AT Tires

[HwyChile]

The AT3's aren't availble on DT's website but they ordered them for you no problem?

FWIW, I've taken a big hit on MPG since switching to the Revos. I don't have a lot of data but it's looking like 1.5 to 2.5mpg between hwy and city. Hopefully it's just the early arrival of Winter gas compounding the issue.

The AT3s are not available on Discount Tire's normal website, but I found them on the "Discount Tire Direct" website, which seems to be a internet direct website like Tire Rack where you order the tires and they are shipped to you. I called my local Discount Tire and asked them about their direct website and they said they could order them and they did. It took about a week.

I will put a picture on here this weekend. I have to take some pictures anyway to sell the old tires on craigslist. My 2014 Trail is white, so the white letters go good with the color.

Did you switch from the AT3s to Revos? I was about to go with Revos but the guy at DT said he would go with the Coopers.

 

[1000MPH]

No, I had the OEMs for 30k then went with the Revos because I wanted to get my tires at Costco and didn't want to spend $1000 on Michellins. Besides, who wants to keep the same old set of tires for 8 years?.
I think my local Costco knows their stuff and it's much more convenient to get rotation/re-blalance while I shop. It was a compromise that I hope turns out ok.

 

[HwyChile]

No, I had the OEMs for 30k then went with the Revos because I wanted to get my tires at Costco and didn't want to spend $1000 on Michellins. Besides, who wants to keep the same old set of tires for 8 years?.
I think my local Costco knows their stuff and it's much more convenient to get rotation/re-blalance while I shop. It was a compromise that I hope turns out ok.

That makes a lot of sense. I like to buy tires from places that have a lot of locations in case I need them rotated, etc. I like your idea about multitasking while they are being put on.

From my experience, I cannot get tires to last longer than 40k miles (at least not to my performance and safety requirements). In fact, I don't think it is possible for a tire to last longer than 40k and still perform at the level that I need it to perform. Rubber has to be soft enough to grip and be quiet, and 40K is about all a tire will last with rubber that is soft enough to grip, be quiet, etc.

What tire manufacturers do is try to sell a "have your cake and eat it too" type of tire with 80k warranties, etc. They design the tires with soft rubber for the first half of the tread depth and a much harder rubber for the last half of the tread depth to get it to last 80k. The tires will perform great the first 40k and then they will get louder and have less grip the last half of the tread. This is true regardless of the brand and regardless of the price of tires. I buy only the most expensive models of each tire brand (the lower cost ones are junk). I would not want a tire to go over 40k because I know it is not possible. I refuse to have tires that won't grip and have me sliding through traffic lights on slightly wet roads. Tires are a safety item for me.

 

[bear74]

Discount Tire Direct

DTD and their eBay store fronts offer a much larger selection and the pricing is way better on the commercially available tires out there. Most times I see a 200 dollar difference from the local guys pricing and on the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 I saw a 300 dollar dif.

I ended up going with the General AT2 in the end due to a slightly more aggressive pattern to match the style of driving and deep snow traction I was going to need. So far with 1100 miles I am happy with them and they balanced well and road noice is acceptable. With the promotion and using the eBay site the damage was $601 using paypal only. If your using a CC use the DTD site.

 

[Crawlerdog]

So after reading this thread thoroughly, I think I'm going to give the Cooper AT3s a try. I'm debating about the "P" rated version, or the "C" rated LT version. Honestly I don't plan on doing any major off roading, but I would like to be able to take my 4Runner to the FJ Summit at some point. Would it be that big of a mpg penalty to get the LT "C" over the "P", or would the "P" rated tires be able to handle those types of trails.
Thoughts.....

 

[skimr]

If you are going to drive on gravel roads go with at least a C rated tire. Highway tires just don't hold up well on gravel roads.

 

[Saberman]

Funny that the cooper tire site has no info on those ATP's, figures, I like the looks of them.

I was told the ATP's are made for specific retailers only. I just put Cooper AT3's on my TE and so far I'm very impressed.

 

[badhabits]

If you are going to drive on gravel roads go with at least a C rated tire. Highway tires just don't hold up well on gravel roads.[/QUOTE

What is your reasoning for this? This is something I have never heard about.

 

[Yotta]

What is your reasoning for this?

The usual answer is sidewall strength.

 

[badhabits]

The usual answer is sidewall strength.

I could understand the sidewall argument on very rough terrain or rock crawling, but on a smooth gravel road this sounds like a salesman is trying to up sell a set of tires to make more money.

 

[badhabits]

[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION]
By the way I bought the AT3 tires and have found them to be an excellent all around tire for general use both on and off road. Thanks for the recommendation. After a year of use they are as good as new.


:trophy:.

 

[DannyLlama]

Greg, I'm telling ya.. Your missing out on some referral fees.

 

[1engineer]

[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION]
By the way I bought the AT3 tires and have found them to be an excellent all around tire for general use both on and off road. Thanks for the recommendation. After a year of use they are as good as new.


:trophy:.

Very good! I too continue to be impressed with their performance. They are a boring tire, meaning, no drama. No overt road noise, no hydroplaning, no wandering, no unusual wear, tread blocks clear easily, no struggles for traction in moderate dirt, mud or snow. Very boring, but that is a good thing when it comes to tires. The sipes like to pick up small gravels and pebbles though.

 

[1engineer]

Greg, I'm telling ya.. Your missing out on some referral fees.

I did not spend a lot of my life on a quest for knowledge to sell tires, although I'm sure my potential customers would be overjoyed to talk durometer differences and the enthusiasm of balancing equations due to the difference of adding one extra carbon atom.

 

[Maz]

Can anyone using the AT3's comment on experience for mud use ? I've been torn between those, the Toyo Open Country, and have a particular interest in the Nitto Tarra Grappler.

The off road need in this case is almost exclusively for destinations that require driving on the beach, and during the rainy season some pretty muddy areas getting to and from the beach.

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[1engineer]

Can anyone using the AT3's comment on experience for mud use ? I've been torn between those, the Toyo Open Country, and have a particular interest in the Nitto Tarra Grappler.

The off road need in this case is almost exclusively for destinations that require driving on the beach, and during the rainy season some pretty muddy areas getting to and from the beach.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Sure I will comment as I have used them in mud many many times. They are not as good as Mud Terrain tires in the mud. They are much better than a closer tread like the Michelin MS. They get me there with minimal wheel spin. I cannot on Toyo or Nitto but better in mud than Firestone Destination AT or Dueller AT by Bridgestone. A good all around tire and good in the snow too.

 

[Maz]

I've had MT's, but are not considering them this time around. They're dynamite for mud, but for the very coarse sand I'm driving in there's a danger of digging in too good and having to frantically beat the incoming tide getting unstuck.

I appreciate your comments engineer, especially since I'd heard good things about the Bridgestone Duelers and seriously considered the Firestone Destination at one time. I agree with you the narrow channels AT's are problematical for mud. Obviously the AT3's is a better option for my needs.

However I think you may have had a typo...I think you were meaning to say you couldn't comment on the Toyo or Nitto ?

 

[1engineer]

I've had MT's, but are not considering them this time around. They're dynamite for mud, but for the very coarse sand I'm driving in there's a danger of digging in too good and having to frantically beat the incoming tide getting unstuck.

I appreciate your comments engineer, especially since I'd heard good things about the Bridgestone Duelers and seriously considered the Firestone Destination at one time. I agree with you the narrow channels AT's are problematical for mud. Obviously the AT3's is a better option for my needs.

However I think you may have had a typo...I think you were meaning to say you couldn't comment on the Toyo or Nitto ?

Sorry. My bad. My proofreader is on vacation...

 

[DannyLlama]

Did my 15k tire rotation and balance today, tires still look brand new... The shop said the same thing, barely any tread lost.

AAAND I had a nail in on of the tires, it's been a slow leak.. Not that's much more than luck, still more props for the AT3. Cherry on top.

 

[rox.n.ben]

I have a 14 limited on order and want to get these TRD wheels, where did you get them and what would you consider a reasonable price to pay? Also, I will get these Cooper tires as well based upon this thread. Thanks!