Can of worms called which tire

[jaymundy]

Greetings!

I've been browsing through the tire debates here and haven't really found my question addressed. I'm debating between Cooper STTs and Kumho KL71s. I'm in Kenya and living up north, and it's the rainy season so mud tires are definitely the go. Kumhos are attractive from the price perspective (about $100 per tire less than the Coopers).

The question I never really saw addressed was how sturdy the tires are. Not wear on pavement...they won't see that much pavement. But how do they do in terms of puncture resistance and sidewall damage resistance. Also, any info on how they do with mud, sand, and dirt.

The car is a '95 HDJ81 turbo, with limited slip rear diff.

Thanks for any info!

JM

[barCruiser]

My buddy has a set of the coopers on his H1 (37's) and they are really nice. Seem to wear pretty well and grip well in all conditions. Also, they aren't too loud compared to some of the other similar tread patterns out there.

[NoMoreFires!]

I dont have any personal experiance with either but every time I see those Coopers on something I feel a little funny inside, id go with the Coopers

[blarsen]

I have the Coopers on my LX450 and they have been a great tire.. they ride very well, they have great traction and i know you don't care but they show very little wear on the Highway.
later

[Bluetribal]

I luv my Coopers as well but I am well aware of the weaker side wall. Mine took a pretty good stick in the valley of the tread near the edge and didn't puncture but if it would have been the side wall I would have been toast I think. I just don't air down as much and I have been NOTHING BUT HAPPY with these tires.... If you are very worried about sidewall strength I would go with the Toyo's

[LIVERUST]

my chief complaint with my coopers is the chunking or whatever you call it. I loose large chunks of rubber out of the tread when I'm in the rocks. They are about needing to be replaced at this point and I'm trying to decide what to do. They've worn pretty well for me, but you can certainly tell they've been off road with all the pieces missing from the tread.

[peepers]

having spent time in that mud - get the coopers. their tread design is more suited for the time of dirt and mud you will see. the khumo is a directional piece of crap. that is just my opinion though but i have seen similar tread designs perform like garbage compared to my toyos, which are similar to the coopers.

get the coopers and dont look back.

we had MTRs and used them with decent success:

[Bluetribal]

Originally Posted by LIVERUST

my chief complaint with my coopers is the chunking or whatever you call it. I loose large chunks of rubber out of the tread when I'm in the rocks. They are about needing to be replaced at this point and I'm trying to decide what to do. They've worn pretty well for me, but you can certainly tell they've been off road with all the pieces missing from the tread.

I have heard one other person have problems with chunking. Personally I have been in many different terrains, just going to Baja and I have not had a problem with that. The rocks in Ocotillo Wells, CA and Baja CA are the worst and harshest rocks I have seen besides volcanic rock. But then again I was just cruising over them on the trail and not spinning tire on them.
But if you get them from a place like Discount Tire the warranty is relatively cheap considering the overall price and I would replace them if I had any problems.

[jaymundy]

Thanks, all for the comments, very helpful! I think i'm going with the Coopers. Will post later on how they did.

Cheers!
J

[maybe_a_80...]

Originally Posted by jaymundy

Thanks, all for the comments, very helpful! I think i'm going with the Coopers. Will post later on how they did.

Cheers!
J

I talked recently with Pearson Tire Distributor here in SLC. They sell A TON (you should see the warehouse) of STs, STTs, and ST-Cs.

They have only great things to say about all three, really. They sell alot of all of these three models to the commercial gas industry in Wyoming, and those guys beat tires up and have to get through some ***t everyday. This is what they chose.