Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx

[Kmrtnsn]

I wish I could say that I'm loving my ST Maxx's, but I'm not. What I like about them is not worrying about slashes or punctures, and that goes a long ways, but it isn't everything. I do get better mileage with them (surprisingly) than my Duratracs but they just don't have the traction that the Duratracs do, at least not in the terrain I travel. Putting my boat in the water requires 4wd to get out, not so with the DT's. They pack up with mud (we have some horrible clay mud)almost immediately, I was really shocked at how poor their mud performance was. No tire except for swampers do well in it, but still I was Very disappointed. I will give them a whirl this winter, hopefully they can redeem themselves but I'm not feeling it.

I'd be curious about your tire inflation. Most spinning that have encountered on boat ramps is due to over inflation.

 

[Hilldweller]

I'd be curious about your tire inflation. Most spinning that have encountered on boat ramps is due to over inflation.

Ditto.

 

[Applejack]

Wow, that is the exact opposite of every test I have ever read on the ST Maxx.

I know! Hence the disappointment. I am running 33 psi (265-75-16)on a armored 3rd gen 4runner, the same as I ran in the Duratracs and they chugged through everything! Only when the snow got deeper than maybe 16 inches of super wet snow, did they ask to be aired down. Should I run less in the Maxx's? 28,29 maybe? I had thought about doing it because they are so stiff, which I think may be why their performance is suffering, they aren't conforming around the terrain, making them spin more. Make any sense? The downside would be worse mpg, but I could live with that if they gave me the traction I want/need. But when I spoke with my tire dealer and he warned against doing that, stating that it would compromise the life of the tire and said I should keep them where they are at.

 

[kojackJKU]

I would drop 5psi at least compared to the dt's. the side walls are SOOOO stiff on the Maxx's to get any sort of flex out of them. I would never run 35psi in my maxx's when I had them, but totally comfortable in my BFG AT's running 35 in the rear.

 

[Redline]

I know! Hence the disappointment. I am running 33 psi (265-75-16)on a armored 3rd gen 4runner, the same as I ran in the Duratracs and they chugged through everything! Only when the snow got deeper than maybe 16 inches of super wet snow, did they ask to be aired down. snip....

As much as I/we like the S/T MAXX I can see the different and less siping contributing to your experiences of less traction. I've never run the DuraTrac, but it is clear the tread has copious and well-shaped siping. Similar to the ******** Cepek Fun Country, a tire that offers much more and different siping compared to it's sister tire, the Mickey Thompson ATZ P3.

 

[Willman]

I'd be curious about your tire inflation. Most spinning that have encountered on boat ramps is due to over inflation.

Funny you say that...I tried to spin them coming out of the water with my boat with no luck last weekend....

 

[Applejack]

Alright, I'm going to go down a few psi and see how they do. I don't have any dirt travels planned anytime soon though.

 

[Kmrtnsn]

Alright, I'm going to go down a few psi and see how they do. I don't have any dirt travels planned anytime soon though.

As stiff as they are I think it is a good course of action. I had the same issue years ago with some Michelins I had that were heavier and stiffer than the tire they replaced. Reducing the air pressure really helped in making them more road friendly.

 

[voodoojk]

I have been running these tires since spring and I think they are doing well. My only complaints are I have balance issues and after a couple rotations they still won't balance out right. That and wow.. Do they ever pick up small stones. It sounds like studded snow tires for a few days after driving on dirt. Other then that been great.

 

[Applejack]

I have been running these tires since spring and I think they are doing well. My only complaints are I have balance issues and after a couple rotations they still won't balance out right. That and wow.. Do they ever pick up small stones. It sounds like studded snow tires for a few days after driving on dirt. Other then that been great.

I have the same issues. I have had them throw countless rock onto my hood and some have hit my drivers side window. And NO they won't balance. I have had them it 3 times for rebalancing.

 

[Hilldweller]

Mine balanced fine ---- but when they toss one of their captive stones, they're out of balance again...

 

[1stDeuce]

They are big tires for a light vehicle, so balance can be an issue... Also, if you run them at low pressures, they can sometimes spin on the rim. I have had that happen a lot at the sand dunes, running 8-10 psi in several different tires. Mark your tires where the valve stem is with a paint pen and see if they're spinning on the rim. That'll screw up balance big time if they are. And the only good solution is to use balance beads.

I just weighed my new 255/85R16's at 58 lbs each. (On my bathroom scale, so ~) I'll try another scale before I put them on the wheels, but that's pretty heavy to be going on a Jeep. My wheels are light, but still...

All tires pick up and throw stones. The bigger the voids, the bigger the stones. And unless the captive stones are the size of your fist, they're not throwing your tires out of balance... Just saying...
Chris

 

[Willman]

No balancing issues here. What rims are you guys running?

My Method wheels are pretty nice

 

[Hilldweller]

...

All tires pick up and throw stones. The bigger the voids, the bigger the stones. And unless the captive stones are the size of your fist, they're not throwing your tires out of balance... Just saying...
Chris

They're the size of peanuts. But there's about 20 or 30 in each tire after my commute to work each day.
I mean, they really pick up the pebbles.

 

[kojackJKU]

yes, get used to "ticking" around town.