Cooper ST's - 255/85/16

[p1michaud]

Tires, tires and more tires....

I think your stock 7-inch wheels are PERFECT for the 255/85 Cooper ST.

I should have clarified, the OEM alloy wheels are 15" x 7" with 32" x 11.5" R15 MTR tires.

I bet the Cooper guy was giving it to you straight. He could run any tire in his shop but he likes the ST on his plow truck.

I did ask him point blank why he chosed to run those tires and he said I can run any tire I want but after trying the ST he never looked back. That's a super endorsement if you ask me. Two things to consider, this is his snow plowing truck so he was very satisfied with their snow/winter performance and he does not put too many long distance road trips on these tires. He could not comment on their wear but from what others have posted they seem to hold up well.

Cheers,
P

 

[Redline]

I bet they will last long enough for you/me. The issue with wear is that the best traction tire might not provide the longest wear because of the tread compound. More tread life can mean less traction in some circumstances, ice can be a tough one. Personally I will gladly give up a little longevity for better traction.

I should have clarified, the OEM alloy wheels are 15" x 7" with 32" x 11.5" R15 MTR tires.



I did ask him point blank why he chosed to run those tires and he said I can run any tire I want but after trying the ST he never looked back. That's a super endorsement if you ask me. Two things to consider, this is his snow plowing truck so he was very satisfied with their snow/winter performance and he does not put too many long distance road trips on these tires. He could not comment on their wear but from what others have posted they seem to hold up well.

Cheers,
P

 

[jim65wagon]

Redline,
I know that many others on this board currenly are or have been running the 255/85 size on 8" rims on their Tacomas although they are all BFG tires. Mr. Brady, The Dude and Nic for the Tacoma crowd and Jim65wagon on a Tundra. I wonder if any of them have had bead retention issues? Perhaps they could chime in...Cheers,
P

No worries, P, I've been down to 15psi; although I usually run 20. No problems. Having an 8" rim really isn't a problem with this size tire. Yes the tread is a little narrow but the section width of the tire is 10"; a 265 is about 10.5" so the section width is really not much different. I wouldn't worry unless you plan on really dropping psi's; then you could get the Staun internal beadlocks to ease your mind...

BTW that chair looks mighty comfy in 4WDTO...

 

[4Rescue]

Width comparison between (Les Schwab) Multi-Mile Wild Country TXR and Dean SXT M/T. Both in 255/85R16

05' Rubicon LJ wearing those tires on 8-in wheels

If anything you might have better fuel-economy.

Those SXT's are what Les Schwab is now carrying instead of the TXR which has been discontinued. Those SXT's come in 33x9.50 and are starting to look pretty good to me right now.

 

[Redline]

Yep, that's right, no more TXRs, Les Schwab will likely suggest the Dean SXT as a similar tread. I assume you have checked, I don't know if the SXT Mud is available in 33 x 9.50, but if it is and it's your size I say give them a try ☺

Those SXT's are what Les Schwab is now carrying instead of the TXR which has been discontinued. Those SXT's come in 33x9.50 and are starting to look pretty good to me right now.

 

[Redline]

I'm very interested in your opinion about the noise/tone of the Cooper STs compared to the BFG A/Ts you are going to take off.

I just bit the bullet and bought 5 from custom-wheel-car-rims.com! $137 + $78 shipping made them about $40 cheaper than what I thought was the cheapest option from unsertire.com where they are $160 but free shipping. So depending on your shipping cost, one or the other might be the best deal. $764.35 shipped to my door was my final cost. A few shops in Santa Fe have said they will mount and balance them for less than $20 a piece.

I'll keep you guys up to date when they arrive. They are going on a 2004 extended tacoma that is is currently running BFG AT 265/75's.

 

[4Rescue]

Yep, that's right, no more TXRs, Les Schwab will likely suggest the Dean SXT as a similar tread. I assume you have checked, I don't know if the SXT Mud is available in 33 x 9.50, but if it is and it's your size I say give them a try ☺

Yeah, those are exactly what they pointed me towards. And the do make'm in 33x9.50 so I will likely be going down this path soon.

Does anyone know about the rumor that BFG is going to discontinue the 33x9.50 AT????????

I really wanted to run these, but may have to go to the SXT's instead... Bummer.

 

[007]

I spent a lot of time picking out my 255's I really wish I had found this forum earlier!

I went with the BFG M/T's for my 01 tacoma and I am satisfied with the overall performance. They do lack shallow snow and hard ice traction in stock form but with generous siping its very tolerable. Nothing like a studded tire, but I can keep it on any of the roads I have to travel during winter.

I can't stress enough the importance of siping your tires for winter. I do it every year right before winter. I ask for 1/16" so that the summer use will wear them off and I can put fresh cuts in the next year.

Sipes and tread blocks loose a lot of bite once that 90 degree edge has rounded just a little. I learned at a young age that my new dirt bike tire had TONS of traction for about 20 minutes before I would notice more wheel spin. The tread blocks were still the same size but that little 90 degree edge was gone. Later I bought a tire cutter to cut new edges so my tires could be refurbished a couple times. I can't imagine how long it would take to do 4 truck tires so I settle for sipes.

 

[Redline]

Interesting that you suggest cutting the sipes so shallow, I don't know if my store has a siping wheel that short. I actually like to have sipes all year, as it helps with other types of traction as well (wet roads, rock crawling, etc.)

I spent a lot of time picking out my 255's I really wish I had found this forum earlier!

I went with the BFG M/T's for my 01 tacoma and I am satisfied with the overall performance. They do lack shallow snow and hard ice traction in stock form but with generous siping its very tolerable. Nothing like a studded tire, but I can keep it on any of the roads I have to travel during winter.

I can't stress enough the importance of siping your tires for winter. I do it every year right before winter. I ask for 1/16" so that the summer use will wear them off and I can put fresh cuts in the next year.

Sipes and tread blocks loose a lot of bite once that 90 degree edge has rounded just a little. I learned at a young age that my new dirt bike tire had TONS of traction for about 20 minutes before I would notice more wheel spin. The tread blocks were still the same size but that little 90 degree edge was gone. Later I bought a tire cutter to cut new edges so my tires could be refurbished a couple times. I can't imagine how long it would take to do 4 truck tires so I settle for sipes.

 

[007]

Interesting that you suggest cutting the sipes so shallow, I don't know if my store has a siping wheel that short. I actually like to have sipes all year, as it helps with other types of traction as well (wet roads, rock crawling, etc.)

Thats true, they help a lot year round. The only problem with going full depth on the sipes is that you wouldn't be able to cut a fresh edge on the tire every year without it chunking like crazy.

 

[Redline]

My local Les Schwab usually suggests siping 13/32, I have been going 9/32 deep recently. On my wife's car tires I only did it 5/32, but there is less tread to start with. I also don't mind cutting them again once they're worn down, but I'm actually considering going down to 13/32 if I buy a new set of STs.

Edit Feb/2011: Didn't sipe my S/T.

Thats true, they help a lot year round. The only problem with going full depth on the sipes is that you wouldn't be able to cut a fresh edge on the tire every year without it chunking like crazy.

 

[p1michaud]

Cooper ST

No worries, P, I've been down to 15psi; although I usually run 20. No problems. Having an 8" rim really isn't a problem with this size tire. Yes the tread is a little narrow but the section width of the tire is 10"; a 265 is about 10.5" so the section width is really not much different. I wouldn't worry unless you plan on really dropping psi's; then you could get the Staun internal beadlocks to ease your mind...

BTW that chair looks mighty comfy in 4WDTO...

Thanks for the information about air pressure and rim width. I'd add that the guys are the tire shop were grumbling a bit about having a 8" wide rim with such a narrow tire. They had to use the "air blaster" to get the bead to seal up before they could seat it. I would think that most shops may not be able to mount a 255/85R16 on a 8" wide rim. Something to keep in mind if you go with this wheel and tire combo.

I'm currious what stree pressure you guys run with these tires. I did dig this up thread up: Air Pressure in 255's.

BTW that chair looks mighty comfy in 4WDTO...

Yep, that was a great day!

Cheers :beer:,
P

 

[Redline]

I remember my tire guys having a similar experience my very narrow SXT 255s on 8-inch Jeep Rubicon wheels as well. This was different than my experiences with other (wider) 255/85R16 on the same wheels. But as others have said, you shouldn't have any problems at normal full and off-highway PSI.

I can't wait to hear what you think of the 255 STs for noise, traction and looks.

James

 

[ntsqd]

FWIW I wore out a set of BFG 33-9.50's on 8" rims. Street pressure was usually 30 psi depending on my goals. Tread wear was even across the width.

"Aired down" was 19.5 psi because that's where my clip-on pressure relief valve stops venting. Can't recall ever needing to go lower.

 

[SOAZ]

I have been running this tire for about a year and a half. It fits great on the
"3rd" gen 4runner (first gen tacoma).
It has about 16,000 miles so far and I'm amazed at how little wear is showing.
I got a flat about 2 months after having these. I was running high speed in baja and managed to get a rock wedged in between my fenderwell and the tire and then wham. Loud noise and a flat. I was worried, but have had good luck since then so I'm writing it off as a fluke. I plugged it and have never looked back. It has excellent grip.
I've had BFG 32-11.50-s5 and BFG AT 285/75/16 tires in the past. I like these better on all fronts for my vehicle except for looks. I miss the at's look. No biggy though.
I didn't loose as much power on my 3.4 liter 4runner, My MPG didn't change as much as it did with 285's, The highway ride is a lot better than the Mud Terrains and there is very little road noise. No problems balancing them either. Lastly they fit with such a nominal amount of rubbing I wouldn't bother doing any cutting at all. They have just left very slight rub marks on the fender well from when they go to full stuff.
So far so good. I will likely do another set of these when they wear out.
I was lucky and got them for $116 a piece at discount wheel warehouse on the web.
Here are a couple of pics of them.

A little shot for width

This is just after getting them. I heard slight rubbing at this spot.

:rappel: