Cooper S/T MAXX or A/T 3? (1 Viewer)

[John E Davies]

I need new boots for my LX450. I am currently running STT in 305/65R16 D. I want slightly narrower tires in LT285/75R16 for decreased rolling resistance and reduced weight. I am having a hard time deciding between the MAXX and the A/T 3. But neither is available in a Load D - only E. I don't need the load capability of an E rated tire.

My goal is decent winter traction so I no longer have to run snow tires, good highway manners, decent off pavement ability and decent sidewall protection. I rarely go into conditions where the 3 ply sidewall is really necessary, but I do sometimes drive on rough forest roads that have lots of sharp rocks. Rarely in deep mud.

I no longer put tons of miles on this truck - maybe 6000 per year - and can no longer justify the cost and hassle of dedicated winter tires which just get age hardened and slippery......

The A/T 3 is half an inch smaller OD and has shallower tread, and is a little lighter. I saw a set on a Tacoma yesterday, and it is a darned nice looking tire. A video promo on the 3 claims low rolling resistance, which I like. I don't know if that applies to the MAXX.

I know the A/T 3 is more civilized and probably better in winter. Can anyone comment on the two tires ability off pavement, and which would you choose as a daily driver year round in Snow Country?

A/T 3:

S/T MAXX:

BTW Cooper has an $80 off rebate for the A/T 3 but the deal does not include the S/T MAXX, good through Nov 5 2013. .... http://coopertirerebates.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ttmr2013brand

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[jwilliams]

I just bought 285 ST Maxx's. They are going to be installed this weekend. I can update with my feelings later next week. I wanted to try something different than Goodyear DT.

 

[Qball]

VS/T MAXX looks great with aggressive looking tread but AT is probably better in the snow/ice with all the sipes.

 

[wagonteeth]

I have AT3's on my 4Runner in 265 75 16 size. They have worn well, with little sign of wear and near 20,000 miles. Offroad, in the dirt they're surprisingly grippy. Can't comment on mud, but I can't imaging them being worse that a BFG AT. In the rain the grip well, with plenty of siping. I had a bit of a drifting experience on a long curvy on ramp to the highway in the rain. I was driving faster than I should have in a wet, sharp turn. The rear end started to come around. I lessened the acceleration and steered in to the spin and it straightened out very controllably.


I'd buy them again.

 

[RKFZJ80]

I have the AT 3's on my '97 (265 75 16) and they have been great. Have about 7k miles on them & they look new, had many snow days with them and they did great in all conditions, had them in the dirt and rocks a few weeks ago and they were very grippy, flexed well and never lost traction. I have not had them in the mud, highway manners are fantastic, I would recommend them.

 

[bobthebuilder]

The "emergency response" trucks at my work all have the A/T3s and from what I've heard, they've done well in all conditions. These are on a 2011 Suburban fwiw.

I recently bought a set of Cooper Discoverer ATP from Discounttiredirect.com for $165 shipped to my house. I have a few hundred miles on them but I'm impressed w how well they grip in the dry. We had some heavy rain w ponding this past week and the tires did great.

 

[John E Davies]

I have the AT 3's on my '97 (265 75 16) and they have been great. Have about 7k miles on them & they look new, had many snow days with them and they did great in all conditions, had them in the dirt and rocks a few weeks ago and they were very grippy, flexed well and never lost traction. I have not had them in the mud, highway manners are fantastic, I would recommend them.

So, have you seen any distress on the sidewalls from the rocks? That is probably my biggest concern with the A/T 3s, running on sharp rocks while aired down.....

Thanks for all the other comments. Keep them coming please. So far I am leaning toward the A/T 3s .....

 

[John E Davies]

The A/T 3s are getting stellar reviews.A few folks reported difficulty in balancing them. Here are some reviews: ....

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2727483&page=1

http://rivermud.blogspot.com/2011/06/gear-review-cooper-discoverer-at3-tires.html

http://rivermud.blogspot.com/2012/12/gear-review-cooper-at3-30000-mile-update.html

 

[RusM]

I'd go with a Hankook ATm RF10 (or whatever the current iteration is) best snow and Ice tire I've ever ran on the road. Also wears like a pigs nose and is decent offroad.

 

[John E Davies]

I'd go with a Hankook ATm RF10 (or whatever the current iteration is) best snow and Ice tire I've ever ran on the road. Also wears like a pigs nose and is decent offroad.

Thanks for the comment, but I am going to buy Coopers - one of the two mentioned earlier. If I were to buy a good "winter capable" All Terrain tire it would probably be the Nokian Rotiva AT ... but I want a common tire that I could expect to find in stock in most major towns. Neither the Hankook or the Nokian qualifies. The Coopers do.

Rats - Discount had a Labor Day sale that ended Saturday, and their stores will be closed on Labor Day. Does that make any sense...??!! I missed out on a $75 VISA card.

John Davie
Spokane WA USA

 

[John E Davies]

I went by my favorite tire store - Discount Tire - and told them that I was miffed that I had missed their Labor Day Sale by their being closed on, you know, Labor Day. The sales guy gave me a great price, $205 each) on a set of five A/T 3 tires, plus their $75 VISA card plus an $80 Cooper card. The tires will arrive in a couple of days. The only catch was that I had to pay in full at the register and mail in the forms, rather than having them processed by the store.

I'm going to sell my six year old, half worn STTs on Craigslist, and probably scrap my really old snows and sell my other wheels.

Can anyone comment on what would be a reasonable face-to-face sale price for the old tires, Discoverer STT LT305/70R16 Load D, and for the five used and beat up LX450 wheels? They are completely serviceable, but badly corroded on the inside and rock chipped on the outside. The wheel scrap value is probably about US$140.

Thanks.

Jon Davies
Spokane WA USA