Tyre Topic - Cooper S/T

[-Scott-]

This Tyre Topic is for members to post about Cooper Sure Trac. Post your thoughts on grip, noise, wear, airing down, or anything else you consider of interest to other members.

The Cooper Sure Trac was reportedly developed as a tougher All Terrain to cope with harsh road conditions found in regions such as "outback Australia, Argentina and South Africa."

The original Sure Trac (S/T) was made with a hard compound which resists wearing, but didn't prove to be too resilient to sharp rocks.
Selected sizes are offered as ST-C, using a softer compound (the same as the STT?) which resists cutting and chipping, but wears faster on bitumen.

This topic is for discussion on both tyres, the S/T and the ST-C.

Sure Trac S/T


ST-C


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[-Scott-]

The first "off road" tyres I ever bought - 31x10.5 on my shorty Paj, and I was very happy with them.

After 30k km they still had around 70% tread left. I sold them when I upgraded to 33s, and found some second hand MT/Rs.

At the time I bought, the S/Ts were new. I narrowed down my choice to S/Ts or BFG A/Ts, and noticed that those tyre dealers recommending the BFGs weren't selling Coopers - those who recommended the Coopers were also selling the BFGs, and each dealer had the same price on both tyres.

I finally decided on the S/Ts, only to be told they weren't available in my size at that time. So I said I'd take the BFGs, and the dealer refused. In his words, once I had indicated a preference for the Coopers he wouldn't sell me the BFGs. He would rather risk losing the sale than sell me something different - either that, or the margin on the Coopers is much better.

A few years later I bought my STTs from him too.

[ajsr]

I had a set on a 2004 td hilux in 30 x 9.5 15 . They didn't impress me much they were noisey, slippery in the wet and loose in gravel the up side I guess is they wear well. I belive the bfg/mickey t AT's are a better tyre

[ADEM]

Ive got the 32" ST's on my D22, having not driving any other 4wds with different tyres i personally dont think they are too bad off road. Certainly achieved everything that ive wanted to do in my relatively stock ute.

Have noticed they are quite slippery in the wet though. Don't really rate them in that dept.

[South]

We just sold our Pajero that I fitted Cooper ST 31x10.5x15 at 178k kms, its sold at 256k kms with the same coopers on them, with a good 20k kms left of tread. Never got a puncture, they aren't chipped, wear very even.

In summary, they are the best All Terrain tyre in our experience. I will be fitting Cooper STT to the new Landcruiser and see how they work out

[Shadow]

Would be good to get some _actual_ tyre diameter measurements aswell if anyone has them (for a new tyre).

[-Scott-]

Would be good to get some _actual_ tyre diameter measurements aswell if anyone has them (for a new tyre).

Have you tried their specs page?

[Shadow]

Would be good to get some _actual_ tyre diameter measurements aswell if anyone has them (for a new tyre).

Have you tried their specs page?

I did scott, but I have no faith whatso-ever in specs tyre manufacturers claim, particularly thier diameter specs.

Thier 285/75R16 says its an 833, which is exactly(833.9) what 285/75/r16 calculates out to be. So I am very dubious as to the accuracy. I would suggest, thier diameters are just calculated from thier "size".

Would be nice if cooper's do actually live up to thier specs though?

[jabs]

i had a set of 235/85 cooper st's on my gu when i bought it they wore well drove well not noisey (then again im used to muddys and simexs) and handelled the wet good too i ended up selling them because of there size (not a fan of cheezecutters ) and bought stt's for all rounders also very happy with them big fan of cooper tyres and would recomend to anyone

[RDM]

I've had my Cooper S/Ts for 3 years, they're 31x10.5x15" on a 98 dual cab Hilux.

They've done 90,000kms and still have at least another 20,000kms left.
Never had a puncture, they have started chipping this year, did 2 weeks in the High Country running them at 22psi.

I found the secret is to rotate them including the spare every 10,000 kms, I run 33psi on the road, they like to be run soft IMO.

On the road they hum but this is a Hilux so it's not the quietest vehicle anyway, they are just starting to get a bit twitchy on wet tarmac but at this mileage I'm not complaining. Off road and aired down they are awesome, taken me everywhere I've needed to go, good in the mud, good on sand (12psi) just damn good.

IMO if your looking for an agressive AT tyre the Cooper S/T is a good choice.

I would buy them again, possibly try the softer S/TC.

[SIMMO84]

I have the ST on my hilux in the 33-12.5-15. I got them second hand with about 70-80% left on them. I have had one puncture in the center of the tread and they are chipping and getting a few cuts in them, this could be my fault as i rarely drop the tire pressures when off road. I doubt i will get the kilometers that others are getting as i feel the off roading i do isnt suited for these tires.

[limited slip]

i have a set of 235/75r15 cooper st's. ill sum up my thoughts on them briefly.
i dont have them on any going cars atm, theyre just holding up one of my parts cars.
the good: they grip like 40 bastards, at least as well as the bfg muds i had before them, good lateral grip and stability on slopes, one thing i have a lot of where i 4wd. i didnt get any stakes or punctures whilst i was using them.
they balanced easily untill they started to chip and they were smooth on the road at any speed.



the bad: they were noisy, noisier than any tire i have had up to present, though not unbearable it was plainly noticabe and you could hear me coming when on bitumen.
they were skittish in the wet, not as bad as (once again) my bf muds but enough to make you nervous in trafic
they wore very quickly, even with rotation every 10 thou, they have done just over 35k, 2 of them could go another 20 but 2 of them even now are only just road legal- they didnt wear unevenly, just 2 wore quicker than the other2.


they chiped terribly, requiring regular re balancing, they were not used harshly or given a flogging, just day to day use and mostly bitumen use. some shoulder lugs lost quite a bit of meat. the 2 that wore quicker also have shoulder cracking and show signs they might start to de laminate. in perspective they are at the end of their life anyway but i have never seen any other tire do this.

i would only have another set if they were given to me. for the kms i got from them i wouldnt pay my hard earned on them, not with so many other options.

cheers

[Matt_85Lux]

Took a couple of pics of the new S/T that I saw at the tyre shop this arv

[TWISTY]

I like the looks of them. Will consider these for the next set of tyres for the lux when the time comes.

[-Scott-]

I believe that's the ST Maxx, and is a separate offering from the original S/T. I think I'm about to buy a set myself. Might be time for a new Tyre Topic?

[Matt_85Lux]

I believe that's the ST Maxx, and is a separate offering from the original S/T. I think I'm about to buy a set myself. Might be time for a new Tyre Topic?

Just looked on the cooper site and it appears that you are correct

http://www.coopertires.com.au/index.php ... tyre_id=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


but in saying that I'm pretty positive that the local dealer had said that this pattern was replacing the old one, will ask and find out when I go back in later in the week

[black80]

When I purchased my patrol in Darwin I had Cooper ST already on after about 3 months i had bad vibration checked tyres and a bead had seperated. Tyre stores in Darwin will not stock them due to this being a common problem with the high road temperatures and the only place that sold them in Darwin was Kmart.

[Matt_85Lux]

The Maxx will eventually replace the old pattern but at the moment it is an extra pattern untill it is available in more sizes

[bruggd]

I had a set of the older ST, 315/16. On my lifted GU wagon. I was very happy with them, they were not very noisy on long trips compared to mates with other mud terrains, I deflated them down to about 18psi for sand and also did very steep rutted hill climbs in high country Vic, followed my friends with muddies anywhere without problems. Easily done 90,000 on them. negative side- They did chip a lot on the edges from spinning up on the rocky parts, I did get a side wall puncture on Fraser Island while on sand from a stick or more like a twig sticking out from the side, I believe was to easily punctured on the side wall, not as strong as they advertise. Another time I ripped one wide open, again from the side wall while running lower pressure going down a steep shail rocky section to a river crossing. If I have the money I will certainly buy them again for my new vehicle when the time comes.