trails use, and the other advisor runs them on his mom's hunting truck, and sells a lot of them to people w/4WDs, but wouldn't recommend them for rock crawling on sharp rock. But, he says they're being discontinued. He can still get them, but the replacement will have better snow and handling performance. Coming soon.

 

[Twisties]

Ordered the Falken Wildpeak AT3 10 ply. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[Brunnie]

Ordered the Falken Wildpeak AT3 10 ply. Thanks for all the advice!

I switched from the Firestone Destination A/T to the Falkens and I can tell a world of difference. Much more stable on road, and better off-road too. I think you will like them.

 

[IM1RU]

Ordered the Falken Wildpeak AT3 10 ply. Thanks for all the advice!

And now, you can actually air down for real.

 

[TerryD]

Not my Coopers, but FWIW, out of tire contact long before I ran out of grip.

 

[Twisties]

Well, I'm about 400 miles into the Falkens. Huge improvement over the BFG All-Terrain T/A (KO2). So much quieter, and I no longer feel like the vehicle has suspension problems. Handling is much improved. Had them on easy dirt once, but it was wet with some mud and wet leaves, and they felt very sure footed.

 

[TheCrabby1]

All though I went from the Falken AT3W to the Falken MT01s , I'm gonna go back to the AT3W's when the checking account let's me as I've had enough of the noise .