Thread: D4 19inch COOPER Zeon LTZ 255 55 19

I've had the coopers for about 5000 miles now and am so far very pleased. Fuel economy is slightly improved over Pirelli scorpions, no noticeable noise increase, dry road handling is good and a little more absorbant than scorpions probably down to increased rubber, not much chance to check wet handling as it hardly ever rains in the uk. I've done a couple of off road events and they've done the job very well, although I'm still learning the ropes so nothing to hardcore as yet. Also they look great, which is obviously the main reason I got them!

I purchased the cooper LTZ a couple of months ago and have used them now in almost all conditions i will ever use a tyre in. On our lap of oz we have done the gibb, cape leveque and a few other side tracks, soft sand, many kms on bitumen and many kms now on good unsealed and bad unsealed roads both went and dry, we have done some rocky step ups etc in the Kimberley.

On the highway they seem almost as quiet as the original wranglers which is very good considering the more aggressive nature of the tread. They seem to hang on well enough in the dry in cornering and braking. In the wet on bitumen I don't think they are anything special they hold on but they are not confidence inspiring and I find myself slowing where I would not have with my previous AT tyres. On dry gravel roads they appear marginally better than the oem wranglers although I have experienced other AT tyres that are a step up again. The same goes in light muddy conditions, the tyre works but I would expect more from an AT tyre. The wear and chip resitance from gravel use is acceptable if not good as some tyres can suffer badly in this area.

As for strength and puncture resistance they are not up to the job. I am firmly of the opinion in hindsight that you need light truck tyres for fully loaded travel on gravel with a van in tow having punctured both rears on different but rocky tracks losing one as it was a non repairable puncture at a cost of $480 to replace it in Broome. I have a tpms so knew they were punctured as soon as it happened. I am now sadly avoiding unsealed roads whilst towing as I have no confidence in the tyre for my needs. The tyres may be acceptable if not towing but dont think they are any stronger than the OEM tyres.

There are 18 inch wheels available and I will go this route with LT tyres for the next trip and set of tyres.

Originally Posted by PaulGOz

The tyres may be acceptable if not towing but dont think they are any stronger than the OEM tyres.

Have to disagree with that. I have found them to be much stronger then the Wranglers, which seem to be made of cheese.

I am now on my second set of LTZs and cannot fault them. I have just hit the bitumen again today, on my way home from a trip to Coongie Lakes. Around 3000km of dirt roads of varying quality (plus a few bits of bitumen) in the last 2 weeks and not a single problem. This is on top of several trips to the High Country and a trip to the Flinders in the year or so I have been using them, all without problems.

In my experience, if using appropriate speeds and pressures, these tyres work very well.

However, I agree the 18" LTs are a much better solution.

Cheers,
Jon

Jon, appreciate the feedback just curious, have you towed (camper / off road caravan) with them off road too? (my biggest worry - although I guess the key answer is still the "right" speed and not too much tow ball weight)

Originally Posted by CSBrisie

Jon, appreciate the feedback just curious, have you towed (camper / off road caravan) with them off road too? (my biggest worry - although I guess the key answer is still the "right" speed and not too much tow ball weight)

And the correct pressure

Just reread jon3950's post again,what he said.

Originally Posted by CSBrisie

Jon, appreciate the feedback just curious, have you towed (camper / off road caravan) with them off road too? (my biggest worry - although I guess the key answer is still the "right" speed and not too much tow ball weight)

No, I don't tow off-road - hate it. I like to travel as light as possible as this improves your safety margin. Have towed a car trailer a fair bit on dirt roads without problem, but it's not the same. However, it still comes down to using the right pressure and speed, and driving to the conditions.

Remember though, you can still be unlucky and it only takes one rock to change the equation. A 19" low profile passenger tyre will always have a lower safety margin than an 18" LT in this situation. Therefore the 18" LT is always going to be the better option on rough roads.

In my experience the LTZ is a very good tyre - for what it is. However, it is very important to adjust your driving style to suit off-roading with a low profile tyre. If you do, the LTZ will get you a lot further than you might expect.

Cheers,
Jon

I lost both tyres travelling what I consider relatively slow for the conditions. In my previous d4 without trailer I would have easily been doing 80 to 90 kph on these roads I was doing about 60 kph when I lost the first i was driving very conservatively as i was running low on fuel, and 50 kph when I lost the second I had only just started on this unsealed surface and was still sussing out the conditions and the level of grip available.

My tyre pressures may have been a bit high on the rears. I have a tpms and am getting between 6 and 11psi increases in tyre pressure on the rear i dont seem to be able to find a pressure that only gives 4psi increase when warm I am seeing temperatures up to 60 degrees on the rears as well in 30 deg ambient, the tyres also look very sad at anything under 36psi on the rear so much so people stop me to till me my tyres are flat the fronts seem fine even at 28 psi which leads me to believing it is weight related and i am asking to much of this tyre on the rear. The 17 inch LTs on the trailer seem able to only experience a 4 to 6psi increase and they are carrying a few hundred kilos more each wheel than the d4 rears at similar psi. The fronts get a 4 psi increase if traveling at 110kph on bitumen at recommended pressures and seem much more at ease.

The problem I've had the the LTZ has been low pressure on rocky terrain; even though I was going slowly, had two sidewalls ripped due to rocks or staking. That's where the TPMS was invaluable, as both times were unexpected (and we were going so slowly, I didn't feel it).