Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx

[T.Low]

The scale is consistent throughout, 10=best. These were actual tests, and then ranked out of a possible 10 score. STMaxx braking was worst in test, due to its heavy weight I'd presume. Mud run and hill climbs/descents were measured and include "amount of spin". (IIRC, the Yokohama was the only one to make the hill climb without any slippage; the STMaxx and others made it with varying amounts of spinning; others did not make it at all, all mounted on the same model wheels (38 wheels supplied by a wheel rep), on the same Pajaro or LandCruiser in picture, whatever it is, with same "expert" driver.)


"Using a sound meter, 4WD Action measured
the peak noise levels in decibels (dB) over a 20 second timeframe while travelling at 100km/h on a smooth bitumen road."



The Australian 4wdAction AT tyre test was a great read as they went to painstaking lengths to make it as scientific as possible. That being said, it's still a magazine that is not called "Consumer Reports", thus I take it with a degree of a grain of salt.

Edit: The fact that the Pirelli won made me shake my head, they look like such a street tire. Then I realized I have them on my jobsite F150 quadcab 4x4 and am always surprised at how well they do in every 4 season jobsite condition. They grip like crazy. And I run a Pirelli trials tire on my enduros because it's all wet rocky rooty terrain around here and they grip much better than the knobbies. So, yeah, I'm open to the fact that the Pirelli could have actually won.

 

[Dazrin]

Thank you. Do you know where I could find a copy of the article? The closest I find is this one: http://www.4wdaction.com.au/articles/2011/tread-wars and the formatting doesn't work for me.

From a search, I do see a couple references to an AT test in 4WD Action #167, but can't find that issue/article online.

 

[Applejack]

I put 60 miles on these tires are.....how should I say it...strange. At first I thought the wanted to wander a bit, but that's not it. It's more like these tires make me feel very unconnected to the road. At times it almost gives the sensation that you get when you first hit that patch of ice, where you instantly sense you are out of control. It's like that but it only happens for a moment. It's an almost floaty kind of feeling. I don't really know how else to describe it but I'm not really digging it. :-(. Perhaps I'm a little overly sensitive to that kind of stuff from track driving. But it's definitely not a confidence inspiring feeling.

 

[T.Low]

Seems to be selected bits from the article:

http://www.leichtstyres.com/images/CooperSTMAXX-test.pdf

If I can get my copy back from the local Discount Tire assistant mgr, maybe I can scan it or...? I think it was vol. 160. AT Tyre Comparo


AJack, I hope that gets worked out for you. It sounds like the same complaint I found on DuraTracs from a mechanic on youtube when I was researching my next tire. He said it was an over abundance of "release agent" from the tire mold itself and once he got it worn off, the DuraTracs handled fine. I hope that's all it is.
http://youtu.be/93jVgyuECvw

 

[Dazrin]

Thanks for the PDF, I did see that but didn't look at it long since it appeared to be an ad for Cooper. The noise data they have though confirms my suspicions on that test. Less than 3 db difference between the best and the second worst is undetectable to most people. At most there should have been a 1 point difference for these. The Silent Armors are only barely more than that at 39 db vs 33-36 db. I hate rankings like that.

From a couple posts, it looked like Nov 2011 was #172, which puts #167 at June and #160 in 2010, but I don't see it in their archives: http://www.4wdaction.com.au/articles/archive Of course, the site is very slow and doesn't work correct for me, so it is very possible I am just missing it.

 

[Applejack]

That's interesting T.Low, so in a way they are almost greasy or something, and they may be actually slipping a little?
I have a 400 mile trip this weekend with a fair amount of off road driving so maybe it will wear off by then.

 

[kojackJKU]

I seem to have different experiences with my BFGs compared to the article. I will say that the ST MAXx is durable, and does run larger than others, I do find my BFGs much quieter, and also roll MUCH EASIER. Im seeing a 2l per 100KM decrease when I switched. went from 17-15l per 100km in town.

Applejack, that will wear out of them in a couple of hundred KM. My BFGs felt the same way, I have 300kms on them now and its all nice and solid!

 

[kojackJKU]

T.LOW,

Can I get more information on your van? what it is, etc? I want one! seems it would be suited for off road more than a westy syncro, and much cheaper to maintain!

 

[Slicky72]

^ search him in the van section , he has a build thread there.

 

[Stroverlander]

New Tire Break-In

Tire Rack: Tire Tech: Breaking In Your New Tires

Breaking In Your Tires

Tires are comprised of many layers of rubber, steel and fabric. Due to these different components, your new tires require a break-in period to ensure that they deliver their normal ride quality and maximum performance. As tires are cured, a release lubricant is applied to prevent them from sticking in their mold. Some of the lubricant stays on the surface of your tires, reducing traction until it is worn away. Five hundred miles of easy acceleration, cornering and braking will allow the mold release lubricant to wear off, allowing the other tire components to begin working together. It is also important to note that your old tires probably had very little tread depth remaining when you felt it was time to replace them. As any autocrosser or racer who has tread rubber shaved off of his tires will tell you, low tread depth tires respond more quickly. Don't be surprised if your new tires are a little slower to respond (even if you use the exact same tire as before). Their new, full depth brings with it a little more tread squirm until they wear down.

NOTE: Be careful whenever you explore the capabilities of your new tires. Remember that every tire requires a break-in period of 500 miles for optimum performance.

Also, how were old tires worn? May be worth checking alignment.

 

[1stDeuce]

If you haven't already, check tire pressure to make sure the shop didn't inflate them by the sidewall, not the door sticker... 80psi in a tire with tall tread will make them feel squirrely as heck on a short wheelbase vehicle! Running down some dirt roads will help wear off the release agent faster too!

That's interesting T.Low, so in a way they are almost greasy or something, and they may be actually slipping a little?
I have a 400 mile trip this weekend with a fair amount of off road driving so maybe it will wear off by then.

 

[T.Low]

Thanks. I wanted a Syncro, but the reality is, if I have a 2 hr chunk of time to myself, I want to be on the trail for 1:50, or the River, not tinkering with my vehicle. The Chevy takes almost as little attention as a plastic white water kayak.

Often times, the captions don't appear on the slideshow, so maybe it's time for a cleaner actual build thread. Most of the details are in my massive sigline.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/...9977562a0d7039013d16f2a63c509_zps96ad1e44.jpg

 

[Applejack]

My old tires have worn very nicely, no cupping or anything. I have run 4 different sets of tires on this 4runner alone, KM2, Nitto Terra Grappler, Toyo MT's, and Duratrac's, and never experienced anything quite like this.
I did check the air pressure, they were at 40psi, a little higher than I normally run. I aired them down to 35 to see if it would make the difference and it has not. I will say that I have not gotten the chance to bring them up to temperature yet. My driving on them has been short trips, a max of about 3 miles before stopping for awhile so maybe that is all that needs to be done, just drive them for a good while and warm them up. I dunno. we will see

 

[kojackJKU]

I think its just a new tire syndrome. yours will wear into it. Same as spooning on new motorcycle tires. they are down right scarey for the first 100-200 kms....after that is peg scraping fun!

 

[Fargo]

... That being said, it's still a magazine that is not called "Consumer Reports", thus I take it with a degree of a grain of salt. ...

I would trust Consumer Reports even less. They are very biased. Most American cars don't get much of a break. Jeeps in particular are hated. The most revealing thing for me was several years ago when I was contacted by Consumer Report when they were promoting Obama Care. Whatever your opinion is of Obama Care, the fact that Consumer Reports was promoting it and asking me to support it during an election cycle tells me much about their bias.