Cooper Tyres - opinions sort

**PCH** · 2nd June 2005, 04:26 PM

My problem is tyre choice for the D3.

Firstly the 18" rims are silly for a 4WD when you cannot get any off-road tyres or even snow chains to fit.

So I'm thinking very seriously to go down in rim size to a 17*8". I can get a rim but it needs the centre spigot machined out to fit the hub on the discs of the D3.

I've only found the following 2 tyres which are very close to the OEM tyre size which is decent for off road and has the a better load rating (109 up to 119) but has a slightly lower speed rating (V down to Q).

Cooper Sure Trac S/T 245/70R17 - 60% road/sand & 40% dirt/mud
Cooper STT 245/70R17 - 20% road/sand & 80% dirt/mud

These tyres are only 1.5% bigger than the OEM's. The speedo will then be accurate.

I have heard the Sure Trac S/T is quiter than the STT but they will be noiser than a road tyre. I have to live with that. My initial preferecne is to go with the Sure Trac S/T because I will do more road driving than mud driving so the Sure Trac S/T would be better from that perspective.

What have people experienced with tyres? The STT being fairly new maybe there isn't much comment yet.

I'd love to know peoples opinions. Please don't tell me other brands are better etc... because I can't find another brand with a similar sized tyre.

Thanks Chris

**LRHybrid100** · 2nd June 2005, 04:31 PM

thought there was an option to put Goodyear MTR's on the D3?

Afterall the G4 Disco3 has them!!!

LRH

**101RRS** · 2nd June 2005, 04:48 PM

What tyres does your D3 have on it?

**Ace** · 2nd June 2005, 06:25 PM

From all accounts, and the research i did when looking for my new tyres the S/T is a top tyres but chips easily when you are driving on loose rocky tracks. If you are worried about the chipping go the STT, its a softer compound so will wear out quicker, but it wont chip. Also its a mud tyre so you will loose handling on road, especially wet roads. Matt

**PCH** · 2nd June 2005, 08:27 PM

Originally posted by LRHybrid100
thought there was an option to put Goodyear MTR's on the D3?

Afterall the G4 Disco3 has them!!!

LRH

The Goodyear MTR's are in 19" - 255/55R19. 55 series can't be good for off-road. Also they aren't available in Australia.

The standard Goodyears on the 18" rims are the Wrangler HP 255/60R18 V-rated with a load index of 112. They are classifies M&S but really they are a road tyre only.

Chris

**VladTepes** · 2nd June 2005, 08:42 PM

As far as the tread pattern goes the ST is akin to the BFG A/T (perhaps slightly more aggresive) - which I'd suggest would be the sort of tread to suit the bulk of driving you describe. The STT has been around for a while but yes, there is now an 'updated' version with better rubber compound. The tread pattern is aggressive even for a Mud Terrain - probably overkill for most situations. This is assuming you are intending on finding one tyre to keep on the car (rather than having seperate road and off-road sets). If this is a correct assumption I'd go the ST.

**PCH** · 2nd June 2005, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by VladTepes
As far as the tread pattern goes the ST is akin to the BFG A/T (perhaps slightly more aggresive) - which I'd suggest would be the sort of tread to suit the bulk of driving you describe. The STT has been around for a while but yes, there is now an 'updated' version with better rubber compound. The tread pattern is aggressive even for a Mud Terrain - probably overkill for most situations. This is assuming you are intending on finding one tyre to keep on the car (rather than having seperate road and off-road sets). If this is a correct assumption I'd go the ST.

Vlad thanks for the comments.

I think I'd end up using one set for off-roading but if my off-road trips start to be extend interstate then I'd hate to drive for long stretches with noisy tyres on bitumen even though they are more superior in muddy conditions. I'd use the road tyres most of the time around town.

Chris

**rmp** · 3rd June 2005, 04:58 PM

Chris go for the STs or ST-Cs. See another a thread a while back about this exact topic. The ST* tyres aren't the quietest, but in a modern Disco noise won't be a problem anyway. The onroad handling is fine.

**DirtyDawg** · 3rd June 2005, 07:25 PM

I have Cooper ST's on my Disco and the only fault I have found is their not too good on the road in the wet towing a trailer.... :?
They haven't chipped whilst rock hopping and I rarely have to adjust tyre pressure for sand... Yes I will buy them or ST-C's again..

**Ace** · 3rd June 2005, 08:41 PM

Originally posted by VladTepes
As far as the tread pattern goes the ST is akin to the BFG A/T (perhaps slightly more aggresive) - which I'd suggest would be the sort of tread to suit the bulk of driving you describe. The STT has been around for a while but yes, there is now an 'updated' version with better rubber compound. The tread pattern is aggressive even for a Mud Terrain - probably overkill for most situations. This is assuming you are intending on finding one tyre to keep on the car (rather than having seperate road and off-road sets). If this is a correct assumption I'd go the ST.

Hi vlad, i looked at coopers, like you all know, in the end i got Mickey Thompsons. The STT is the brand new tyre, the S/T is the one that has been around a while, the new version of that is the S/T-C which is the same as the S/T but a softer compound aimed at reducing the chipping reported by people using the standard S/T. Matt

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