For those considering 255/85/16s...ST/MAXX is coming soon

[Willman]

A few weekends ago i took the new Coopers up in the snow. Great tires! No complaints here! Here are a few shots from the trip.

They should look good on my Method wheels!

Group Shot:

 

[Clutch]

Truck looks great Willman...best setup yet!

 

[Townsend]

Favorite wheels on my new favorite tire...just wondering if I could pull off the 255's on a Tahoe...

 

[Mad_Texan]

I called my local Cooper dealer today and gave him the item number for the 255/80/17. He called me back and said the distribution center validated the number but said availability was 2 to 3 weeks away. Still waiting...

Checked again today and 255/80/17 still not available through Cooper dealer. No date of availability yet but is scheduled for production...

285/70/17's are looking better and better as Discoverer ST's are getting thin and the snow keeps coming in the north east

 

[Redline]

Checked again today and 255/80/17 still not available through Cooper dealer. No date of availability yet but is scheduled for production...

285/70/17's are looking better and better as Discoverer ST's are getting thin and the snow keeps coming in the north east

I can't tell you when the 255/80 will be available, but they do exist.

Hold out for the size if you can, but it know I sucks to have low tread.

 

[motoz]

Glad to see that these tires are now available in 255/85r16! Another AT option in this size indicates that the tall skinny size is not dead! I have done a lot of research about these tires over the past few months because I knew they were right around the corner, and a I am in the market for a tough AT tire. Figured I would share some thoughts....They were developed in Australia to be a mining industry/commercial traction tire to handle the abuse of the outback. An E-rated go anywhere tire, more stout than the 8ply ST. In fact I found a lot of reviews from the Ausie's on this tire, including in the 255 size. Here is the thread:

http://www.4wdaction.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=175&t=109590&start=90

Sorry for the cross post, but there is about 8 pages of enlightening discussion on the St Maxx from the other side of the word. Some positive reviews and some negative ones, as one would expect. I also wanted to share this photo:

It's crazy how much these tires chipped in just three months. I know the Ausie's are rough on tires, but holy ****! Others reported multiple flats. After waiting for the arrival of this tire, I decided to purchase the Toyo M55s. It was a tough decision, but when traveling to remote areas as with overland/expedition use, our tires are our life lines! And the M55 has a stellar reputation for durability, puncture resistance, tough sidewalls, etc. I was also disappointed to see that Cooper didn't make this tire as tall and skinny as I would have liked. Less than 33 inches is disappointing. And these things are much wider than the old ST's. But I think for general wheeling, the ST Maxx is a great AT option, especially compared to BFG and Toyo MT options in the 255 size. Like I said, it was a tough decision not going with this tire especially given the much cheaper price tag compared to the M55's. I hope I made the right decision, I guess only time will tell....

Guys for what its worth I work up in north west western australia in the mining sector.

I can tell you that most 4wd utes on site run there tyres at 40psi on very rough roads in 2wd with very minimal loads in the tray. To top this off there driven by blokes that really arn't the most mechanically symphetic type of people.

This wear would not be a true representation of real life driving.

:lol:

 

[Mad_Texan]

I can't tell you when the 255/80 will be available, but they do exist.

Hold out for the size if you can, but it know I sucks to have low tread.

I understand what you are saying but I am still a little disappointed in the height of these tires. Really would prefer them to be 33-33.4 in height. I also wonder about them on a full size truck with it loaded...would the 285's be better with the heavier weight on soft ground since the oem tires were 255's. Just thinking out loud more or less. Makes me think 285/75/70's may be a better choice...any thought?!?!

 

[Redline]

I understand what you are saying but I am still a little disappointed in the height of these tires. Really would prefer them to be 33-33.4 in height.

Agree 100%! I really like the traditional, tall 255 sizing...but they didn't ask me. I run 285s now that are mostly 32.8" tall, so I'm not losing anything but I'm also not gaining what I used to with a 255. Oh well, I'm still excited that they are even making this tire in a 255/85 and 255/80 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :sombrero::victory::wings::smiley_drive:

I also wonder about them on a full size truck with it loaded...would the 285's be better with the heavier weight on soft ground since the oem tires were 255's. Just thinking out loud more or less. Makes me think 285/75/70's may be a better choice...any thought?!?!

That's a very personal decision and specific to one's application, and how loaded loaded is and what you like. Personally I've run load range D 255/85R16 treads on my 1996 F350 diesel for most of its life, since 1998, and it has LR D Maxxis Bighorn's on it right now. I've carried many heavy loads, tow a 30' travel trailer, hunt with low tire pressure, etc.

The S/T MAXX is a very rugged (maybe even stiff) tire, I personally will have no issue running them on a full size or heavy truck, but I love a 255 more than a 285, particularly on my F350.

 

[Ranchero]

Success!

OK - my 255/85/16 ST/Maxx came in today. These replaced a set of Goodyear MTRs in 305/70/16. First impression: quiet and track well. I've hated how loud the MTRs were on the highway ("the sound of off-road confidence, I know). The Coopers are quiet. I drove 10 miles at 60mph with the window down and the sound level was drastically decreased. Unless it is below 40 I always have the window down so this is a huge plus.

Truck felt much smoother and seems to have a bit more pep. I didn't get a raw tire weight but a single old MTR and steel wheel was 97 pounds (edit - that was the lightest. I measured between 97-100 for the others deepest tread one was 100.4). The new Cooper on a stock aluminum (FZJ80) wheel was 80 pounds. I think the aluminum wheels are supposed to be about 24 pounds, so approx 56 for the Cooper.

The look much shorter than my old ones as they are mounted on the truck, but both the old and new measure just slightly under 33". I definitely like the look of the steelies better though. Click pics for larger image.

 

[CAP650]

Good to see more of these slowly rolling out. Hopefully my back orders will show up sooner than expected..

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[Dazrin]

I hope Cooper updates their site with the new sizes soon. The only place with any info that I have found is Tread Depot.

This is a new size for me, I have been wanting a 285/75 for a long time, but saving some weight has become a slightly higher priority recently, so I have become interested in a tall/skinny tire. For comparison I went and looked at several tires in both 255/85R16 and 285/75R16 sizes to see what I could find. After all the talk of "Coopers are heavy!", it turns out that using the TD data the Cooper ST/Maxx is the lightest tire in either size other than the D-range S/Ts. They are also the shortest 255 at basically the same as the average 285. The 285 Maxxs are the tallest of the 285s at 33.1, or basically the average height of the 255s.

Here is a link to my spreadsheet so you can see the info for yourself. The tires I compared, using Tread Depot as the information source to keep it consistent, are: Cooper Discoverer ST/Maxx, Cooper Discoverer S/T, BFG MT KM2, Toyo MT, Toyo M-55.

Are the weights and sizes at Tread Depot way off for the Coopers? Or the others? What am I missing here? I know BFGs (at least in flotation sizes) tend to be smaller than advertised, so maybe the same thing is going on here? Ranchero says the one he weighed was 56 lbs, so heavier but still fairly close to spec and not as heavy as either of the Toyos. He also indicates it measures true for height at just under 33".

 

[CAP650]

Mine arrived Tuesday and are at the tire shop waiting. I'm trying to get there this weekend to have them mounted up. :wings:

 

[Townsend]

Mine arrived Tuesday and are at the tire shop waiting. I'm trying to get there this weekend to have them mounted up. :wings:

pictures?!?!

 

[CAP650]

pictures?!?!

I got the Maxx's mounted Monday and got the truck back Monday evening. Sorry, no pictures yet. I haven't had a whole lot a time when there is decent light, but will snap some tomorrow morning when I have some time and daylight.

My previous tires were the 255/85 Cooper ST's, which logged just over 45k miles before being replaced by the Maxx's. The ST's chipped and chunked alot in the rocks, but overall wore and performed well as an A/T tire in most conditions. Overall I was happy with the ST's and if the Maxx's had not come out, I likely would have got another set.

My initial impressions of the Maxx's with just under 50 miles of city / highway driving:

-The tread definitely looks wider then the ST's and the tire profile is different then the ST. The ST's tread face was narrower and the sidewalls bulged out alot. In comparison the Maxx's tread face is wider and the sidewalls don't look to be balloned out. The Maxx's might be a hair shorter just based off looks. I kept an ST as a spare so I will compare and try to get some photos side by side.

-The tire is very aggressive looking in person, much more then photos make them appear. The sidewall tread is also pretty aggressive looking. Not so sure I'm really into this current aggressive sidewall trend in tires, but maybe it will offer some advantage off-road.

-Very quiet on the highway. The ST's were worn and had got a little noisy in their old age and the Maxx's are much more quiet. I do recall the ST's being noisier then the Maxx's when they were new though. The ST's had more of a high pitch buzz to them, kind of like a swarm of bees were following the Tacoma. I am pretty impressed given how large and deep the lugs are on these things and hope they keep quiet for some decent milage.

I know you all want pictures. I'll try to get them up tomorrow.

 

[kojackJKU]

OK - my 255/85/16 ST/Maxx came in today. These replaced a set of Goodyear MTRs in 305/70/16. First impression: quiet and track well. I've hated how loud the MTRs were on the highway ("the sound of off-road confidence, I know). The Coopers are quiet. I drove 10 miles at 60mph with the window down and the sound level was drastically decreased. Unless it is below 40 I always have the window down so this is a huge plus.

Truck felt much smoother and seems to have a bit more pep. I didn't get a raw tire weight but a single old MTR and steel wheel was 97 pounds (edit - that was the lightest. I measured between 97-100 for the others deepest tread one was 100.4). The new Cooper on a stock aluminum (FZJ80) wheel was 80 pounds. I think the aluminum wheels are supposed to be about 24 pounds, so approx 56 for the Cooper.

The look much shorter than my old ones as they are mounted on the truck, but both the old and new measure just slightly under 33". I definitely like the look of the steelies better though. Click pics for larger image.
View attachment 211621View attachment 211622View attachment 211623View attachment 211624

I think the aluminums look MUCH better. great tire!