Topic: 'Cooper' Discoverer Mud & Snow Tires

[Deborah]

Hi all.

Personally, I have never heard of Cooper Discoverer M & S but these were recommended to me when I called a supposedly large tire sales place near where I live. 

I called to compare the prices of the Dunlop winter tires and the Bridgestone Blizzaks.  I was previously quoted $235 x 4 for the tires plus $15 x 4 for the installation and balancing etc for the blizzaks, on the wider tire (265/65R17).  They suggested I go with the less wide tire of 245/70R17 and quoted me $204 per tire plus the $15 each.

From another place I was quoted $215 each for the Dunlops and $240 each for the Michelins.

I have a 2005 4Runner V8.  Last year I just had my all-seasons and found the truck handled ok (it was my first winter with this truck).  But, I won't go out if the weather is really bad.  My 1997 4Runner handles like crap in the winter and I don't like driving it on snow and ice.

This year I want 4 snows, and I'm going to put them on my existing rims and leave them on these rims and get new rims for my all-seasons.

I have done a search on this forum and haven't found anyone talking about Cooper tires.  Does anyone know anything about them?  It's not about penny pinching for me but rather getting a good tire at a decent price.  I'd happily pay the $204 for the Blizzaks if thats why the experts here recommend.  I was quoted a price of $160 each, installed and balanced for the Coopers.

I'd appreciate opinions on this.  Thanks very much.
Deb

oops, almost forgot to mention that Canadian Tire said they didn't have tires to fit my SUV.

[mdxtasy]

Which Blizzaks, Michelin's tires were you quoted for?

WS50?  WS60?  XIce? 

[Deborah]

ah geez, I thought I was being so thorough.

Neither place, prior to finding out about the Cooper tires, gave me a lot of info.  They just looked up the winter tire based on my existing tires and gave me those prices.  I'm thinking no to the Michelin as they are significantly more.  I thought the Blizzaks were supposed to be pretty good and while this other place sells all kinds (including Blizzaks), they were negative about the Blizzaks and said they are good for the first season but not so much after that.  I can only tell you what limited info they gave me. 

I want info on the Cooper tires in general.  Sorry I can't provide more details at this time.

[mdxtasy]

ah geez, I thought I was being so thorough.

Neither place, prior to finding out about the Cooper tires, gave me a lot of info.  They just looked up the winter tire based on my existing tires and gave me those prices.  I'm thinking no to the Michelin at they are significantly more.  I thought the Blizzaks were supposed to be pretty good and while this other place sells all kinds (including Blizzaks), they were negative about the Blizzaks and said they are good for the first season but not so much after that.  I can only tell you what limited info they gave me. 

I want info on the Cooper tires in general.  Sorry I can't provide more details at this time.

Blizzak's are softer tires which is why it's so great of the box.  But I'd still think they're good for a couple seasons (like most winter tires).

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/mc/bridgestone_ws-50.htm

Nokian WR's are winters that are supposedly good year round. 

[gotak]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/mc/wintertiretest06-07_4.htm

Above is the review not from the Can Driver site sure if those are the ones you are looking at.

Snow tires in general will be better then all seasons with some exception where people weren't happy with a couple. Did you consider getting your stuff online from tiretrends, 1010tires or Tirerack might give you slightly better pricing.

[IslandCX7]

I have had studded cooper on my minivan for 4 years they were great, we also have discoverer mud & snow on our pilot, after 4 years they show very little wear (do alot of driving) and handle like a dream, not a lot of road noise, great traction, personally I am in the same boat, have been trying to decide on the same tires, (cooper vs michelin latitude x-ice) so far the only plus that i seen for the michelin is the price, hope this helps!

[Deborah]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/mc/wintertiretest06-07_4.htm

Above is the review not from the Can Driver site sure if those are the ones you are looking at.

quote]

Thx for this link.  These tires that I found out about today do not have studs.  I'll search on that site for more info specific to Cooper.

IslandCX7:  thx for the info.  The Michelins that I was quoted on were the most expensive of all...

[IslandCX7]

michelin's right now have a $50 or $60 rebate on them, I'm not sure if you have a Costco close at had but your tire size is slightly different from what I am looking for the price I was quoted was for 235/65/17 for $834 install & balanced taxes included. I was also quoted $150/tire for the coopers installed & balanced plus tax. just my two cents!! From what I've been finding out you can never get a straight answer on tires and which is a better tire for your conditions, everyone is always trying to sell what they have and would always say what they have is always better then the rest!!

[airbalancer]

http://www.coopertires.com/Flash/index.aspx

Cooper has been around for a long time.
The use to have a plant in Cobourg

And there are always Hercules Tires http://www.herculestire.com/

[Deborah]

Thank you to those who have responded. 

I checked out tiretrends.com and they don't carry Cooper (not that I found anyway).

And yeah, I agree that people are always trying to talk up the ones that they sell.  However, as far as I know, the place I contacted that recommended the Coopers also sell all the others. 

As far as the size goes, everyone tells me that the less wide tire is better in the snow.  I have those honkin' big tires on there now ~ 26565R17 ~ but 2 places recommended I get the thinner ones (24570R17).

[mdxtasy]

Thank you to those who have responded. 

I checked out tiretrends.com and they don't carry Cooper (not that I found anyway).

And yeah, I agree that people are always trying to talk up the ones that they sell.  However, as far as I know, the place I contacted that recommended the Coopers also sell all the others. 

As far as the size goes, everyone tells me that the less wide tire is better in the snow.  I have those honkin' big tires on there now ~ 26565R17 ~ but 2 places recommended I get the thinner ones (24570R17).

Thinner is better....more pressure onto the smaller contact patch.

[MKII]

Hi all.

Personally, I have never heard of Cooper Discoverer M & S but these were recommended to me when I called a supposedly large tire sales place near where I live. 

I called to compare the prices of the Dunlop winter tires and the Bridgestone Blizzaks.  I was previously quoted $235 x 4 for the tires plus $15 x 4 for the installation and balancing etc for the blizzaks, on the wider tire (265/65R17).  They suggested I go with the less wide tire of 245/70R17 and quoted me $204 per tire plus the $15 each.

From another place I was quoted $215 each for the Dunlops and $240 each for the Michelins.

I have a 2005 4Runner V8.  Last year I just had my all-seasons and found the truck handled ok (it was my first winter with this truck).  But, I won't go out if the weather is really bad.  My 1997 4Runner handles like crap in the winter and I don't like driving it on snow and ice.

This year I want 4 snows, and I'm going to put them on my existing rims and leave them on these rims and get new rims for my all-seasons.

I have done a search on this forum and haven't found anyone talking about Cooper tires.  Does anyone know anything about them?  It's not about penny pinching for me but rather getting a good tire at a decent price.  I'd happily pay the $204 for the Blizzaks if thats why the experts here recommend.  I was quoted a price of $160 each, installed and balanced for the Coopers.

I'd appreciate opinions on this.  Thanks very much.
Deb

oops, almost forgot to mention that Canadian Tire said they didn't have tires to fit my SUV.

Cooper tires are well known in Europe and have a very good reputation amongst the high end performance drivers.
http://www.coopertires.com/html/dealerlocator_na.aspx
http://www.coopertires.com/Flash/index.aspx

Appears the closest dealer to you is Evans Service
(519)364-1957
557 Tenth Street
Hanover, ON N4N 1R6

Meaford is close as well http://www.tirediscounter.ca/SmithAuto_Meaford.html

[KRS]

 I have the Discoverer mud and snows on my pickup (for 2 Years now) and am very pleased with them. Excellent snow traction very good on ice , though so so on wet pavement. No real difference in ride quality from my summer tires. The only downside is that there is a noticeable increase in fuel consumption. They certainly are wearing better then the Blizzaks I had before, and I find them every bit as good for traction.
 I've also had the Cooper Weathermaster ST2's on the Corolla I used to have and they had very good traction but did make the car feel more "Squirmy" on dry pavement then the summer tires. In my experience Coopers Snow tires are very good tires for trucks and family cars. If you can get them at a better price then your other options I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
 
 

[Deborah]

I have the Discoverer mud and snows on my pickup (for 2 Years now) and am very pleased with them. Excellent snow traction very good on ice , though so so on wet pavement. No real difference in ride quality from my summer tires. The only downside is that there is a noticeable increase in fuel consumption. They certainly are wearing better then the Blizzaks I had before, and I find them every bit as good for traction.
 I've also had the Cooper Weathermaster ST2's on the Corolla I used to have and they had very good traction but did make the car feel more "Squirmy" on dry pavement then the summer tires. In my experience Coopers Snow tires are very good tires for trucks and family cars. If you can get them at a better price then your other options I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
 
 

Well thank you very much! 

I'll save over $175 plus tax if I go with these Coopers...as compared to the Blizzaks. 

And to the poster prior, the place I contacted was called Desboro Tires, in, Desboro.  I think it's about a half hour + drive from my place.

I really appreciate everyone's opinion...likewise I'm getting lots of info in the technical section regarding a problem I'm having.  I'm now upset, because of some of the thoughts and comments, but knowledge is power. 

[dr_spock]

I have Cooper snow tires on my Honda and they seem to be ok.  No problems so far.

[dorin]

Just keep in mind that Mud and Snow tires are not as well-tested as real snow tires (the ones with the mountain and snowflake symbol).  Mud and Snow tires are essentially all-season tires with a fairly wide tread spacing.  That's all that's required for the M+S designation.  So if you're looking specifically for winter tires then do yourself a favour and get real snow tires, not M+S ones.

From http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tire3.htm

All-Season Tires with Mud and Snow Designation
If a tire has MS, M+S, M/S or M&S on it, then it meets the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) guidelines for a mud and snow tire. For a tire to receive the Mud and Snow designation, it must meet these geometric requirements (taken from the bulletin "RMA Snow Tire Definitions for Passenger and Light Truck (LT) Tires"):

      1. New tire treads shall have multiple pockets or slots in at least one tread edge that meet the following dimensional requirements based on mold dimensions:
            a. Extend toward the tread center at least 1/2 inch from the footprint edge, measured perpendicularly to the tread centerline.
            b. A minimum cross-sectional width of 1/16 inch.
            c. Edges of pockets or slots at angles between 35 and 90 degrees from the direction of travel.

      2. The new tire tread contact surface void area will be a minimum of 25 percent based on mold dimensions.

The rough translation of this specification is that the tire must have a row of fairly big grooves that start at the edge of the tread and extend toward the center of the tire. Also, at least 25 percent of the surface area must be grooves.

The idea is to give the tread pattern enough void space so that it can bite through the snow and get traction. However, as you can see from the specification, there is no testing involved.

To address this shortcoming, the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the tire industry have agreed on a standard that does involve testing. The designation is called Severe Snow Use and has a specific icon (see image at right), which goes next to the M/S designation.

In order to meet this standard, tires must be tested using an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) testing procedure described in "RMA Definition for Passenger and Light Truck Tires for use in Severe Snow Conditions":

Tires designed for use in severe snow conditions are recognized by manufacturers to attain a traction index equal to or greater than 110 compared to the ASTM E-1136 Standard Reference Test Tire when using the ASTM F-1805 snow traction test with equivalent percentage loads.

These tires, in addition to meeting the geometrical requirements for an M/S designation, are tested on snow using a standardized test procedure. They have to do better than the standard reference tire in order to meet the requirements for Severe Snow Use.

[HeliDriver]

Just keep in mind that Mud and Snow tires are not as well-tested as real snow tires (the ones with the mountain and snowflake symbol).  Mud and Snow tires are essentially all-season tires with a fairly wide tread spacing.  That's all that's required for the M+S designation.  So if you're looking specifically for winter tires then do yourself a favour and get real snow tires, not M+S ones.

From http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tire3.htm

I was thinking the same thing, but then decided to do a bit of research before posting.

The Cooper Discoverer M&S is in fact a true winter tire, with the Mountain/Snowflake symbol & everything.

http://www.coopertire.com/Flash/index.aspx

http://www.betiresmart.ca/buying/winterlist.asp?loc1=buying&loc2=winterList#winterTire04

[articsteve]

I agree with Dorin.

Personally, I'd forget the Coopers for a dedicated winter tire.  

From KRS:  

I've also had the Cooper Weathermaster ST2's on the Corolla I used to have and they had very good traction but did make the car feel more "Squirmy" on dry pavement then the summer tires

The Coopers will be a hard compound tire with big tread.  What you need is a high silica compound tire that "sticks" to icy hard packed covered roads which is what we have up in Grey County (Owen Sound) all the time thanks to the winds. (Owen Sound).

I'd go with the Blizzacks.  That's what Toyota dealers recommend and stock.  

Demand a "cost only" deal from those pirates in Brampton that sold you the 05 "demo"   , in exchange for being less that straight with you.  

[HeliDriver]

Have you actually looked at this tire & checked out Cooper's description on its website? Take a look at all the sipes. Hell, it's even pinned for studs.

I have no idea whether it's any good, but there's little doubt that this is indeed a true winter tire.

[rrocket]

I had some Cooper Weathermaster snow tires on my Lexus GS.  Very good...no problems or complaints.