"Lola" - WreckDiver1321's 2005 Frontier CC/SB Nismo Build and Adventure Thread

[stioc]

Tires are a personal thing around here, many wars have been fought over them but I wouldn't recommend Cooper AT3s. Besides Scott Brady and a couple of others I don't know many people that care for them- I put them in the same category as the Yokohama Geolanders which are a better street tire than an AT tire. If you don't want the BFG AT KOs my other suggestion would be the Wild Peaks. Again, your choice - the good thing is you almost can't go wrong with any of the major brand tires available in the market today, however, to me off-road durability is the top priority.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Tires are a personal thing around here, many wars have been fought over them but I wouldn't recommend Cooper AT3s. Besides Scott Brady and a couple of others I don't know many people that care for them- I put them in the same category as the Yokohama Geolanders which are a better street tire than an AT tire. If you don't want the BFG AT KOs my other suggestion would be the Wild Peaks. Again, your choice - the good thing is you almost can't go wrong with any of the major brand tires available in the market today, however, to me off-road durability is the top priority.

Interesting, I have not found issues with them. My dad has had two sets, one on each of is F250s, and has had zero issues. I've read many reviews that rate them right up there with the BFGs and the Grabber AT2s. I'd like to hear the problems you've heard with them? Either way, I still have some looking around to do, I'm not one to make a decision without being informed . Like I said, I'll have the Generals rebalanced tomorrow. If they smooth out, then I'm perfectly happy with the AT2. I really want them to work. My last set were fantastic. We'll see what happens.

I also plan to extensively check the u-joints to see if they are worn out. It's either them or the tires.

 

[stioc]

No issues with them, Cooper makes good tires but it's the mildest AT tire in their line up. If you're going to play in the rocks I'd get their ArmorTek tire like the ST/Maxx. Just my 2cents.

 

[Allof75]

No issues with them, Cooper makes good tires but it's the mildest AT tire in their line up. If you're going to play in the rocks I'd get their ArmorTek tire like the ST/Maxx. Just my 2cents.

Have you read the overland journal test of ATs? It's in this month's issue and rates the coopers above the BFGs, generals, wild peaks, toyos, and a new Goodyear. Worth a look, as their test was extremely extensive

 

[stioc]

I don't have an active subscription but I heard about the test and the tid-bits of the results. Was the pecking order i.e. Cooper AT3, BFG AT, General AT2, Falken Wild Peaks, Toyo OC and Goodyear Duratracs?

The thing is tires depend on the terrain, weight, the vehicle dynamics and what traits are more important to you (comfort, noise, ruggedness etc). Speaking from what I see out there most agencies around here (Parks service, Sheriff, Fire dept etc) all use BFG ATs so do the Ford Raptors, FJ Trails Team edition, Tacoma Baja edition, the last Power Wagon etc. It's not just because BFG gives them a discount or even because they're the best tires in every category out there because they're not. It's because they're tough tires and can take a lot of punishment while still act and function fairly well on-road- mud is not their forte though but most ATs aren't that good in the mud either. Wild Peaks also have really thick sidewalls. Even on Cooper's website if you compare the specs and features of the AT3 vs. ST/Maxx you'll see the ST/Maxx are designed to take more punishment and mostly people have been happy with them. That was my reason for the recommendation. There's no question the AT3 or other tires aren't good or even better when it comes to pure traction or noise etc but it's the durability that's most important to me and unless the test included rubbing the sidewalls against the granite rocks (as I did in Moab, oops) it doesn't answer the question that's most important to me.

 

[Co-opski]

This is a good post. ^^^^^
Having BFG ATs and Cooper Stt, on personal rigs and GY Duratracks, Cooper Stt, St, and AT3, on work rigs I agree with what Stoic posted.

These are the Summer Tires I've used personal and work. The biggest complaint from co-workers was with the Stt's with the road manners and noise from those tires.

Nissan BFG AT and STT
Ford F250 GY DT, Cooper AT3
Ford Expedition Cooper Stt, St
Chevy Express van 4x4 Cooper Stt
Ford Explorer Cooper AT3

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Man, you mention ONE tire....

In all fairness to the lighter sidewalled AT3, both sets of Generals I've had have been 2 ply sidewalls. The AT2s use a very heavy material for their plies, however. I've taken them over all kinds of rocks with no issues. I've had similar experiences with the AT3, which I think is an even better snow tire. Granted my experience with the Cooper is more limited, but from what I have seen I think they are fairly tough.

Anyway, the truck is out of the tire shop. Drove it down the highway and that vibration has left the building. The tires still aren't silky, but I'm certain that's because they're 10 ply, and I feel every imperfection in the road now. Also, initial impressions have seen the mileage numbers improve a bit more after rebalancing. I'm a happy camper

Looks like the Generals are here to stay.

 

[Allof75]

I don't have an active subscription but I heard about the test and the tid-bits of the results. Was the pecking order i.e. Cooper AT3, BFG AT, General AT2, Falken Wild Peaks, Toyo OC and Goodyear Duratracs?
.

Nope, it was actually AT3, Grabber, Wildpeak, Toyo, BFG, Goodyear adventurer.

They said specifically the At3 was better on road, on rocks, smoother ride, and did better in mud than the BFG. Also more durable in their pretty extreme test both on road, and on granite rock as well. Pick the issue up at your local Barnes and noble, it's worth a read. The results are a somewhat surprising, but given their testing metric I believe them. I view the at3 as a sleeper tire- sedate looks for good performance. No frills. The BFG was mentioned several times to be past its prime, so I'll be excited to see what the next gen brings.

 

[stioc]

I read the summary here in case others are interested too: http://www.wranglerforum.com/f27/overland-journal-all-terrain-tire-test-789625.html from what I read the test ratings were primarily based on adhesion/traction, noise and feel. Sure they drove over granite rocks but that's a lot different than scraping the sidewalls against a sharp edge of a granite rock. I personally never had any issues with very steep (almost vertical) climbs over rocks in Moab- not one. Regardless, I'm simply going by the info on Cooper's website about their AT tires where they're listed at the lower end of the spectrum compared to their other AT tires, especially the ST/Maxx.

Wreckdriver, glad to hear the issues with the new tires are sorted out for the most part now and with some more break-in miles the remaining issue will also subside. Please keep us posted on the performance of the tires (factual/objective real world pros and cons) as it helps others make the right decision.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

I read the summary here in case others are interested too: http://www.wranglerforum.com/f27/overland-journal-all-terrain-tire-test-789625.html from what I read the test ratings were primarily based on adhesion/traction, noise and feel. Sure they drove over granite rocks but that's a lot different than scraping the sidewalls against a sharp edge of a granite rock. I personally never had any issues with very steep (almost vertical) climbs over rocks in Moab- not one. Regardless, I'm simply going by the info on Cooper's website about their AT tires where they're listed at the lower end of the spectrum compared to their other AT tires, especially the ST/Maxx.

Wreckdriver, glad to hear the issues with the new tires are sorted out for the most part now and with some more break-in miles the remaining issue will also subside. Please keep us posted on the performance of the tires (factual/objective real world pros and cons) as it helps others make the right decision.

They're MOSTLY sorted out haha. There's still a random vibration up at highway speeds, but it's less pronounced. I'm hoping some more break in miles will smooth it out. I'll give it a little while and see. I still think the AT3 is a good tire that I would run if the AT2 doesn't totally iron out. We'll see.

EDIT: Drove a highway trip and fugured out the tire thing. They're still breaking in, the little vibe seems to occur less and less the more I drive it.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Found time today to change the diff oil. Easy job, and it's nice to know that's done. Planning on doing u-joints soon too.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Oh, I forgot to mention that in last weekend's adventures, the rear bumper managed to come down on a rock pretty good. So, my trailer plug is toast now. Lots of shattered, missing plastic.

 

[mortonm]

Oh, I forgot to mention that in last weekend's adventures, the rear bumper managed to come down on a rock pretty good. So, my trailer plug is toast now. Lots of shattered, missing plastic.

So that's. How you're getting such good gas mileage, weight reduction!

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Still getting mpg numbers from the computer that make no sense. Did a short round trip on the highway today. On the way out, I got 20. On the way back, it read 16. Same stretch of highway, same temp, not a breath of wind.

Something's fishy here...

 

[mortonm]

Still getting mpg numbers from the computer that make no sense. Did a short round trip on the highway today. On the way out, I got 20. On the way back, it read 16. Same stretch of highway, same temp, not a breath of wind.

Something's fishy here...

Have you been calculating by hand?

Also these average mpg calculators will do just that, average the data. So it could be using data from a previous day/trip to average with until you produce more recent data points as you drive along