Cooper Discoverer Radial LT tire review.

[colbystephens]

So I've had this new-to-me '90 Blazer since August, and the previous owner put on some 33" Cooper Discoverer tires:


Steves Loop-58 by colbyjstephens, on Flickr

I was fairly indifferent to the tires that were on the truck, because my intent is to get this truck built up fairly quickly this winter/spring so that it's sitting on my set of 38" Super Swamper SS tires.

But, in the meantime I've been wheeling these tires. They've done surprisingly well, and would make for a great all-purpose tire. Now, I think this tire has been discontinued, but it would follow that a review of this tire would be similar to their other all terrain tires.

I was particularly concerned about the strength of the sidewall on these tires, being that the rocks here in NV are fairly sharp. They've held up well in low-pressure situations.


Steves Loop-16 by colbyjstephens, on Flickr

The tread is not real sticky, and it doesn't conform to the terrain like you would want from a hard-core off road tire, but with finesse they've worked great.

Unfortunately, this morning I went out to find that one was completely flat. It appears it delaminated on the inner sidewall where there is some print embossed. To be fair to the tire, though, these are in pretty rough shape to begin with.

If I were in the market for a similar tire, I'd consider this brand again!

 

[meanboyjr]

My K5 had those Cooper Discoverer LTs on it when I bought it in 2005. They were pretty hashed, but they held up long enough for me to replace them with a set of BFG ATs. I didn't find much to complain about when they were on the truck - decent ride and traction, low noise, not a lot of fuss, even for tires that were clearly near the end of their useful life.

I think Cooper still makes a Discoverer LT, but it's not the same tire. I haven't given much thought to Cooper tires in general, but a friend of mine has a set of Discoverer STTs on his Ranger and he swears by them.

 

[Cruz89K5]

It was a set of those on a friends S10 blazer that got me to be a fan of Cooper tires. I'm on my third set of STT's. I've had BFG's, Toyos, and Nittos on the trucks, nothing compares to the Coopers with the way I abuse them.

 

[swettysblazer]

Yup, I have the same tires on my truck right now. I switched to them from my 35's just for now, and they really are a great all around tire. Too bad they don't make them anymore.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

When I was in HS several of my friends ran them. This was a good 15ish years ago. Always seemed like a step between AT's and MT's. Quite a few of them abused the piss out of theirs for years.

 

[colbystephens]

Always seemed like a step between AT's and MT's.

That's probably a pretty good description!

 

[79rustyk10]

Ive heard nothing but good about Cooper tires.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Only problem I have with them now is that since they sorta stepped up into the "big leagues" with the big name tire places their prices have gone up to that level.

Used to be you could get a set of Cooper truck tires for 3/4 the price of the BFG's, Goodyears, etc. Not anymore.

 

[runamok151]

cooper makes a great tire. they're around $40-50 less per tire than bfg or goodyear around here. they still make their discoverer tire. it's the A/T3 now. the st maxx is a newer design that looks to fill the void between the A/T3 and the more aggressive STT.
http://us.coopertire.com/Tires/Light-Truck.aspx

mastercraft are also made by cooper and are aimed more at the fleet/ work truck market. they're a little cheaper than coopers but don't appear to be made cheaper. i was at my friend's shop a couple weeks ago and they were putting a set of the courser A/Ts on someone's F250. it was a really good looking tire and about $55 cheaper than an equivalent size BGF AT. i'm going to need new tires in a couple months and i'm seriously thinking about switching from the BFG ATs (which i swear by) to the mastercraft.
http://www.mastercrafttires.com/htm...age=mastercraft_tires_light_truck_courser_AT2

 

[79rustyk10]

Man Alive colby, I still love that color combo, thats a damn good looking truck.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

cooper makes a great tire. they're around $40-50 less per tire than bfg or goodyear around here. they still make their discoverer tire. it's the A/T3 now. the st maxx is a newer design that looks to fill the void between the A/T3 and the more aggressive STT.
http://us.coopertire.com/Tires/Light-Truck.aspx

mastercraft are also made by cooper and are aimed more at the fleet/ work truck market. they're a little cheaper than coopers but don't appear to be made cheaper. i was at my friend's shop a couple weeks ago and they were putting a set of the courser A/Ts on someone's F250. it was a really good looking tire and about $55 cheaper than an equivalent size BGF AT. i'm going to need new tires in a couple months and i'm seriously thinking about switching from the BFG ATs (which i swear by) to the mastercraft.
http://www.mastercrafttires.com/htm...age=mastercraft_tires_light_truck_courser_AT2

Sorry, I should have clarified, for their STT mud tire. When they made that a "3 ply sidewall direct competition for BFG MT" tire the price went up noticeably. Rest of their line is still a 2 ply sidewall tire and priced less.

The S/T has been around for a decade or so now and is a good tire. Aimed straight at the "want more than an AT but don't need a MT" crowd. I think it was their "well, the LT worked well, let's make a modern equivalent" design circa 2000.

Those Mastercraft AT's are great. I've run Cooper offbrands before with good luck and earlier this year we put a set of those Mastercraft AT's on the Econoline van my work crew drives around in. The crewleader RAVES about them and the van definitely gets through more stuff out in the fields than it used to. The tread is definitely more "going offroading" oriented than a lot of the "more offroad than a highway tire" AT's out now.

 

[Cruz89K5]

Those Mastercraft AT's are great. I've run Cooper offbrands before with good luck and earlier this year we put a set of those Mastercraft AT's on the Econoline van my work crew drives around in. The crewleader RAVES about them and the van definitely gets through more stuff out in the fields than it used to. The tread is definitely more "going offroading" oriented than a lot of the "more offroad than a highway tire" AT's out now.

I had come courser c/t's a few years ago. Never could find them again around here, local place doesnt carry them anymore. I loved them. Lasted a long time, quiet and comfortable.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

I'm definitely considering a set of Mastercraft A/T's or maybe the C/T's for the Tracker's next set of tires.

Oh, and dealers near you off of their website:

SEMINOLE TIRE CENTER
211 EAST WILSON AVENUE
SEMINOLE, OK 74868
(405)382-8473
0.67 miles

CLEMENCE TIRE
1100 NORTH BROADWAY
TECUMSEH, OK 74873
(405)598-6920
14.93 miles

JIM'S TIRE & AUTO
415 WEST GROS VENTRE STREET
PURCELL, OK 73080
(405)527-9070
42.08 miles

STANDRIDGE TIRE
101 NORTH ASH
PAULS VALLEY, OK 73075
(405)238-5341
45.87 miles

 

[Cruz89K5]

I'm definitely considering a set of Mastercraft A/T's or maybe the C/T's for the Tracker's next set of tires.

Oh, and dealers near you off of their website:

SEMINOLE TIRE CENTER
211 EAST WILSON AVENUE
SEMINOLE, OK 74868
(405)382-8473
0.67 miles

CLEMENCE TIRE
1100 NORTH BROADWAY
TECUMSEH, OK 74873
(405)598-6920
14.93 miles

JIM'S TIRE & AUTO
415 WEST GROS VENTRE STREET
PURCELL, OK 73080
(405)527-9070
42.08 miles

STANDRIDGE TIRE
101 NORTH ASH
PAULS VALLEY, OK 73075
(405)238-5341
45.87 miles

Maybe the two places I went to werent enough .

It would be hard for me to give up the coopers, even for another mastercraft tire.

 

[colbystephens]

Man Alive colby, I still love that color combo, thats a damn good looking truck.

Thanks. Not sure if I'm too excited about the color combination, but it does look good against that red rock soil!

 

[jekquistk5]

whats with the rope under the cap? Just wondering sorry for the hijack

 

[onetonbb74]

I think it was to tie down a christmas tree...

 

[colbystephens]

I think it was to tie down a christmas tree...

Yep. Worked real well, though I wish the loops had been smaller. I had to wrap the two middle loops around the hook of the ratchet strap 3 times to prevent the metal hook from being against the window. Good make-shift method till I build a lumber rack. I took them out today though.

 

[jekquistk5]

Cool i always wanted to put something like that to help lift the top off. Would make it easier picking up and putting back on.

 

[colbystephens]

Well, I'm not sure how you'd secure the ropes to the topper itself. I tied loops and put them around the bolts as I bolted the top down.

On a similar topic, I used to live in a place that had an unfinished garage with open rafters. I tied giant rope loops to the rafters and would back my truck into the shop. Then, unbolt the topper and lift up the back end and slip a loop under the whole back end of the topper. Then I'd go to the front of the topper and do the same, then drive out from underneath it. Was real slick. Real quick. Low tech, low buck.