Thread: Discovery 3 Tyres - Cooper AT3

Hi Peter,

I've had two sets of Coppers, both were fitted to a D40 Navara. The first were ST and then some STT.

ST: I took off at around 75k KMs as it was a lease vehicle and gave them to my brother who put another 15k KMs or so on them. So I would say wear life was exceptional! However, with rubber compounds wear and grip are a compromise. They were very slippery in the wet on bitumen generally but down right dangerous at the end of their life (note: they were still above the indicators when I took them off) so much so taking off at lights in the wet was an exercise of throttle control.

STT: When I fitted these I had a 2" lift done to the Navara which in hind sight effected the tyre wear significantly. The STT wore alternate lugs and produced incredible road noise. So bad, I took them off with 60% life left and fitted Pirelli ATZ (these had super wet road grip) which also wore alternate 'lugs' and started to produce some road noise. So the car was the issue, not necessary the tyres. I put the STTs back on to do 5 weeks in the Kimberly (noise nearly drove my wife insane) then threw them out. They, like the ST were poor in the wet on road, but off road (where they are designed for) no problems.

Generally: Both sets were bashed around all sorts of terrain at all pressures but neither failed. We towed our Adventure camper all through the Kimberly without a puncture. The STT needed lower pressures to achieve the same 'footprint' but generally ran them at 12psi on the sand without issues. Wet road grip: poor. Dirt grip: good. Wear: Very good.

When I threw the STTs out I swore I'd never buy another set of Coopers, however with some rational consideration of the conditions they were operated under I would now consider them when buying my next tyres.

I hope this helps. This is my two bobs worth but as you say, others will have different opinions.

Apart from my other issues with them (documented elsewhere, old batch) I found the onroad handling in the wet on my early ST's to be absolute rubbish. Got to the point where I knew exactly how far the front was going to slide when it started to rain. Ended up with D694s on my D2, and loved them.

thanks for the input guys. totally agree about the compromise and tyre wear and handing being closely linked.

I do hardly any offroad, bout the D3 for its ability to be filled up with my model planes and tow a trailer with more model planes. Ocassionally got loaded for weekends away and has had a couple of trips to straddy to drive up and down the beach.

so road handling is paramount and as I'm in Brisbane the summer storms mean wet weather handing is vital.

From that aspect alone I'm happy to accept less tyre life for obtaining exceptional wet weather grip. the Pirellies have very good weat weather performance. Think I have gotten over 40,000 out of this last set so not too bad.

cheers
P

I got my D3 in September, with it came a set of Cooper AT/3 265/60/18.

The tyres have approx 6mm tread left, so almost 50% worn. No way would I ever get them again! In the wet I can't go around a round about without DSC telling me I'm a retard. They really are that bad. Tread wear over the time I've had them seems pretty good, but hard compound corresponds with poor grip. In the dry they've been quite fine, and haven't had them properly off road.

The next set will be Yoko AT/S, which are fitted to our L322 and have been very good at a similar stage of wear.

We've had cooper HT plus in the same size, and they did the same thing once hey wore about 50%, but also compromised the car to such an extent we considered selling it thinking it was stuffed.

I'm not a mechanic or tyre salesman by any means, but the difference is significant

I have had Cooper A/T3 265/65 R17 LT on for 50000k.
They are almost completely worn & will be replaced next trip home.
When they were new/newish they were great. Good wet & dry roadholding, quiet, good on gravel & good for an A/T in the mud (At least I think they were, the car is kinda good in mud anyway).
After the first 30000k things started to go down hill pretty quickly, wet grip went off, got more noise & the gravel became slippery all of a sudden.
But I have had no flat tyres with them & only 1 bad cut in the tread.


I would not put them on again, I think. In fact I'm going down market to GT Radial Savero A/T Plus LT. I'm told I won't get 50000k more like 35 or 40 but the price difference has swayed me.
Jonesfam