Time for new tires

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

I dont know how you get such insane mileage on your discoverer st , but for what ever its worth i have the third set on and i have 81k on the truck, and i am 100% sure im totally done with coopers. Not a good tire imho

I had ~45k on my S/T's (265/75R16 in load range C) when I replaced them in August.

 

[zolo]

Cooper Discover ST has it all
great siping
Large tread blocks
stud-able
high load rating
and they come in 255/85-16.
They last a long time, there is really nothing else to consider. Its a great tire.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Well it's come down to the KM2's or the Cooper ST in a 255... decisions decisions...

 

[CA-RJ]

Try something different, get the Coopers.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Try something different, get the Coopers.

Tempting...

 

[Petrolburner]

I too have the Guard Dogs, in 265/75R16. I have put about 8-9K on them and have been happy with how they have done. We recently put ~2500 miles on them during our Four Corners trip and they handled both the highway and dirt travel very well. They are LOUD, but I don't mind. They are also larger than standard, my 265's are about half way between a standard 265 and 285. I must disclose though that Treadwright is a sponsor of our blog.

Prior to the Guard Dogs, I ran a set of Cooper S/T's and they were great until the end. The tire shop just could not get them to balance. They handled the snow and ice well, were great in the rain, and never had an issue with them on dirt roads.

I think mud tires, or any large diameter tire suck to balance. I've been very happy with my dyna beads. They get twice the leverage by being at the outside of the tires as opposed to the inside on the rim. They also help balance side to side. And as the tire wears they are continually rebalancing.

Another important point for the Treadwright tires is this, what do you prefer, newer tires or worn down high mileage tires? For the price, you can replace the treadwrights once they're 3/4s of the way gone instead of running them bald just to get that $1000 worth of use out of them. Regardless of tread pattern, worn out rubber is less desirable. :smiley_drive:

 

[gfiero]

If you want the AT's price tham at American tire, they were the cheapest when I bought mine, less than $200.00 each installed

 

[Pikeman]

I also went with the Falken Wild Peaks in 285/75/16 Load Range "D" @ $160 each. I have had them on Gold Mountain, Heart Break ridge, Calico Ghost town with no chunking or signs of wear. They are a fairly new tire and time will tell if they live up to the 50k warranty. They replaced a set of neglected(never rotated) Nitto Terra Grapplers in same size load range that went 58k. Now on the aftermarket UCA's if it is a Uniball design they do not have as much material sticking out past the post and provide a lot more clearance than the factory UCA. I am running stock wheels with 285's and aftermarket Uniball UCA and no rubbing issues. Personally if I could afford the KM2's in a 255/85 size I would have gone that but reality is I average 25-30k a year on my 4 Runner and an AT that performs well and is lower price range is what I need to stick with on my vehicle.

 

[jim65wagon]

Before I got the 285 series ST Maxx on the Tundra, I ran through 2 sets of ST's in the 255/85/16s. The first set went 50,000 miles and the second set went 40,000 (due to alignment issues with the truck, no fault of the tire). Trouble free daily driven miles (rain, snow, dry pavement), and lots of sandy beach time, gravel forest roads and muddy two-tracks. Truck always tracked straight, got decent mpg's, and went everywhere we needed it to go.

as far as the sidewall, yes it is soft and flexible, and that flex requires you to find your ideal tire pressure as a daily driver; but it is tough. mine had minor cuts along the sidewall and there was the one day I was moving mulch in the yard....I was parallel with a 8" diameter tree trunk that was lying in my path. I needed to have truck where the tree trunk was so I just eased the front tire up on what I thought was the trunk. Nope, it was a stubbed off branch, the sidewall was sitting on this stub, tire off the ground. I very carefully eased off of it thinking I would ruin the tire; all it wound up with was a little tear in the rubber that let the white show through.....

 

[Falkon]

I've had Cooper Zeon LTZ's for around 35k. I drive 80 miles a day hiway and they have good hiway manners. Never had any planing or slippage in the rain. Cruised comfortably in the ice storm that closed down Atlanta for a week last year. Pulled 2 out, even rambled around the FS service roads on the ice without an issue. I have taken them through plenty of.mud too.

I am having issues getting them balanced now however. I've been buying Coopers for years now and have been pretty happy with them, they used to be an economical option...

I would not hesitate to recommend one of their offerings.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Thanks for all the replies gents, great thread.

Today I made the decision...














... New BFG MT KM2's in 255/85R16 going on as I type.

I almost went with the Cooper ST's and may still but for now I felt good about buying these

*Edit: Paid $200 per tire OTD at Americas Tire 11/29/11

 

[PirateMcGee]

I usually go with tirerack.com btw might check them out as their prices are generally the lowest around.
I have been really happy with my General Grabber At2's $175 each at tire rack in you second choice size. The only tire I could find in your first choice the the Km2
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireS...Search=&width=285%2F&ratio=75&diameter=16

 

[McFly2003]

tirerack is a great, but I have found discounttire.com to be cheaper. plus, they tend to ship for free

 

[Redline]

snip...

... New BFG MT KM2's in 255/85R16 going on as I type.

I almost went with the Cooper ST's and may still but for now I felt good about buying these

*Edit: Paid $200 per tire OTD at Americas Tire 11/29/11

That's a fantastic price! Post pics with a close up of the new knobbies.

I'm tempted to try a set of 255/80R17s KM2s on the Tundra. The ONLY 255/80 tire I'm aware of.

 

[PirateMcGee]

tirerack is a great, but I have found discounttire.com to be cheaper. plus, they tend to ship for free

ooooo thanks for the info!