Cooper ST's - 255/85/16

[maybe_a_80...]

A little help here from some guru's please?

This thread has been a great read and source for info!

So after lifting my '99 4runner with the 2-3" OME kit, i'm looking around for tires to compliment the addition in altitude.

I've found an incomplete set of (3) never mounted 255/85R16 load range D all terrain Kelly Safari AWR tires, for about $250 intalled. I've made countless phone calls to locate a 4th matching tire, to no avail.

It's up to me to find a 4th tire to complete the set.. To which i've found a Cooper Discoverer Radial LT 255-85-16, never used off of a '99 Superduty for about $60.

So we're talkin a full set of 4 tires installed for roughly $300. I figure I could pick up another Discovery Radial LT to run, and use the odd Kelly as a spare. So say two Kelly AWR's up front, and two Discoverer LT's in the rear, with a Kelly AWR spare.

Thoughts? Comments?

Kelly Safari AWR

Discoverer Radial LT's

...sounds like you have a decent plan for pretty short money, never a bad thing. If you are tied to getting a good set of 255/85s, would like to have four of the same, and you are here in SLC, Pearson Tire Distributors downtown has quoted me $161 per Discoverer ST, installed in the 255/85R16.

 

[Redline]

Toyo MT stuff here

I don't have anything to share other than a few hundred miles of pavement driving, maybe early next month I will have some easy dirt experiences to share. It can take a while to adequately test a tire in all terrains.

Not that this thread doesn't have lots of other stuff/information in it, but to help future readers as well as keeping things somewhat on-topic, I would suggest most info about the Toyo MTs be posted into one of the following threads.

James

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15012&highlight=toyo+255/85


http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14555&highlight=toyo+255/85

just wondering, has anybody got a set of the Toyo's fitted to their vehicle yet and if so maybe a test report?

some pics wouldnt go astray either of them fitted to a vehicle.

 

[sdjeep]

Just wondering if anyone has a pic of a 255/85/16 mounted ON A TJ/LJ? I have a 2inch spacer and 1-inch body lift on my 06 Rubicon Unlimited soon to be replaced with the OME HD kit and just wanted an idea of what she might look like. Haven't decided on the type of tire yet, just the size

 

[jim65wagon]

Just wondering if anyone has a pic of a 255/85/16 mounted ON A TJ/LJ? I have a 2inch spacer and 1-inch body lift on my 06 Rubicon Unlimited soon to be replaced with the OME HD kit and just wanted an idea of what she might look like. Haven't decided on the type of tire yet, just the size

post #23 in this thread http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7283&highlight=255%2F85r16

 

[sdjeep]

I must have something wrong with my computer because none of the pics in that thread are showing up for me. When i get home from work i will try from there. Thanks for the info, this place is a wealth of ideas! Now if only my finances would keep up........

 

[SOAZ]

So all, I finally did the coopers in.
I really liked the tires over all. I put a large slit about 4 inches long in the side wall a few weeks ago.
These tires gripped better than any other I've had.
I replaced them with some used bfg mt's. after wheeling last weekend I can say that the bfg's slip off of rocks much easier than the coopers. Thats what I get for a harder rubber compound.
:smileeek:

 

[Redline]

Sorry to hear about that. They are a pretty soft tire with a soft flexible sidewall. How many miles did you get and how much tread was left before the sidewall cut.

 

[SOAZ]

Sorry to hear about that. They are a pretty soft tire with a soft flexible sidewall. How many miles did you get and how much tread was left before the sidewall cut.

For a soft compound they were wearing great. Lots of tread left. I ended up with about 20k on them overall. I'd say there was well over half tread left. We'll see when I measure.
I'll measure them because I'm going to put a couple of them up for sale and keep at least one for a spare for myself.

 

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

SOAZ, sorry to hear about your loss. Thanks to you and this thread, I purchased a set of S/Ts in the un-official EXPO size of 265/75-16 - I wanted 255s but my accountant didn't agree with lifting the rig right now. :-(

Any way, I am very pleased with these tires. They grip really well, and actually suppressed me on several occasions as to how well they did. I have created a small write-up on my observations Here and would recommend them to anybody. I have put 4,000 miles on these so far. I have noticed a small amount of chipping around the factory spying, but nothing major.

 

[Redline]

Section width to tread observation

This past week I had the opportunity to scrutinize some Cooper STs on other trucks in parking lots in a few common sizes:

235/85R16
265/75R16
285/75R16

In the 255/85R16 size, there is a dramatic taper from the sidewall to the very narrow tread face. This is not necessarily very attractive and also may make the sidewalls more vulnerable, particularly when aired-down to very low pressures.

The sidewall to tread taper is not as pronounced with the 235, 265, 285 sizes.

 

[Redline]

Dude,

I know you are selling your Tacoma, but before you do can you measure your tread depth? I think you put a lot of highway miles on your 255s and would like to know what kind of service you got out of them.

Tires installed last night. I found an interesting place here in CA, kind of a cross between a chop shop and midnight tire sales... The owner was super cool and was very interested in the Tacoma, my travels and talking about Land Rovers. There were people coming in and out cash flying and about 8 guys working at once. I was in and out in less than 25 minutes.

I really like the ride with these Coopers, smooth ride and much quieter than the BFG's (at least to my ears.)

The Tacoma is once again very happy :wings:

 

[jim65wagon]

In case anyone is curious... I put lots of road miles on the Tundra, which is the reason I use the AT style treads. My Coopers just turned 40,000 miles, I thought they'd be bald by now but they've still got 8/32s left! That, I believe, is 4000 miles per 1/32 of tread. Not to shabby for an aggressive AT.

I still really like this tire, it's done everything I've asked without complaint or drama. Some of the lugs have tears, there's a few cuts along the sidewall, minor cosmetic stuff though. There is one sidewall cut (or tear) that ripped through the black part of the tire, you can see the white color the rubber really is, I did this about 25,000 miles ago in my backyard, I thought I had the tire on a log, rolled up, stopped, unloaded some dirt, walked around the front and find the sidewall sitting on top of a 2" diameter stub of a limb! I really thought I ruined my almost new tire, but there it is still pounding out the miles. Next week it's back to OBX to play in some sand...

 

[Redline]

That is very impressive Jim. 40k and still 8/32 of tread remaining, Wow! If my memory serves me you are running 255/85 STs. These are only a 4-ply tread but obviously you've had no problems on your Tundra. I'm sure all the highway miles have helped, but that is still impressive for that tire. Just goes to show what the right tire, on the right rig, with the right driver can do.

 

[jim65wagon]

If my memory serves me you are running 255/85 STs

Your memory is indeed correct, sir.

I am quite impressed with the mileage also, but I am fanatical about rotations, and I play around with tire pressures until I'm happy with the wear pattern. I got 62,000 out of the BFG AT's and I'll get another few thou on the Coopers before I call them done.

 

[Redline]

You're obviously doing it correctly. I have heard of similar high mileage from BFG ATs, but have also been told that BFG changed the rubber compound (a year or so ago?) and that people aren't getting the same mileage out of them as was common before. I would not be surprised if this is simply hearsay from a dealer that doesn't sell/like BFG, but I also think many drivers want more miles and more traction out of the same set of tires than is chemically possible.

Were the BFG ATs the tires on the Tundra immediately before the STs? Are you going for another set of STs or are you thinking you would like to try something different?