Anything better than Cooper Discoverer for snow/noise?

[JPL]

Sorry if this seems like a repost, I posted in the wrong forum, mine is a gen4 not 3, duh, anyway, ready to pull the trigger on a set of tires and searches & posted here and it seems that the Cooper Discoverer AT3's are in the lead. Main concerns are snow & road noise followed by tread life. Others that were brought up were Micheline LTX, but for every good response there are two that say "not great in snow", Firestone Destination, Bridgestone Revo II's (not too much info), & BFG A/T's, but with the BFG's came opinions of beeing on the louder side. I am coming out of a set of Geolandars, they were pretty good, but in the snow they seemed they needed to warm up a bit before they started to grip & on the last 1/3 of their life they got a little noisy. Thanks guys/gals any info would be great!

 

[boondoggle]

Everything, tires included, is a tradeoff.

I've got the AT3s and would buy them again. We get snow in CO and between the tires and all time 4WD have never had an issue.

Road noise is great. No complaints.

They're holding up well so far. They look nice and I believe they are even made in USA.

Cost less than Michelins. They're softer than the Michelins so they wear a bit faster, but you want a bit softer compound in the cold anyhow. Worth the compromise to me (plus, they cost a lot less).

Not as agressive (looking) as the BFGs but for the money, you're only get a 40k mile tire which I don't think has the snow capabilities. I think they're geared more towards offroad; dirt, mud rocks. etc.

Good luck, we're all counting on you.

 

[Doozi]

If you can get a good deal on the Goodyear Silent Armor, they would be my recommendation. I have been pretty impressed with them in all of the conditions that they've been through in Colorado over the last three years.

 

[WXman]

I don't think you're going to beat the Cooper AT3.

They are silent on the road. Like, literally silent. They are awesome in every terrain and weather condition. They are made in USA. They are half the price of Michelins. And they have a 55,000 mile tread warranty (maybe 60K, can't remember). They are the best of modern tire technology with silica compound, lots of sipes, serrated grooves, and low rolling resistance.

I have used dozens of HT, AT, and MT tires and these are my favorites by far at this point. I got my set for $415 delivered last month from discounttiredirect. You can't beat it.

 

[maine runner]

I second the GY Wrangler Silent Armor's. Not cheap but do well in 102" annual winters.

Sorry to say I'm not getting the benefit having just moved to KY.

 

[gshadow325]

I have run the following on my 4runner in the last 6 months

in order from start to current

-Bought the truck with Michelin LTX A/T2 265/70/16
drove nice and smooth, quite and handle great
-BFG Rugged Terrain TA 275/70/18
nice quite tire, tread not too agressive tread, didnt do any offroading
-BFG All Terrain TA KOs 285/65/18
real nice tire, incredibly smooth tire for the more agressive tread. did not notice it being any louder than before with the rugged terrain
-Nitto Mud Grappler 33x12.50x18
OMG WTF loud! like airplane was about to take off. i had to crank the stereo up all the time to get over the noise. this lasted all of 30 miles

Now i am back on the BFG AT Ko's. I really like them, i bought these 285/65/18 used on craigslist for $240 for all 4 tires, bought the rugged terrain for $100 for all four and just sold them for $140 LoL. Also just bought and sold the mud terrains too.

I do however have experience with the cooper discovery ATR's on my volvo.


I had a ball with them in the snow. they were great even with this car's mediocre AWD system.


I was one of the few cars out when we had a huge storm a few years ago!
this is me out driving to pick up my friend. look how high the snow is. i took a picture of him from my car, then he took a picture of my car from where he was.



i suggest, scouring craigslist for a used set. lots of people are able to score a decent set for cheap. [MENTION=59048]S p a r k y[/MENTION] scored a set of cheap used tires from a guy that had a jeep!

A big factor in what tire to choose is what size you going to do. Some tires in 16's dont do as well in 18's or vice versa. so try and compare apple to apples.

good luck, you have lots of choices and you are going to get LOTS of different opinions.

 

[2StepsAhead]

Love my AT3's, highly recommend them.

 

[Mikep.]

I have firestone destination at on a wrangler for two winters now have no complaints. I have been running at3s of the 4runner since september and really like them also. I look forward to the at3s this winter.

 

[EHNWI]

What about the Toyo Open Country AT2s? I've read good things. How do these compare to the Coopers?

 

[SCelcid16]

I don't think you're going to beat the Cooper AT3.

They are silent on the road. Like, literally silent. They are awesome in every terrain and weather condition. They are made in USA. They are half the price of Michelins. And they have a 55,000 mile tread warranty (maybe 60K, can't remember). They are the best of modern tire technology with silica compound, lots of sipes, serrated grooves, and low rolling resistance.

I have used dozens of HT, AT, and MT tires and these are my favorites by far at this point. I got my set for $415 delivered last month from discounttiredirect. You can't beat it.

Just ordered mine today for $800 with labor and tax included for all 4 tires. How did you get yours so cheap? Do you install them yourself? Hoping I like these tires.

 

[JPL]

Just ordered mine today for $800 with labor and tax included for all 4 tires. How did you get yours so cheap? Do you install them yourself? Hoping I like these tires.

Cooper Tire Reward - Get up to a $80 Visa Rebate Card

Went with the AT3's & with this discount, without adding tax, mount, balance & old tire whatever, I think they came to $115.00 each!

 

[WXman]

Just ordered mine today for $800 with labor and tax included for all 4 tires. How did you get yours so cheap? Do you install them yourself? Hoping I like these tires.

Well the everyday price was $158 each. So that's $632. Then I got $80 Cooper rebate which is going on right now, $30 Discount Tire Direct rebate, and an instant discount for ordering online. Ended up paying $415 total for the tires.

Then I took them to Walmart and paid $52 for mounting and lifetime balancing/rotation.

I don't expect to need tires again for at least 3-4 years.

Did I mention these are Consumer Reports #1 pick right now? I'm not a fan, but a lot of people live by what that magazine says.

 

[SCelcid16]

Well the everyday price was $158 each. So that's $632. Then I got $80 Cooper rebate which is going on right now, $30 Discount Tire Direct rebate, and an instant discount for ordering online. Ended up paying $415 total for the tires.

Then I took them to Walmart and paid $52 for mounting and lifetime balancing/rotation.

I don't expect to need tires again for at least 3-4 years.

Did I mention these are Consumer Reports #1 pick right now? I'm not a fan, but a lot of people live by what that magazine says.

I am hoping that they will last more than 4 years. I dont do much off-roading, but I would rather have them and not need them, than not have them and need them. Thanks for the help!

 

[theliman]

What about the Toyo Open Country AT2s? I've read good things. How do these compare to the Coopers?

These have performed perfectly in the first few snows I've experienced. Also extremely quiet, but with a (I think) more aggressive look. Not gonna find them as cheap as the Coopers

 

[awdjunkies]

Even though some people frown upon having "multiple" threads regarding the same basic question, "Which tire is best on x type of weather?". . (And just to clear things up OP, I am not here to steal your thunder!!) I wholeheartedly appreciate all of you guys whom have started threads such as these.

With that being said, Let me tell you my personal dilemma.. I am going to be buying some tires for my 4th gen here in a few weeks and I am torn between the Hankook Dynapro ATMs and the General Grabber AT2s just because here I not only see snow at any depth(From a few inches to a foot or so in the higher elevations such as Tahoe/Truckee/over the pass on the way to the Bay Area.
I know everyone has their personal reason why they purchased what they currently run or are running, but I was/am looking for a good all around tire and I had chosen the Falken Rocky MT ATS, the Yokohama Geolander A/TS, and finally, the Hankook & General tires I mentioned earlier.
Reason why I narrowed it down to Hankook and General is because of the winter driving privilege these two afford, Namely the General's with their optional Studs you can integrate into their compound. That to me is a win win situation.
I guess, in the end? It may just come down to purchasing the General's .. Some of you guys close to me may want to chime in and seriously speaking, I would love to hear what you have to add..

Again, OP sorry for looking as if I wanted to take the reins but just wanted to give my 2 pennies worth and at the same time looking for other to guide me and validate the reasons for going with said tire (s)..

 

[gshadow325]

Just ordered mine today for $800 with labor and tax included for all 4 tires. How did you get yours so cheap? Do you install them yourself? Hoping I like these tires.

depends on tire size, location, shipping costs BEFORE the rebates

Cooper Tire Reward - Get up to a $80 Visa Rebate Card

Went with the AT3's & with this discount, without adding tax, mount, balance & old tire whatever, I think they came to $115.00 each!

what size?

 

[gshadow325]

I don't think you're going to beat the Cooper AT3.

They are silent on the road. Like, literally silent. They are awesome in every terrain and weather condition. They are made in USA. They are half the price of Michelins. And they have a 55,000 mile tread warranty (maybe 60K, can't remember). They are the best of modern tire technology with silica compound, lots of sipes, serrated grooves, and low rolling resistance.

I have used dozens of HT, AT, and MT tires and these are my favorites by far at this point. I got my set for $415 delivered last month from discounttiredirect. You can't beat it.

no matter how i add and subtract

i get 632-80-30=522 and cant get to the 415 price. was the discount for ordering online $108??

 

[CAN-03runner]

Sorry if this seems like a repost, I posted in the wrong forum, mine is a gen4 not 3, duh, anyway, ready to pull the trigger on a set of tires and searches & posted here and it seems that the Cooper Discoverer AT3's are in the lead. Main concerns are snow & road noise followed by tread life. Others that were brought up were Micheline LTX, but for every good response there are two that say "not great in snow", Firestone Destination, Bridgestone Revo II's (not too much info), & BFG A/T's, but with the BFG's came opinions of beeing on the louder side. I am coming out of a set of Geolandars, they were pretty good, but in the snow they seemed they needed to warm up a bit before they started to grip & on the last 1/3 of their life they got a little noisy. Thanks guys/gals any info would be great!

Would you have a winter set and a summer set?
I would not buy anything for winter use without the mountain/snowflake symbol on the side. Going is not the issue, stopping is the problem.

Check out the goodyear duratrac for an AT with the mountain snowflake that is great in winter and lasts long.

I have both the Geolander i/t g072 winter tires on 2 4runners for winter and the ATS on one. ATS is bad for me in the winter. The Geolander i/t g072 winter tires has been extremely good. If that's the Geolander you had for winter and you liked it, why change the formula.

 

[awdjunkies]

Would you have a winter set and a summer set?
I would not buy anything for winter use without the mountain/snowflake symbol on the side. Going is not the issue, stopping is the problem.

Check out the goodyear duratrac for an AT with the mountain snowflake that is great in winter and lasts long.

I have both the Geolander i/t g072 winter tires on 2 4runners for winter and the ATS on one. ATS is bad for me in the winter. The Geolander i/t g072 winter tires has been extremely good. If that's the Geolander you had for winter and you liked it, why change the formula.

Does the General Grabber AT2 have the mountain/snowflake symbol?

 

[4RunnerFan]

I would not buy anything for winter use without the mountain/snowflake symbol on the side. Going is not the issue, stopping is the problem.

+1 here (thanks CAN-03runner). These are 4,500 lb vehicles. They are SUVs, not sports cars, so stopping distance can be an issue even with the best road conditions.

Recently bought set of Michelin LTX M/S2 tires. They're nice, but since I don't plan on having a separate set of tires with the snowflake emblem, I will continue to slow waaaaay down on snowy days before entering any and all turns.