AT Tires
- Thread starter 1engineer
- Start date
:hatsoff: I've enjoyed your informative posts. I'm new to 4Runner & I'm looking for new tires for my TE. Are your A/T3 tires sidewalls 2-ply or 3-ply? And are your tires "C," "E" or "P" rated?
I'm trying to decide between the Cooper A/T3 or ATP; but, I'd like a 3-ply sidewall. I live in a area with a lot of sharp rocks.
I hope this is not considered a thread hi-jack. :biggrin2:
1engineer
Moderator
Pee rated.
Good info.
"Ride quality" is one of those tricky things to nail down a clear and universal standard for. In my Tahoe, people would comment how "smooth" the ride was. To me, it felt as if I was on a boat. Growing up in Florida and on boats, this would seem like a non-issue. In reality, I hated the "ocean motion" of the ride.
On my education journey I looked into suspension to solve the problem. Luckily I needed new tires first. Having replaced the tires twice in the vehicle's life time already with OEM Firestones, I was ready to hand over my cash and move on.
I used to play softball with the guy who owns the shop. During our small talk, I told him of my complaints with not only the ride quality of the Tahoe but also the price of tires today. He says to me, "why not get a stiffer tire?"
He put a set of Nokians on the truck and told me to drive around for a few days. If I didn't like it, he'd switch them out. I noticed a firmer ride, flatter (keep it relative here, it's a Tahoe LOL) cornering, and a major reduction in the floating feeling. For what I wanted out of "ride quality", I was sold.
The Nokians were a few shekels cheaper than most other options at the time. I attributed this to the fact that they had just recently started making all-season tires for SUVs for the first time, and had/have little market share east of the Mississippi. I believe they have a significant manufacturing history in the winter tire segment, however.
For me, the firmer everyday ride, cheaper price, and increased wet weather (these things grip better than the Firestones ever dreamed of) traction was a worthy trade off for the few negatives. They are louder than the Firestones. They also rattle the cabin a bit on washboards, or if I hit a speed bump with any speed. However, I rarely encounter those things.
A few people have noted they think the ride quality is "worse". This is the subjective nature of the measurement, I suppose.
I understand this is not an apples-to-apples comparison if you are considering the differences, trade offs, and pro/con between firmness ratings of tires in the same model line. All the comparable math, with regards to those particular measurements, was thrown out the window the second I bought a new model tire with a new tread pattern.
FWIW, I don't have a complaint about the side to side motion of the T4R on stock tires. However, the nose dive is hard to ignore. I believe that issue to be the result of a combination of things and not solely a tire issue. Reports seem to suggest, however, that different tires can reduce it significantly. :thumb:
"Ride quality" is one of those tricky things to nail down a clear and universal standard for. In my Tahoe, people would comment how "smooth" the ride was. To me, it felt as if I was on a boat. Growing up in Florida and on boats, this would seem like a non-issue. In reality, I hated the "ocean motion" of the ride.
On my education journey I looked into suspension to solve the problem. Luckily I needed new tires first. Having replaced the tires twice in the vehicle's life time already with OEM Firestones, I was ready to hand over my cash and move on.
I used to play softball with the guy who owns the shop. During our small talk, I told him of my complaints with not only the ride quality of the Tahoe but also the price of tires today. He says to me, "why not get a stiffer tire?"
He put a set of Nokians on the truck and told me to drive around for a few days. If I didn't like it, he'd switch them out. I noticed a firmer ride, flatter (keep it relative here, it's a Tahoe LOL) cornering, and a major reduction in the floating feeling. For what I wanted out of "ride quality", I was sold.
The Nokians were a few shekels cheaper than most other options at the time. I attributed this to the fact that they had just recently started making all-season tires for SUVs for the first time, and had/have little market share east of the Mississippi. I believe they have a significant manufacturing history in the winter tire segment, however.
For me, the firmer everyday ride, cheaper price, and increased wet weather (these things grip better than the Firestones ever dreamed of) traction was a worthy trade off for the few negatives. They are louder than the Firestones. They also rattle the cabin a bit on washboards, or if I hit a speed bump with any speed. However, I rarely encounter those things.
A few people have noted they think the ride quality is "worse". This is the subjective nature of the measurement, I suppose.
I understand this is not an apples-to-apples comparison if you are considering the differences, trade offs, and pro/con between firmness ratings of tires in the same model line. All the comparable math, with regards to those particular measurements, was thrown out the window the second I bought a new model tire with a new tread pattern.
FWIW, I don't have a complaint about the side to side motion of the T4R on stock tires. However, the nose dive is hard to ignore. I believe that issue to be the result of a combination of things and not solely a tire issue. Reports seem to suggest, however, that different tires can reduce it significantly. :thumb:
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1engineer
Moderator
eddiebx
New member
Well is there any clearance/rubbing issues, or was [MENTION=51186]philsey[/MENTION] just full of it???
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...cs-whitewall-blackwall-out-2.html#post1494606
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...cs-whitewall-blackwall-out-2.html#post1494606
1engineer
Moderator
I just put the white letters out to make all the haters cringe when they look at the pics. IMO these tires are the best "compromise" tire out there. Here is how I rank them (and I have run a version of all of them) for a sport utility or pickup truck:
Best all-conditions road only tire: Michelin MS
Best all -conditions on and off road: Cooper AT3 or Discount Tire equivalent.
I consider anything M+S or having a large tread block to be specialty tires and of course they will be better off road than the Coopers but not on road. The Michelin is an absolute great tire and if I did not go off road I would be running these. The problem with them off road is they have too tight of a tread pattern to shed mud and dirt.
Best all-conditions road only tire: Michelin MS
Best all -conditions on and off road: Cooper AT3 or Discount Tire equivalent.
I consider anything M+S or having a large tread block to be specialty tires and of course they will be better off road than the Coopers but not on road. The Michelin is an absolute great tire and if I did not go off road I would be running these. The problem with them off road is they have too tight of a tread pattern to shed mud and dirt.
veloindy
New member
OLD GUY ALERT, OLD GUY ALERT!!! Just kidding of course. I actually don't hate the white letters out Coopers. I wish I had better luck with the AT3, I really like the look, and I'm overall fan of Cooper.
DannyLlama
Elite Member
What happened with our AT3's?
veloindy
New member
Discount Tire couldn't get them balanced, after multiple trips back, and two different locations. Long story short, one of the tires was defective.
DannyLlama
Elite Member
So they replaced it and you lived happily ever after?
arty: Every manufactured will produce a defective product one in every hundred thousand. Why would that deter you from just replacing it?
veloindy
New member
So they replaced it and you lived happily ever after?
Every manufactured will produce a defective product one in every hundred thousand. Why would that deter you from just replacing it?
Discount Tire was awesome, and handled the exchange without any problems. I needed tires that day because of a trip east, they didn't have Coopers in stock size to exchange them with. It was between GY, BFG KO's, and Bridgestone Duelers. Although more aggressive than I would've originally thought, I'm ultimately glad I ended up with Duratracs, awesome tire for CO.
My wife cracks up when we're out and about because people ask me about my Duratracs ALL the time.
DannyLlama
Elite Member
2013Trail
New member
Did you buy them at Discount Tire?
1engineer
Moderator
No. Local mom and pop shop. Closest Discount Tire is 2 1/2 hours away.
Excellent information in this thread.
I have a new 2014 Trail that I want to change the tires on. It came with bridgestone road tires and I want a mild AT tire (same size as stock and no lifts) that won't kill gas milage and that is smooth and quiet on the road. I have the exact same requirements as 1E. I initially turned my nose up at Cooper tires because I think of them as a "no name" or "second tier" brand of tire even though I have never owned a Cooper tire. However, after doing a lot of research it looks like this tire is the one to try (stock size P rating). I will turn my white letters in though. I don't want to be considered an old man even though I am 50. :dance:Thanks to everyone for the information in this thread.
I have a new 2014 Trail that I want to change the tires on. It came with bridgestone road tires and I want a mild AT tire (same size as stock and no lifts) that won't kill gas milage and that is smooth and quiet on the road. I have the exact same requirements as 1E. I initially turned my nose up at Cooper tires because I think of them as a "no name" or "second tier" brand of tire even though I have never owned a Cooper tire. However, after doing a lot of research it looks like this tire is the one to try (stock size P rating). I will turn my white letters in though. I don't want to be considered an old man even though I am 50. :dance:Thanks to everyone for the information in this thread.
The Discount Tire version may be the same basic tire with slightly different tread, and they may not be the same. I am leery of the Discount Tire version. I may contact Cooper and see if they can confirm. If not, then I will buy the real deal--not the Discount Tire version.
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DannyLlama
Elite Member
[MENTION=55815]Okki[/MENTION] has been using them for a while now, he may have some information for you.
FrontRange4Runner
New member
I have the ATP's. Its been about 18k miles and so far I think they are great. Stock size only comes in load range E. I don't know if they are built similarly to the AT3 or not, but I would be very interested to find out - please let us know if you hear anything from cooper! My guess is that they are pretty close simply because it could be more cost effective for Cooper to do it that way. Tread wise, they are very similar to the Cooper Zeon LTZ or the Hankook Dynapro ATM. I know there are a couple others on here that have them and they may chime is as well. I think most of us are very happy with the ATP. Also, do a search, there has been some discussion and reviews of them on here
That said, the AT3 is also a great tire, so you cant go wrong either way.I have the ATP's. Its been about 18k miles and so far I think they are great. Stock size only comes in load range E. I don't know if they are built similarly to the AT3 or not, but I would be very interested to find out - please let us know if you hear anything from cooper! My guess is that they are pretty close simply because it could be more cost effective for Cooper to do it that way. Tread wise, they are very similar to the Cooper Zeon LTZ or the Hankook Dynapro ATM. I know there are a couple others on here that have them and they may chime is as well. I think most of us are very happy with the ATP. Also, do a search, there has been some discussion and reviews of them on here
I called Cooper and the guy on the phone said that they are very similar but he did not know for sure if the tread compound, etc. was the same. I had my Toyota dealer locate some AT3s for piece of mind. My dealer is getting them from some supply house for $165 per tire and they will be here Monday. I wanted the stock size P version for the same reasons 1E wanted it so that is another reason I wanted the AT3.
