Cooper Discoverer STT's

bdan68 · May 2, 2005

Hi guys, I haven't been on here in a long while, but just got a quote for new tires on my 1/2 ton Silverado and thought I'd best ask the experts if they're giving me a fair deal and/or if there are any better options. The quote was for LT265/75/16 in the Cooper Discoverer STT. I'm also considering going to Les Schwab and getting a quote on the Toyo M55's and BFG's. I orignally was going to get an all terrain tire, but the guy at the tire store told me the STT would be better for rocky roads and still be decent on the highway. My truck is almost strictly used for hunting, so that is the main priority, and what I have always had the most trouble with is having my tires punctured by sharp rocks. So does anybody know anything about the STT's? The quote I got is $778, not including tax, which to tell you the truth is about $200 more than I was wanting to spend. But I do believe that generally you get what you pay for so just looking at the price these must be great tires. Am I wrong?

hihosilverado · May 3, 2005

I have BFG made private label tires called Mud King Radial XT on my old hunting/wheelin' truck. They are 35"s, and I think I paid like $140 a tire plus install. I have beat the poop out of them and although I have visible scratches on the letters and sidewall, they have held up well and still ride smooth and quiet on the highway. Well, at least as smooth and quiet you would expect out of an old Dodge PWagon. I paid less than $600 with lifetime balance and rotation(kind of dumb, the truck has been only driven 4k miles in a year). I would think the Cooper STT would be a better all around tire, but the return on your dollar diminishes greatly when you consider what you will be using it for. Here is a link to the tires I have.

http://www.desertrat.com/cavalier_tires/cavalier.htm

jhm · May 3, 2005

Hi guys, I haven't been on here in a long while, but just got a quote for new tires on my 1/2 ton Silverado and thought I'd best ask the experts if they're giving me a fair deal and/or if there are any better options. The quote was for LT265/75/16 in the Cooper Discoverer STT. I'm also considering going to Les Schwab and getting a quote on the Toyo M55's and BFG's. I orignally was going to get an all terrain tire, but the guy at the tire store told me the STT would be better for rocky roads and still be decent on the highway. My truck is almost strictly used for hunting, so that is the main priority, and what I have always had the most trouble with is having my tires punctured by sharp rocks. So does anybody know anything about the STT's? The quote I got is $778, not including tax, which to tell you the truth is about $200 more than I was wanting to spend. But I do believe that generally you get what you pay for so just looking at the price these must be great tires. Am I wrong?

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I got the Cooper AT same size for $400 out the door. I like 'em, but from what you say you would be better off with the STT since it has extra belts to protect from sharp rocks. MADE IN THE USA

JDeere7296 · May 3, 2005

I had the cooper ST in 285/75 R16 and I loved them, great in the mud and got pretty good mileage out of them. You are right they are a little on the high side, but in my opinion worth it, I now have the AT's like JHM and I am doing more highway driving now with my job, they are a good tire too. For a agressive tire tread, the STT is the way to go.

My experience is with mud, but I am sure they would do good on rocky roads to. Just my .02 cents.

Andy

bdan68 · May 3, 2005

Thanks for the replies so far.

jhm, where did you get your tires for $400? That's almost half of the quote I got. Well, actually I did get a quote for the AT also and it was about $100 less. But still, you got a heck of a deal. The quotes I got are from "The Tire Factory." Anybody heard of them and/or have any experience with them? I checked on their website and there's quite a few of them all over the western states.

hihosilverado, thanks for the link, looks like a good tire and a decent price. I can't seem to find a list of the sizes they have in that tire?

Oh yeah, jhm, I like that they're made in the USA. That's one reason I want to go with Cooper. Which reminds me, I got another quote from Les Schwab last night. One of the tires was made by "Dean" and in the USA. I have never heard of Dean. Anybody else? The price was only slightly lower than the Cooper STT, so I won't get them but just curious.

jhm · May 3, 2005

Thanks for the replies so far.

jhm, where did you get your tires for $400? That's almost half of the quote I got. Well, actually I did get a quote for the AT also and it was about $100 less. But still, you got a heck of a deal. The quotes I got are from "The Tire Factory." Anybody heard of them and/or have any experience with them? I checked on their website and there's quite a few of them all over the western states.

hihosilverado, thanks for the link, looks like a good tire and a decent price. I can't seem to find a list of the sizes they have in that tire?

Oh yeah, jhm, I like that they're made in the USA. That's one reason I want to go with Cooper. Which reminds me, I got another quote from Les Schwab last night. One of the tires was made by "Dean" and in the USA. I have never heard of Dean. Anybody else? The price was only slightly lower than the Cooper STT, so I won't get them but just curious.

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I bought them from an independent tire dealer. He also gives free rotation and flat repair. He is also a drop off dealer if you order from Tire Rack.com, but Cooper dosen't sell on Tire Rack, I think they don't want to lose their local dealers. I would check the independents in your area. For me they always beat the big guys who claim they can't be beat. A guy who works with me went to the same dealer as me to get new tires for his truck and he had a set right off a new truck some guy traded in for bigger size, my freind got a nice deal on those.

IDGBZ71 · May 3, 2005

Those mud kings are made by Cavalier. THey also make a sport king a/t which is a nice tire for the $. A friend got a set of 33 mud kings mounted an balanced for about $400. Google mud kings an sport kings for reviews. I was looking at the Coopers but ended up going with Bridgeston Dueler revo, better warrenty and they have a $75 rebate going which ended up being less then the Coopers.

bdan68 · May 3, 2005

Thanks, I will check out a couple of the independent dealers. My original thought when I went to this Tire Factory was that it was an independent dealer. The same store has been in business here for at least 25 years, but I didn't realize he had changed from being simply "Gary's Tire" to "Gary's Tire Factory." Which, I found out is actually a rather large chain. I was trying to avoid the big ones like Discount tire and Les Schwab.

jhm · May 3, 2005

Here in the New England area there is a chain called Town Fair Tire. They advertise everywhere, constantly and claim they have the lowest prices, don't waste your time looking elswhere, etc, etc. They have never been able to beat the guy I go to and I am in and out in no time, not sitting in a waiting room with 20 other people who belive the ad and are camped out there for a couple hours.

hihosilverado · May 3, 2005

Those mud kings are made by Cavalier. THey also make a sport king a/t which is a nice tire for the $. A friend got a set of 33 mud kings mounted an balanced for about $400. Google mud kings an sport kings for reviews. I was looking at the Coopers but ended up going with Bridgeston Dueler revo, better warrenty and they have a $75 rebate going which ended up being less then the Coopers.

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Yeah I think Cavalier must be a subsidiary of BFG, I always just assumed they were Cavalier brand until I did a little research. Kind of like how Dayton tires are actually owned by Bridgestone-Firestone. There are so many tire companies and myths out there. For example, apparently the Michelins that sears sells arent real michelins, but made at a cooper plant, who knows! Then a tire salesman recently told me Michelin makes some Uniroyal tires. BTW, the Mud Kings have a nice stamp on the side that says "made in the USA." They do make them in the 265/75/16 and I think it is a D load range tire. I am sure the Coopers are better, and if you want to spend the cash I would go with them, but it never hurts to save a little money if you dont need the best. I have had a tire saga recently on my 04, I will post about it in a new thread so I dont hijack this one.

bdan68 · May 3, 2005

Alright, here's another option for almost $200 less: the Dunlop Radial Mud Rover. Any opinions on this one? I can get them for $592 whereas the tire I really want (Cooper STT) is $778. Are the Coopers $200 better?

jhm · May 4, 2005

Those mud kings are made by Cavalier. THey also make a sport king a/t which is a nice tire for the $. A friend got a set of 33 mud kings mounted an balanced for about $400. Google mud kings an sport kings for reviews. I was looking at the Coopers but ended up going with Bridgeston Dueler revo, better warrenty and they have a $75 rebate going which ended up being less then the Coopers.

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Yeah I think Cavalier must be a subsidiary of BFG, I always just assumed they were Cavalier brand until I did a little research. Kind of like how Dayton tires are actually owned by Bridgestone-Firestone. There are so many tire companies and myths out there. For example, apparently the Michelins that sears sells arent real michelins, but made at a cooper plant, who knows! Then a tire salesman recently told me Michelin makes some Uniroyal tires. BTW, the Mud Kings have a nice stamp on the side that says "made in the USA." They do make them in the 265/75/16 and I think it is a D load range tire. I am sure the Coopers are better, and if you want to spend the cash I would go with them, but it never hurts to save a little money if you dont need the best. I have had a tire saga recently on my 04, I will post about it in a new thread so I dont hijack this one.

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You can find out who made your tires and even at which plant, since most mfr's have more than one. The info is in the DOT Serial number. You can also determine when the tire was made from the serial number. Go to http://www.tirelitigation.com/sidewall_markings.html

bdan68 · May 4, 2005

Well, I'm going with a totally different tire.

Decided to save $200 and compromise a little on the off-road ability, and get a longer lasting tire and possibly better gas mileage then I would've got with a mud tire.

I ordered a set of Bridgestone Duelers (All Terrain) from Costco. Price is $147 per tire and that price includes mounting/balancing, 50,000 mile treadwear warranty, Lifetime balancing, Lifetime rotation, Lifetime flat repair, Lifetime air pressure checks, road hazard warranty, PLUS I can return them within 30 days if I don't like them.

I didn't think I could go wrong with that deal. Oh, BTW, these are a Load Range D. My uncle tells me the ride will be terrible because of this, but I'll see. If it's so bad I can't live with it I'll return them before the 30 days is up.

IDGBZ71 · May 4, 2005

I think you'll be happy with the dueler at, I had them before I got my Revos. BTW the ride isn't bad at all. They did very well for me, being I use the truck for hunting, fishing, camping etc. I did get about 60,000 out of my dueler with proper rotation an balance. The Bridgestone 30 day trial is a nice option.

jhm · May 4, 2005

Well, I'm going with a totally different tire.

Decided to save $200 and compromise a little on the off-road ability, and get a longer lasting tire and possibly better gas mileage then I would've got with a mud tire.

I ordered a set of Bridgestone Duelers (All Terrain) from Costco. Price is $147 per tire and that price includes mounting/balancing, 50,000 mile treadwear warranty, Lifetime balancing, Lifetime rotation, Lifetime flat repair, Lifetime air pressure checks, road hazard warranty, PLUS I can return them within 30 days if I don't like them.

I didn't think I could go wrong with that deal. Oh, BTW, these are a Load Range D. My uncle tells me the ride will be terrible because of this, but I'll see. If it's so bad I can't live with it I'll return them before the 30 days is up.

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Sounds like a good deal. Don't worry about the D rating, I have run E rated tires and the ride is not bad. That lifetime air pressure check, you should ignore. Always check pressure when the tire is COLD, not even driven a few miles, it will throw the reading way off. Get a quality gage and check them yourself.