max rockatansky
New member
my opinion...
I thought I'd chime in since I've tried the Rugged Treks.
Being a Cooper fan (3 sets total on a previous 2018 5th Gen and a GX470), I've had 3 sets of AT3 LT in 265 and 275. Super happy with them, even though the tread isn't quite as aggressive as others, I found that for my trails (Sierra moon dust, volcanic stuff in the Ishi wilderness even a Moab trip...etc) they worked perfect. Never slipped off road and on road in the wet, nice and grippy.
I was stoked when I got my 2021 4Runner and saw that Cooper was doing a "hybrid". I didn't like the fact there was only XL or E and no C though. I got the 265/70/17 in the XL, since my set of E AT3 LT was a bit of a stiff sidewall and translated to a noticeable drop in MPG and acceleration off the line.
The good: my limited trail use in gravelly/rocky Sierra trails were drama free and didn't pick up as many stones in the tread as the AT3 LT. The XL aired down ride was much smoother that the E version. They also had better looking sidewall / tread for what that is worth. The on-road ride was quite good and not too stiff and were super grippy in the dry. Didn't get to try the wet since I live in Northern California and everything is on fire.
the not so good: on road I had a huge issue with the pull to the right. Kinda like "don't let go of the wheel or you'll smash the curb" pull. Surface streets, freeways, any speed..... It was drove me nuts, especially in a 4Runner with 250 miles on it. Having to fight the wheel constantly keep it in the lane got tiresome.
The second issue was they are freaking noisy. At any speed above 5 mph, it was there. Some types of road were much worse than others. Some freeways there were tolerable, some freeways felt like you had to yell over them and even the stereo wouldn't drown it out.
There weren't many reviews on these tires when I got them, so no one had mentioned either of the issues I had experienced. I thought maybe there was an alignment issue, but I had it checked and all specs were dead nuts where they should have been. I tried different pressures and higher and lower made no difference. I wanted to like and keep them, but they kinda drove me nuts with the noise and pull.
I had them a little over 30 days and 1,200 miles. Americas Tire / Discount Tire installed them and tried a rotate/balance (just in case), but still the same. I traded them for another set of the AT3 LT in C and there is no pull and only slightly more noise than the OE Dunlops.
So, of course, you may not have these problems or they may not bother you as much as they bothered me. I've since read that some of the Cooper ST Maxx have a similar pull, but people live with it. Maybe it's the way the outer part of the area is angled that causes the pull? I was just shocked that others hadn't mentioned it in their reviews.
I wanted to like them. I gave them a fair shake but had to give up. Maybe I'm over sensitive and maybe these issues were bigger in my mind than they would be in yours. I just recommend if you buy them, make sure you have the opportunity to trade them if you have the problem.
If you made it this far without falling asleep, kudos!
I thought I'd chime in since I've tried the Rugged Treks.
Being a Cooper fan (3 sets total on a previous 2018 5th Gen and a GX470), I've had 3 sets of AT3 LT in 265 and 275. Super happy with them, even though the tread isn't quite as aggressive as others, I found that for my trails (Sierra moon dust, volcanic stuff in the Ishi wilderness even a Moab trip...etc) they worked perfect. Never slipped off road and on road in the wet, nice and grippy.
I was stoked when I got my 2021 4Runner and saw that Cooper was doing a "hybrid". I didn't like the fact there was only XL or E and no C though. I got the 265/70/17 in the XL, since my set of E AT3 LT was a bit of a stiff sidewall and translated to a noticeable drop in MPG and acceleration off the line.
The good: my limited trail use in gravelly/rocky Sierra trails were drama free and didn't pick up as many stones in the tread as the AT3 LT. The XL aired down ride was much smoother that the E version. They also had better looking sidewall / tread for what that is worth. The on-road ride was quite good and not too stiff and were super grippy in the dry. Didn't get to try the wet since I live in Northern California and everything is on fire.
the not so good: on road I had a huge issue with the pull to the right. Kinda like "don't let go of the wheel or you'll smash the curb" pull. Surface streets, freeways, any speed..... It was drove me nuts, especially in a 4Runner with 250 miles on it. Having to fight the wheel constantly keep it in the lane got tiresome.
The second issue was they are freaking noisy. At any speed above 5 mph, it was there. Some types of road were much worse than others. Some freeways there were tolerable, some freeways felt like you had to yell over them and even the stereo wouldn't drown it out.
There weren't many reviews on these tires when I got them, so no one had mentioned either of the issues I had experienced. I thought maybe there was an alignment issue, but I had it checked and all specs were dead nuts where they should have been. I tried different pressures and higher and lower made no difference. I wanted to like and keep them, but they kinda drove me nuts with the noise and pull.
I had them a little over 30 days and 1,200 miles. Americas Tire / Discount Tire installed them and tried a rotate/balance (just in case), but still the same. I traded them for another set of the AT3 LT in C and there is no pull and only slightly more noise than the OE Dunlops.
So, of course, you may not have these problems or they may not bother you as much as they bothered me. I've since read that some of the Cooper ST Maxx have a similar pull, but people live with it. Maybe it's the way the outer part of the area is angled that causes the pull? I was just shocked that others hadn't mentioned it in their reviews.
I wanted to like them. I gave them a fair shake but had to give up. Maybe I'm over sensitive and maybe these issues were bigger in my mind than they would be in yours. I just recommend if you buy them, make sure you have the opportunity to trade them if you have the problem.
If you made it this far without falling asleep, kudos!
