new shoes: Cooper Discoverer STT 35x12.5R15

[slickrock]

For a while now, I was looking for new tires for my 1973 FJ40. I was torn between the TrXus MT and MTRs but price was a big concern. I only had about 1000 to spend and I still needed to buy a mini steering box mount instead of using the one I / we (sine80) fabricated b/c I didn't like the way it turned out. Sorry Mike, but the thing we made is fuggly.

So with that in mind I started reviewing tires online and talking to whom ever I could. I live in a little town and the closest warehouse or large tire chain is about an hour away so having tires shipped to me was an option. Although 4 wheel parts was out (there is a store in Fresno). They wanted 1300 for 4 TrXus MT when the list price is 195 per tire. Even with tax, that should only come out to 838.50 plus a fee of 10 per tire for mount and balance, the total cost should have been around 882.50. They overcharge by 417.5 in shop and other fees. You have to be kidding me. There is an automatic 150 charge just to pull into the shop as a shop fee. What a rip-off! After deciding that the TrXus MTs would be my best bet, I decided on those for around 870 from Barnes 4wd (pirate4x4 distributor) after shipping but not including mounting and balancing which would have brought the price to around 900 to 920.

As I got closer to buying tires for my rig, the wife’s DD needed new tires and my DD truck will need some soon. I decided to stop at a local tire dealer and see what type of deal I could get on tires for my truck and her Grand Cherokee. The local shop is a Cooper distributor. The owner mentioned the Cooper STT Discoverer and I wanted to know what he could do for me if I bought 3 sets of tires off of him. The STT tread pattern is very similar to MTR or TOYO MT. I decided to look into reviews and what people have said about them here and on MUD and since my rig is a 50/50 split between weekend driving and wheeling, I was curious and he offered them to me mounted and balanced for 750 bucks which is 170 cheaper than the MTRs and enough left over for a spare. (I will get later when I find a matching wheel). Keep in mind that this is a deal since I will have bought 3 sets of tires off them this year.

Most reviews said that the STT was a tad stiffer than MTRs and grabbed as well as TOYO MT and grabbed a heck of a lot better then BFG Mud and wore more evenly and lacked that BFG wine as the tires wore down along with an increased lack of traction. So for my use and the price, I decided to make the plunge. There isn’t a lot on the board about the tires so I figured I would start a post that reviews the tires on a Cruiser as I get a chance to try them out on different terrains. Most off-roading will be around the Central Sierras: Swamp Lake, Dusy, Bald Mountain, and Northern Sierras like Slickrock,Rubicon, and HWY 4. I will update when the opportunity arises or when the wife lets me out

My rig is SOA in the rear and 4+ SUA in front for now. The tires are Cooper Discoverer STT 35X12.50R15s. The true measurements are 34.5 tall and the footprint is 10.5 wide. This is a bit off from the Cooper web page which states that with a 10” wheel, the tire should be 34.76 tall and the width should be 10. They are actually .25 shorter and .5 wider. The wheels are 15X10 Black steelies (will be bead locked when money allows).

[mean man michael]

Originally Posted by slickrock

...I only had about 1000 to spend and I still needed to buy a mini steering box mount instead of using the one I / we (sine80) fabricated b/c I didn't like the way it turned out. Sorry Mike, but the thing we made is fuggly.

No worries, I still cant believe you let me weld on your rig.

[Cruiseralive]

My local tire shop is also a Cooper dealer and I saw those tires when I was having my new used tires patched. For what I do with my truck they seem very well rounded and you cant beat the price. 1 extra ply on the side and tread over my swampers. The 35 comes out an inch or more smaller than my 36s and they dont appear to make a 37. They look good on your truck.

[orangefj45]

forget the cruiser, post some pics of your wife!

rig looks good with the new boots dan!

[slickrock]

Originally Posted by orangefj45

forget the cruiser, post some pics of your wife!

rig looks good with the new boots dan!

It would appear that I need to have a dialogue with someone in the near future.
Mike must have been talking a bit much before he passed out after the swap meet.

Oh and Georg, I'll keep my hot wife to myself

Cruiser is comming along now. But still have that clutch to work on.

Originally Posted by Cruiseralive

My local tire shop is also a Cooper dealer and I saw those tires when I was having my new used tires patched. For what I do with my truck they seem very well rounded and you cant beat the price. 1 extra ply on the side and tread over my swampers. The 35 comes out an inch or more smaller than my 36s and they dont appear to make a 37. They look good on your truck.

Thanks. They are a half inch short but very little weight was needed except on one wheel that had a bit of rock rash so it might have been a little off round. Goes down the road like a Caddy. I'll give them a good work out this summer. If I was going with 37s I would have gone with MTRs, but for what I do, 35s and lockers will get me where I am going and I lessen thebreakage factor by keeping moderate size tires.

[fj40forlife]

They look like the toyo ones. I like them

[orangefj45]

hey dude, that's definetly meant as a compliment!

[texican]

If you are gonna wheel it, do yourself a favor and loose the mini steering for something stouter now.............
Butch

[TxCruzr]

very nice cruiser
tires look very nice also, i'm impressed with all the new m/t tires coming out for those who still drive their rigs on the street

[slickrock]

Originally Posted by orangefj45

hey dude, that's definetly meant as a compliment!

I totally know Just play'n

Oh and so much for keeping it mostly stock . . .

A semi tire update: The larger tires put more pressure on my Lock-Right and it pops a bit louder on tight turns or that could be I can just hear more without the hum of the old tires.

[slickrock]

Originally Posted by texican

If you are gonna wheel it, do yourself a favor and loose the mini steering for something stouter now.............
Butch

Tell me about it. I am happy to just get it working and running well (knock on wood.) I am going to cut and turn the front axle and do the steering along with front locker all at once but that is a few years down the road.

[mean man michael]

And this was why I went to an early bib. I guess I didnt like the look of the blinkers that high on the fender. Personal choice I guess, run it.

BTW, WTF, why do you have a 'club' on while taking poser shots?

[fj40forlife]

Originally Posted by sine80

And this was why I went to an early bib. I guess I didnt like the look of the blinkers that high on the fender. Personal choice I guess, run it.

BTW, WTF, why do you have a 'club' on while taking poser shots?

Good eye mike lol

[slickrock]

Originally Posted by sine80

And this was why I went to an early bib. I guess I didnt like the look of the blinkers that high on the fender. Personal choice I guess, run it.

BTW, WTF, why do you have a 'club' on while taking poser shots?

I am parked at work, teaching at the Junior College and it's under construction and I am parked out in BFE in a field. There are lots of randoms out there at any given time and I walked out to take a pic during a brake. When I can't see it, the club goes on. Fresno has the highest stolen car numbers in the country so it is habit.

As for the turn signals, I am still out on them. I plan on MT fenders at some point. I can always seal the holes and repaint to move the lights down to the bib.

[orangefj45]

Originally Posted by slickrock

Tell me about it. I am happy to just get it working and running well (knock on wood.) I am going to cut and turn the front axle and do the steering along with front locker all at once but that is a few years down the road.

by then you'll need new tires again.........

[mean man michael]

Let me know if you want to C&T your axle. Ryan is pretty good at it, last time it took about 30 min and it came out really nice. I know there's more to it than that but hit me up when you're ready.

[slickrock]

Originally Posted by sine80

Let me know if you want to C&T your axle. Ryan is pretty good at it, last time it took about 30 min and it came out really nice. I know there's more to it than that but hit me up when you're ready.