Thread: Buying Cooper tyres....Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by travelrover

Bought my coopers from Tyre power on their recommendation middle of last year. They put 40lbs in each and the handling was very very dangerous. I called the Cooper support number and they said no more than 32. Why didn’t tyre power have this basic knowledge? Anyway since then I have had no issue but am now very much aware of the ‘general concern’ being aired here!

Funny that there is a lot of inconsistency coming from tyre power. Have always liked to support the independent.
Who I was originally convinced by to get Cooper over BFGs. Now my Coopers did not catastrophically fail but were close with less than 30000kms on them, why I got rid of them. Their warranty is a joke "Sorry sir you have taken them out of the metro area and off rod" Well they are an off road tyre and were purchased out in the Goldfields.
Same issues with Maxxis, The Maxxis state distributor tried to tell me the Tyrepower agent told us to run the Victra tyres at 40psi. Well that was a crock, never mentioned in 3 sets on the Staesman and 1 set on the BMW. Nothing in any of their literature or websites. Granted these tyre were at the end of their life, but still had 2mm easy above the tread wear indicators. 3/4 actually fell apart and where very dangerous, separated on the inside so you could not see and had various splits with the 4th not far behind. I was never interested in money, just about the safety and wanted Maxxis and Tyrepower to ensure that if the required pressure is 40 psi then this is conveyed clearly in their literature and a sticker actually placed on the tyre pressure placard, that is all. Ministry of Fair trading were also tooth less tyres "Stating its a he said, she said" scenario. That was incredulous to me as there is nothing in writing, so that makes that statement hearsay only. Then as in a previous post on this the bull**** started. You have modified suspension, that was the cause. The suspension is standard with only the shocks being changed for same new ones.
Then you have to run the tyres at 50psi. What rubbish 50 psi was the max for the tyre. The only thing actually stated, no min no nothing.
Mags are wrong size for the car. Statesman can have 16-19" wheels quite legally and again sold by Tyrepower with Maxxis tyres. First set no issues, set on BMW no issues only the second set at the end of their life and all 3 sets run the same.
What a joke, as good as the tyre itself was wont be buying them again.
Then when they were put on was very clear to the Tyrepower guys not to use a rattle gun on the alloys. Had to take the all wheels off to rotate and check brakes. Back wheels snapped 3 studs they were rattled up that tight. Bought new studs and fitted and managed to save 2 of the 3 mag nuts. Went to Tyrepower and they did not want to know as we needed another nut. Statement was not their mags?? Sorry bought from Tyrepower and they are just CSA. Made no attempt to even source one and was their fault for over tightening them to start with. Wont be using Tyrepower again. Wife went to Bob Jane who went way above to find her the same mag nut in their collection and refused to charge her a cent. Will be using these guys from now on (had used before as well, but thought we would use the local Tyrepower).

Rant over, but does show some of the bull**** and extreme tyre companies will go to, to never admit a problem.

Having said that have had a couple of tyre failures before Bridgestone, one tyre delaminated causing a large bubble in the side wall and blew out. Car stopped safely. Local dealer reckons I ran it flat. They were only fitted the previous day, inflated by them and handed over, drove less than 50kms. Bridgestone were great, spoke to state manager and he said it would be replaced no issues. Ended up there were known delamination issues. My cousin was not so lucky, same tyre did the same thing to him and wrote off his XB Falcon Coupe and their liability was limited to a replacement set of tyres.
Had similar with a set of Dunlops, again only around 200kms on the tyre, they reckon I hit a kerb, Ah no. Sent away for analysis and suddenly we will replace it. Go figure

I've had a whole lot of different tyre brands on my vehicles over the years, and also on stuff I've driven for other people. All of the old Series Rovers I've had ran retreads at some time or another, as did quite a few of the Holdens, Falcons and Valiants.
I have had tyres blow out, but usually there was a readily apparent reason, from impacts, staking out bush, running under inflated due to slow leaks, punctures, or over heating by running too fast on hot days, sometimes very overloaded too.
Given that a lot of those tyres in the early years were rags, the thing that gets me is the similarities between modern failures, and the ones back then.
Aside from obvious manufacturing faults, the same sorts of causes seem to be present in many failures.
Even though the tyres are, apparently anyway, built much better with today's technology, the vehicles are heavier, travel much faster, and do so in higher temperatures, thanks to the wonders of aircon.
Old memories of changing tyres in the outback heat tend to make me lift my foot a bit when the temperature or the load goes up.

Isn't the Cooper ST Maxx a recent design?

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Isn't the Cooper ST Maxx a recent design?

That's what I used to think, but even that I think was coming out around 2010 or 2011, so it's been around for a few years too. I think the point made before was correct, doesn't matter how old the design is, if it's a tried and tested tyre (or tire ) then it's a winner regardless of design age.

Rubber compounds seem to be a black art.

Buying copper tyres any suggestions!
yes simply DON'T

Originally Posted by Pateyw

Buying copper tyres any suggestions!
yes simply DON'T

I'd imagine the wear rate, ride and traction to be poor.

its interesting.
why has my good experience with coopers been so different to everyone elses?