Tires: Cooper at3's vs Firestone Destination AT's?
- Thread starter jgmx893
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1engineer
Moderator
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/114342-tires.html there are updates throughout the 17 pages.
cleveland48
New member
I like my p rated at3' s in a 33 look more aggressive in person
jgmx893
New member
Stopped by Firestone on the way back from school today and they had some at3's nearby, so I decided to go with those. From research I did and from hearing from you guys it seems I can't go wrong, in fact they're very good in just about all terrain. Should have them on next wednesday!
She's gonna be looking good now that those stockers are off:tongue:
She's gonna be looking good now that those stockers are off:tongue:
I currently am running both. The firestones on my wrangler and the at3s on my 4runner. I have had the firestones for around 3-4 years and have served me well. I have had the at3s for a year. I would put the at3s as about better tire than the firestones. Better I'm the snow just a little noisier. By no means loud at all just the firestones are silent. I was planning on putting the firestones on the runner, but found a really good deal on the at3s and glad I did.
rick.deckard
New member
I've had both on 4Runners. I prefer the Coopers for the reasons others have mentioned.
e46inperrycounty
New member
For what its worth, cooper tires are made by the same people as mastercraft tires. The at3's were recently discontinued but you might have good luck finding back stock of both cooper and mastercraft at3's if you look hard enough. The next tire I get (currently running cooper a/t3's) will be mastercraft mxt's in hopefully a 35" size if the wife doesn't bury me in the back yard before I can fit them!
Brique
New member
Wow that's interesting that the at3s were discontinued. I wonder what they're replacing them with (yes, yes, probably at4) and if the new versions will actually be as good or better.
hour
New member
I had Cooper ATP's from Discount Tire (from my understanding, Discount Tire's house version of AT3 for the most part, as explained to me by a Cooper rep).
Got them in LT285/75/16 to replace Hankook Dynapro LT265/75/16 (that were relatively new, but wanted to step up in size).
The ATP rode rougher than my Dynapros, and louder. They also are undersized, and the Cooper rep admitted that while all tire sizes vary between manufacturers (which I knew), that Coopers tend to be on the smaller end.
I guess size doesn't matter to everyone but since I was replacing tires that didn't need replacing, simply to step up in size, I was pretty unimpressed with the fact that they were basically the same overall diameter as my hankook 265's. In short, I wasn't impressed, returned them to Discount Tire quickly and got a full refund, moved on to Duratracs. If I had gotten the Firestones from the start I'm sure I wouldn't have felt inclined to replace them with much more expensive Duratracs.
Got them in LT285/75/16 to replace Hankook Dynapro LT265/75/16 (that were relatively new, but wanted to step up in size).
The ATP rode rougher than my Dynapros, and louder. They also are undersized, and the Cooper rep admitted that while all tire sizes vary between manufacturers (which I knew), that Coopers tend to be on the smaller end.
I guess size doesn't matter to everyone but since I was replacing tires that didn't need replacing, simply to step up in size, I was pretty unimpressed with the fact that they were basically the same overall diameter as my hankook 265's. In short, I wasn't impressed, returned them to Discount Tire quickly and got a full refund, moved on to Duratracs. If I had gotten the Firestones from the start I'm sure I wouldn't have felt inclined to replace them with much more expensive Duratracs.
e46inperrycounty
New member
Walmart and discount tire both have their own lines and both of their lines tend to run smaller than the actual main brand hence the lower cost to the consumer. As far as the discontinuing of the at3 series, tire manufacturers tend to change tire designs like underwear to "improve" them and that generally really means to lower costs or lower complaints about the series. Some people buy an AT tire and then complain that it doesn't feel like a standard road tire, or that it is too loud on the road. Some people like the look of an offroad tire and don't want the feel and sound of one so AT tires are slowly getting phased out and turned into standard road tires with a larger tread pattern. Soon enough they will be useless off road. We will end up stuck with M/T tires before too long is my understanding..
ben550
New member
I ran Firestone AT's on my 99 jeep cherokee and 01 4runner. Went through lots of snow with them.
They ran very quiet. I would definitely buy them again. The only thing I wished was different was the outlined white lettering. I know its crazy but im not a big fan of the firestone font... I prefer the Goodyear and Bridgestone fonts.
But that being said the Firestone AT's were excellent tires. I ran them for 40k miles on the Cherokee (3 Ohio winters) and 60k miles on the 4runner (1 ohio winter, 1 upstate NY winter)... good performance.
I like the look of the cooper at3's...
They ran very quiet. I would definitely buy them again. The only thing I wished was different was the outlined white lettering. I know its crazy but im not a big fan of the firestone font... I prefer the Goodyear and Bridgestone fonts.
But that being said the Firestone AT's were excellent tires. I ran them for 40k miles on the Cherokee (3 Ohio winters) and 60k miles on the 4runner (1 ohio winter, 1 upstate NY winter)... good performance.
I like the look of the cooper at3's...
1engineer
Moderator
Please cite your sources. The AT3's are still up on Cooper's website. I also called Cooper this AM and was told there is no plans to discontinue this tire as it is only around three years old and one of their best sellers. Did you talk to Cooper's president or something? Maybe their VP of Engineering? Head of Marketing?
Cooper manufacturers tires here in the USA and in two locations. They are one of the few still making tires here.
e46inperrycounty
New member
I work at a master craft/cooper supplier that is a full service shop. We were told that the at3's will be changed to a slightly less aggressive tread pattern by our rep. They will still be called at3's but they won't be the same as the ones you can get currently. Mastercaft has also changed most of their aggressive tire lines to different tread patterns but they have opted to also change the names as well. The m/t is now mxt, the a/t is now axt, the c/t will be changed as well and possibly discontinued altogether according to the same rep.
e46inperrycounty
New member
The axt tread design is supposed to be similar to what the at3's will be shortly. When the cooper rep told me this I asked if I could get the at3's in a 305/75/16 before the change. Still waiting to hear back from him on that. Should see him late this month though
1engineer
Moderator
Thanks! Will need to replace mine this spring so we will see. They have been an excellent tire so far with the exception of getting a bit loud after 35K miles. But then again most AT tires (most all season tires too) get louder with wear.
e46inperrycounty
New member
I love my at3's and if our rep doesn't get back with me soon about finding me some big ones I'll be going with the courser mxt in a 35" size for about the same price as the at3 in a 33.5" size. I should probably get those 5" of lift taken care of asap and find the 2" backspaced 16×10 wheels I'd like to run as well. Hopefully I don't get too much rub at that point... tires are too expensive to be destroying due to rubbing issues...lol
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