Cooper ST's - 255/85/16

[Haggis]

.. I decided to try out that ST Maxx in a 285/75. Four are on their way from Tread Depot...

:Wow1: The end of an era. At least we'll have the same size spares. I too am looking at these ST Maxx as I'll need new tires before fall. I've got 43,000 on my Deans and will probably be pushing them to 50,000 when they'll need to be replaced.

 

[jim65wagon]

I'd hate to be the guy stuck with the old school tire when the new improved version is where it's at.....hopefully they will be new and improved!

 

[locrwln]

I called my local Cooper Tire dealer to check on the new Cooper S/T Maxx. He thinks, as do I, the S/T Maxx is unlikely to be made "in that dying" size. Though much wider, the closest size to a 255/85 will be a 285 for most applications.

http://www.coopertire.com/html/products/tires_lighttruck.aspx?page=discoverer_st_maxx

As noted on Cooper's site, the current light-truck offerings in this tire are:

Discoverer S/T Maxx LT235/85R16 120 Q 0 E
Discoverer S/T Maxx LT225/75R16 115 Q 0 E
Discoverer S/T Maxx LT245/75R16 120 Q 0 E
Discoverer S/T Maxx LT265/75R16 123 Q 0 E
Discoverer S/T Maxx LT285/75R16 126 Q 0 E
Discoverer S/T Maxx LT265/70R17 121 Q 0 E
Discoverer S/T Maxx LT285/70R17 121 Q 0 E
Discoverer S/T Maxx LT275/70R18 125 Q 0 E

Though I personally prefer a load-range-D unless I need a LR E tire, LR E tires are much more popular and I'm not surprised that all of these tires are 10-ply-rated.

In the past this tire, like many 285/75R16, was 32.8" tall. The new S/T Maxx in 285/75 is 33.1" tall per Cooper's specs. It's also not a very wide 285, with a section width of 11.15" when many are 11.3" or wider. The tread width is 9.3", which is slightly wide for a 285/75R16 size. This tells me that the sidewall should be less exposed than some designs, like the Cooper S/T in 255/85R16D, which has a VERY narrow tread face with a closer to normal section width for the 255/85 size.

Discoverer S/T Maxx LT285/75R16 126 Q 0 E OWL 11.15 33.1 9.3

I asked for a quote on the S/T Maxx in 285/75R16E, he will get back to me after he does some checking.

Like everything, tires prices have been going up. Cooper Tire recently had a 14% increase and Goodyear had a 15% increase.

Sounds like the story of my life. I am finally ready to try the 255 size and they are drying up. I got a price on BFG KM2's and just about fell down, but according to the prices I am finding on everything else, it's not too bad considering. Prices are out of control for tires right now.

Jack

 

[Redline]

jim65wagon,

Glad to see you are going to try the new S/T Maxx in 285/75 and looking forward to your new thread. As you know, I too am running a 285/75 so I can have the tire I want.

The Cooper S/T in 255/85 received lots of attention from us here on The Portal, but that doesn't mean it was a high volume seller, I'm confident it was not. I'm guessing that Toyo will sell their M55 and M/T in 255/85 for a long while.

I still have a set of 255/85 Cooper S/T with only a few thousand miles on them. I'll have them for a while unless I sell them or they start seeing primary duty again, maybe on the F350?

 

[Paladin]

Ok, so has anyone tried or seen the new version of the Cooper ST Maxx? Like most everyone, I am looking at the 255's and checking to see what everyone thought of the new tread design.

I didn't notice them until now. I notice they mention "Cut and chip resistant rubber compound", which sounds exactly like the S/T-C, which is what I have.

If that's it, they should be better than the S/T, as I've been very happy with the S/T-C. They seem quite durable.

The best part of the whole deal is the sidewalls look much better protected than the S/T.

In the past this tire, like many 285/75R16, was 32.8" tall. The new S/T Maxx in 285/75 is 33.1" tall per Cooper's specs. It's also not a very wide 285, with a section width of 11.15" when many are 11.3" or wider. The tread width is 9.3", which is slightly wide for a 285/75R16 size. This tells me that the sidewall should be less exposed than some designs, like the Cooper S/T in 255/85R16D, which has a VERY narrow tread face with a closer to normal section width for the 255/85 size.

Tell me about it. That's my 245/75/16T at... I think it was 15 or 20 psi. The sidewall is just begging to be sliced open.

 

[bigandtall]

Just got my Cooper Discoverer S/T LT255/85R16 tires installed today! Just beat price increases by having Discount Tire pricematch an online price I had found of $155ea. After shipping, mounting, balancing, tax, got all 5 out the door for $996. (Yes, got a spare too). Replaced my original 265/75R16 BFG Rugged Trails and these Coopers are WAY better. I sure hope they keep selling them a LONG time!

 

[Redline]

Good for you bigandtall. I paid close to that per tire for my S/T 255/85 a few years ago, so that's a GREAT price for today. Buying five was smart, it's hard to find any 255/85R16s in stock. Today I was told that Cooper's "fill rate" is terrible right now as they are basically the only (American) tire company making private label tires, therefore they are very busy.

Even though I love the tires, I pulled my DC FCII 285/75 treads today after a quick 2,200-miles in ten days, wanting to conserve some of their tread if I can. I put my Coopers back on, hoping I will keep them long enough to add some wear to them.

 

[Redline]

Oh yeah, on our short ride to dinner this evening my wife noted that the Coopers felt bouncier, she was correct. Both the DC FCII 285/75 LR D and S/T 255/85 LR D are flexible tires, but the Coopers are more so, and I can often feel their soft construction. This is not necessarily a negative, just is. Same PSI, 35.

 

[jim65wagon]

my wife noted that the Coopers felt bouncier, she was correct.

I will agree with this now that I have different tires on. The truck is a lot less bouncy with the ST Maxx. I just never noticed before, I guess because I got used to the tire ride.....

 

[bigandtall]

Pics of the new meats!

I love how these tires ride. They look like they were made for my FJ. I have attached a few pictures. With the simple Daystar 2.5/1.5 lift and leveling kit and now these tires, it's perfect. It looks stock from a distance, but it dwarfs an actual stock FJ Cruiser. I had a Dodge Cummins Dually Crew pickup do a double take at me this morning because I was sitting up a little higher than him and I'm sure he was wondering why!

:jump::jump::jump::jump::jump::jump::jump::jump:

 

[Redline]

Turning Tires

Something else I always notice when I go from my 285s to the very narrow 255 Cooper S/Ts is how easily they turn because they are so light and narrow. The 7.2" tread width vs. 9.2" tread makes a huge difference, surely easier on the power steering system.

Edit:

To clarify, these much narrower tires are easier to turn at low speeds, less contact patch and less resistance. At freeway speeds the narrow tires (skis/tracks) are more resistant to turning from a straight, forward position.

 

[Redline]

I love how these tires ride. They look like they were made for my FJ. I have attached a few pictures. With the simple Daystar 2.5/1.5 lift and leveling kit and now these tires, it's perfect. It looks stock from a distance, but it dwarfs an actual stock FJ Cruiser. Snip....

That's one of the great things about a very light, narrow tire for a low/moderate lift like you have. They will clear, fit and work much better than something like a 285/75, as well as fit much better on a 7" stock wheel (if that's what you have?). And there is a 1-2 mpg fuel economy advantage (potential) with these narrow, light tires.

 

[jim65wagon]

I suppose I should give an update on my old ST's that I just replaced.

I got 40,000 miles out of this set, ending with 5/32 of tread. Since they start with 18/32 I used up 13/32.

that's 3076 miles per 1/32" of tread, not bad I think.

I did (I'll remind everyone) get better wear out of my first set (50,000 miles using 12/32"), but I had some suspension issues that prematurely wore this set. If you're looking for a long lasting set of off road/on road tires these are awesome.....

 

[Redline]

snip... I had a Dodge Cummins Dually Crew pickup do a double take at me this morning because I was sitting up a little higher than him and I'm sure he was wondering why! snip...

In some ways I think a super narrow & tall tire like these S/T treads can attract more attention because they are so uncommon these days. It used to be that many heavy-duty pickups were running around on 235/85R16 tires, equally narrow and about an inch shorter. Those days are gone.

Today I saw three different drivers scrutinizing The Mall Crawler while on the highway. Two were young dudes in cars and one middle-aged guy in a pickup. And while I was at UPS shipping some packages two guys were checking it out in the parking lot.

Must be the tire change. :sombrero:

 

[bigandtall]

I'm getting tons of inspections now. At a stoplight a guy in a work van kept backing up and pulling forward next to me with his head out the window staring at the tires. The lugs are huge on these tires when new and have a very sharp tread edge with a bit of overhang. I am just pleased beyond words with how well these ride and look. Pictures really underrate just how beefy and agressive they look in real life.

I haven't felt this good since I used to drive my old 1962 Willys CJ6 with 4" Skyjacker lift and 35s on it!