Cooper Tires Review: Brand Guide

About Cooper Tires

Established in 1914, Cooper has grown to become one of the most popular tire brands in the world. It’s renowned for producing reasonably priced, premium quality tires.

Cooper designs and manufactures tires for different types of vehicles, including passenger cars, SUVs and trucks, just to name a few.

Cooper tires are equipped with a wide range of cutting-edge design features and technologies, which enable the tires to deliver top-notch performances in different weather conditions and terrains.

Besides the Cooper tire range, the company also designs and manufactures tires under different brands like Starfire, Avon Tyres, Roadmaster, Dean, Mastercraft, Dick Cepek and Mickey Thompson.

Most Popular Cooper Tires

Cooper sells tires in almost all categories. Whether you are looking for truck tires or SUV tires, all-season tires or winter tires, there is a high chance you will find a Cooper tire that fits your vehicle and aligns with your needs. Some of its most popular tires include:

Cooper Discoverer AT3

The Discoverer AT3 is a line of all-terrain tires, designed to serve the diverse needs of people who own all-wheel-drive SUVs and trucks.

These tires include the AT3 4S, the AT3 LT and the AT3 XLT. Each tire is manufactured with specific conditions and terrains. So, which Discoverer AT3 tire should you choose for your all-wheel-drive vehicle? Let’s take a closer look at each tire.

Discoverer AT3 4S

As its name suggests, the Discoverer AT3 4S is an all-terrain tire, which you can use through four seasons.

However, one area where this tire tends to outshine most of the others in its category is during winter conditions.

Most all-season tires tend to perform poorly in winter conditions. But with the Discoverer AT3 4S, you never have to worry about your vehicle losing traction in winter.

It’s equipped with Cooper’s exclusive Adaptive-Traction Technology, which helps the tire to grip the surface firmly, regardless of the terrain or the weather conditions.

From rocky to smooth surfaces, snowy or rainy conditions, this tire will always deliver excellent traction and handling.

Cooper has also outfitted this tire with its Secure-Grip 5-rib all-terrain tread pattern, for enhanced traction on sand, mud, rock, dirt, gravel or any other off-road terrain.

And with a treadlife warranty of up to 65,000 miles, you are assured of getting value for your money, if you opt to buy this tire.

AT3 4LT

If you haul and tow heavy loads, then you will need a tire that can comfortably handle the pressure of those heavy payloads without wearing out fast. And this is where the Discoverer AT3 4LT comes in.

It’s equipped with Cooper’s Durable-Tread Technology, featuring a cut-and-chip resistant compound, which is specifically designed for providing traction and longevity on gravel roads.

The tire also features stone ejector ledges, which help to remove gravel from the tread. Cooper has further furnished this tire with Whisper Grooves, which help to minimize tread noise, for a quiet and cozy ride.

This tire is available in a wide range of sizes and specifications. It also comes with a 60,000-mile treadlife warranty.

Discoverer AT3 XLT

The AT3 XLT comes with all the benefits and features that you will find in the AT3 LT in addition to enhanced off-road performance.

If you inspect the tire closely, you will notice that its shoulders have interlocking biting edges, designed to deliver enhanced traction on various conditions and terrains.

Its functional tread extends to the sidewalls, designed to deliver traction and grip during off-road driving.

Also, the extra tread on the sidewalls helps to increase the tire’s puncture resistance and abrasion resistance, especially when you encounter extreme off-road conditions.

It’s available in different sizes, ranging from 15 inches to 20 inches while tread depths range between 16/32-inches and 18/32-inches.

Cooper Discoverer SRX

Designed for SUVs and crossovers, the Discoverer SRX is the latest addition to Cooper’s all-season class.

Replacing the older Discoverer CTS, this newest iteration feature’s the company’s modern tire technologies.

And these technologies help to deliver reliable all-year-round traction, a comfortable and cozy ride as well a long tread life. So, why should you buy this tire for your SUV or crossover? Here are some reasons.

Great On-road Performance

When it comes to on-road performance, you will struggle to find an all-season tire that comes close to the Discoverer SRX.

It delivers a great on-road performance, in a wide range of conditions and surfaces. Cooper has equipped this tire with a silica tread compound, which provides dependable traction on dry pavement and wet roads.

Precise Steering Response

The SRX has also been equipped with Cooper’s STABLEDGE PERFORMANCE technology, which helps to keep the tread blocks stable, resulting in stable and reassured handling on dry pavement.

Easy to Read Tread Wear Indicators

Similar to other tires from this company, the SRX comes with Cooper’s Wear Square technology, which makes it easy for you to check how the tire is wearing and assess its remaining tread life.

Class-leading Treadwear Warranty

Cooper backs the SRX with some of the longest treadwear warranties in the category. The warranty offered will depend on the tire’s speed rating.

The T-rated SRX comes with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty, 70,000 miles for the H-rated version and 65,000 miles for the V-rated version.

It also comes with a 45-day customer satisfaction guarantee. So, if you are not content with its performance, then you can return it for an exchange within 45 days after purchase.

Plenty of Sizes

This tire is available in 45 sizes, which range from 16 inches to 22 inches. Therefore, whether you are driving an Escalade or you are looking for all-season tires for your Honda CR-V, finding at a size that fits your vehicle shouldn’t be a problem.

If you are looking for an all-season tire that will comfortably meet the needs of your daily commute, then the Discoverer SRX will be a decent choice.

Cooper Evolution Tour

The Cooper Evolution Tour is a touring all-season tire, designed for people who are looking for year-round traction, excellent ride comfort, and long-lasting performance.

Available in a vast selection of sizes, the Evolution Tour can fit a wide range of vehicles, including mid-size sedans, compact cars, SUVs, crossovers, minivans and sports sedans, just to name a few. Some of the benefits of buying this tire include:

Quiet and Comfortable Ride

Touring tires should provide a comfortable ride. And the Cooper Evolution Tour is no exception. It’s designed to deliver a cozy, smooth and comfortable ride.

Its ride quality is ultra-comfy and smooth, even when you are driving over uneven surfaces. Furthermore, road noise is perfectly suppressed. Overall, it’s one of the best tires when it comes to ride comfort in its class.

Confident Handling

As much as the Evolution Tour is not a performance tire, it delivers reassured and precise handling.

It has been equipped with Cooper’s Stabiledge Performance technology, which provides tread block stability, resulting in confident handling.

Long Tread Life

Cooper has outfitted this tire with a durable tread compound, designed to go the distance.

It also comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty for the V-rated and H-rated version while the T-rated version is backed by a 65,000-mile warranty.

With more than 52 sizes to choose from, there is a high chance you will find a size that fits your vehicle.

If you are looking for a tire that delivers strong and dependable traction, reassured handling, long-lasting tread as well as a smooth, comfortable and refined ride, then you should add the Evolution Tour to your shopping list.

Cooper Zeon RS3-G1

The Zeon RS3-G1 is an all-season performance tire, specifically engineered for sporty sedans and coupes.

This ultra-high performance tire delivers impressive traction, performance, and handling, without compromising comfort.

With such a huge selection of all-season UHP tires in the market, you may be probably asking yourself why you should purchase this tire. Well, here are a few reasons:

Outstanding Dry Traction

Cooper has utilized a competition-grade silica compound on this tire’s tread. The tread also features a unique asymmetric design, featuring more rubber on the tire’s intermediate rib and outer shoulders.

And this combination of features results in enhanced traction and better road stability. Even when you are undertaking hard cornering maneuvers, you will not experience any loss of grip or handling issues.

Minimal Road Noise

While it’s almost impossible to eliminate road noise completely, Cooper’s Zeon RS3-G1 does a great job to deliver a quiet ride.

Drivers who have used this tire claim that its levels or road noise are almost comparable to those of touring tires, which is no mean achievement.

So, if you are looking for a sporty tire that will give you a comfortable, smooth and quiet ride, then you should check out the Zeon RS3-G1.

Reliable Wet Traction

Ultra high-performance tires are specifically built to be used during summer. And as you may expect, most of them will not provide any traction in wet conditions.

However, the Zeon RS3-G1 tends to take a different approach. It comes with four wide circumferential grooves on its surface, as well as 3D Micro-Gauge sipes on the tread.

These features combine to deliver dependable traction on wet conditions. And since these sipes are full-depth, the tire will continue providing traction even after its tread continues to wear out.

Overall, the Cooper Zeon RS3-G1 will be a great tire choice, if you drive a high-performance sedan or a coupe such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Charger, Audi R8, BMW i8 or AMG GT Coupe, among others.

Cooper Evolution H/T

The Cooper Evolution H/T is an all-season highway tire, designed for SUVs, crossovers and light-duty trucks. So, how does this tire perform in different conditions and terrains?

Dry Performance

Cooper has equipped this tire with an all-season tread compound as well as a unique tread design. And this combination allows the tire to deliver excellent performance and great steering response on dry pavement.

As much as it’s more of a mid-range tire, its responsiveness is almost similar to that of its premium rivals.

Its handling in tight corners is equally impressive. Also, its braking distances are among the shortest in the class.

Wet Performance

The Evolution H/T features wide circumferential grooves and Cooper’s exclusive 3D Micro-Gauge sipes. And this results in enhanced traction on wet and slippery roads.

Also, its tread pattern helps the tire to resist hydroplaning, thus enhancing its grip on the surface even further.

Snowy Roads

According to Cooper, the Evolution H/T comes with some usable traction on roads covered with light snow.

But like most all-season tires, its performance on roads covered with light snow or ice is disappointing.

As much as it may provide some traction, its handling is not as impressive as a dedicated winter tire. Also, its braking distance on snow-covered roads is poor.

So, if you frequently drive on roads covered with ice or snow, then it will be highly advisable to use winter or snow tires.

Overall, the Evolution H/T is a dependable all-season tire, which will get the job done efficiently. While the previous iteration was a good performer, the newest version has significantly raised the performance.

Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring

Introduced in the market in 2014, the CS5 Ultra Touring is, without a doubt, one of the most popular tires from this brand.

It’s engineered for drivers of sedans, coupes, SUVs, and crossovers, looking for a high-performance tire, which can comfortably handle wet, dry and light-snowy roads.

Wet and Dry Performance

As expected, the CS5 Ultra Touring delivers an assured grip on both dry and wet roads. And unlike the previous iteration, the CS5 Ultra Touring tends to deliver better handling, traction, agility and responsiveness on wet roads.

Just like most of the other all-season tires from this company, the CS5 Ultra Touring comes with Cooper’s 3-D Micro-Gauge siping technology, which helps the tire to maintain stability, especially in dynamic driving situations.

Cooper has further outfitted the CS5 Ultra Touring with its exclusive Stabiledge Performance tread, which stabilizes the tread blocks to ensure top-notch handling stability and maximum responsiveness.

Wintertime Performance

The CS5 Ultra Touring is essentially an all-season touring tire. And this means it’s not engineered for heavy winters.

However, if you live in an area that experiences minimal snowing, then this tire will be a reliable choice.

On the other hand, if you live in one of the areas that experience harsh winters, then you should consider other options. It lacks adequate traction for snow-covered roads.

Ride Quality

The CS5 Ultra Touring delivers a comfortable, smooth and refined ride quality. Road noise is minimal, even when you are driving on uneven surfaces.

So, if a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride is a priority, then the CS5 Ultra Touring will be perfectly suited to your driving needs.

Should You Buy the CS5 Ultra Touring?

If you are looking for a budget-friendly set of all-season touring tires, then the CS5 Ultra Touring should be on your list. Despite its poor performance on snowy roads, it competes fairly well when compared to the competition in other areas.

Guarantees and Warranties

Cooper backs its tires with several warranties and guarantees. To qualify for these warranties and guarantees, the tires must be purchased new. Also, you must produce proof of purchase when filing the warranty.

Also, they must be used on the vehicle where they were installed originally. Some of the company’s warranties and guarantees include:

Standard Coverage

If you purchase a new Cooper radial tire and it becomes unusable due to materials or workmanship defect during its first 2/32-inch of tread wear, Cooper will replace the tire with a new one.

And if the tire is worn more than 2/32-inch by the time it becomes unserviceable, then you will be required to pay a replacement charge to get a replacement tire.

The replacement charge you will pay is obtained by multiplying the percentage of original tread depth worn from your tire with the dealer’s current selling price.

Once your replacement tire has been approved, you will be required to pay for its mounting and balancing, as well as other additional charges like taxes.

Coverage for Premium Tires

Cooper also offers additional materials and workmanship warranty for some of its premium tires.

If your Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring, Zeon, Discoverer SRX, or any other eligible tire becomes unusable due to materials and workmanship defects during its usable tread life, Cooper will replace it with a new one, free of charge.

Customer Satisfaction Guarantee

Cooper also offers a 45-day customer satisfaction guarantee for light truck and passenger tires. So, if you are not satisfied with your tire, then you can return it within 45 days of purchase and you will get a free replacement.

Tread Wear Warranty

Just like other tire manufacturers, Cooper also offers a treadwear warranty on some of its tires.

It’s important to note that Cooper’s treadwear warranty is prorated and there is no free replacement period under any circumstance.

Treadwear mileage warranty varies from one tire to the other.

Why Choose Cooper Tires

With so many tire brands on the market, you may be probably asking yourself why you should choose Cooper instead of the other companies. Well, here are some reasons why you should consider choosing Cooper tires.

Emphasis on Handling, Safety and Stability

Cooper tires are renowned for their exceptional handling, stability and safety. And this can be attributed to one of its key technologies known as Adaptive Traction.

The Adaptive Traction technology helps to improve a vehicle’s overall traction, even when it’s traversing through rugged terrains.

There is also the Secure Grip tread design, featuring a five-rib tread pattern. This unique tread design helps to supply adequate traction on both dry and wet surfaces. It also improves a vehicle’s handling stability, especially when cornering at high speeds.

Outstanding Comfort

Cooper tires deliver outstanding ride comfort, regardless of the weather conditions or the terrain.

And this is made possible by various technologies like Stabledge and 3D Micro-Gauge siping.

Also, all Cooper tires come with some of the newest tread compounds, resulting in a quiet, smooth, comfortable, and refined ride, for both the driver and the passengers.

Long Tread Life

Cooper has worked hard to satisfy all its customers. And to achieve this, the company makes sure that all its tires are durable enough to go the distance before they need a replacement.

To this end, Cooper tires come with superior tread compounds, which deliver excellent utility as well as great value for money.

Cooper also backs its tires with premium or standard warranties, which help to protect the buyer against loss.

Also, most of its tires come with a 45-day customer satisfaction guarantee, designed to help the buyer decide whether it’s the right tire for their vehicle.

Vast Selection of Tires

Cooper manufacturers tires for almost all types of passenger vehicles. Whether you drive a sedan, crossover, coupe, SUV, or light pickup, there is a high chance you will find a Cooper tire that fits your vehicle.

Also, it designs and manufactures tires for different driving needs, ranging from all-terrain tires to ultra-high performance models.

It also designs and manufactures tires for different driving conditions such as dry roads, wet roads and winter conditions.

Cost of Cooper Tires

As noted earlier, Cooper tires are reasonably priced, compared to other tire manufacturers.

For instance, a popular tire such as the Trendsetter SE costs approximately $79 to $89 on most tire outlets.

And if you were to purchase a similar tire like the Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus, it will cost you approximately $87 to $138.

Cooper Tires Pros

• Reasonably-priced yet high-quality tires
• Extended treadwear warranties
• Tires engineered with a focus on safety

Cooper Tires Cons

• A limited selection of OE tires

Our Take

Cooper tires deliver a perfect blend of top-notch performance, ride stability, assured handling, and a comfortable ride, at an affordable price. However, its limited selection of original equipment tires may prove to be an issue for some drivers. But overall, its reasonable price point, a wide range of replacement tire options, and its focus on safety make it a decent choice for most drivers.