Tire choice help...

saburai

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I loath buying tires.
I have Cooper Discoverer A/T3s on multiple vehicles though.
Started with the flood victim (replaced the worn out Discoverer A/Ts it came with), now have them on: the wife's 99 Explorer (removed a set of duratracs), 91 F-150, 88 Suburban, and an 89 Ranger.
I'll keep buying them until they get rid of them, and then I'll buy the new version.

What's the difference between the A/T's and the A/T3? Wal-Mart has the A/T's for $130
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cooper-D...vvbPDTKZlWDOxQOJOEgXsOIb92nE2u6RoCSLQQAvD_BwE

While the A/T3 is going for $180
https://www.amazon.com/Cooper-Discoverer-All-Terrain-Radial-Tire-LT265/dp/B07CZXBCMV/ref=mp_s_a_1_20?keywords=265/75r16&qid=1567435830&s=gateway&sprefix=265&sr=8-20
 

jwalterus

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Different compounds, higher treadlife on the a/t3 (and longer warranty), better traction on the a/t3, thicker sidewall, deeper tread.......
 

jwalterus

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Thanks!
Worth the $200? Have you done much towing with them?

I paid $400 each when I put them on my truck 7 years ago, and I'd do it again.
I've done plenty of towing, daily driving, empty highway (including Minot-to-Gillette 3 times), and hauling in the bed, don't have any complaints other than the fronts cupping which I'd expect from any rather aggressive tire (I have not rotated them ever). Still not overly loud on the road, but my exhaust is non-existent. LOL
The most recent load was when we moved, 54 miles of mid/late December ND highway on the worn tires, bed loaded down with tools and shop equipment, a tilt-bed trailer with an F-150 with the bed of that loaded down being pulled behind the truck.
They're worn to the point I carry 2 spares always.
 

IDIBRONCO

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The big reason they are used is for balancing truck tires(which aren't balanced in any conventional way)
There is actually a way to balance the front tires with tire weights. There is a machine (the one that I saw was probably older than me) That spins them while on the truck and uses a strobe light somehow to get a balance. I'm not real sure about how it exactly works. I also have no idea on how well it works.
 

The_Josh_Bear

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There is actually a way to balance the front tires with tire weights. There is a machine (the one that I saw was probably older than me) That spins them while on the truck and uses a strobe light somehow to get a balance. I'm not real sure about how it exactly works. I also have no idea on how well it works.
Oh i'm sure there's someone out there that does it but in 13 years driving class B shred trucks never has there been a tire balanced on our 4-5 trucks. The one time we had a vibration after install they just dismounted it and re-mounted it and it either worked or they got a different tire instead but no balance. I always found that pretty cool and insteresting considering the fancy gadgetry they use to balance passenger and LT tires.
Just my own limited experience!
 

IDIBRONCO

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I didn't see many trucks have their tires balanced. There was just a few. Maybe the medium and heavy truck tires are made to a higher standard of quality than car and light truck tires are. I know that it's few and far between when you find one that's actually round these days. Most are "out of round" and some aren't even close to that. That's been my experience.
 

renjaminfrankln

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I didn't see many trucks have their tires balanced. There was just a few. Maybe the medium and heavy truck tires are made to a higher standard of quality than car and light truck tires are. I know that it's few and far between when you find one that's actually round these days. Most are "out of round" and some aren't even close to that. That's been my experience.

Maybe the diameter is so big that they are spinning at a low enough RPM that balance is not felt.

On a car tire you never seem to feel any vibrations from an out of balance tire until 50+ mph. Our equinox needs tires balanced and I don’t feel any shaking until 60 and it’s gone passing 70
 

saburai

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Yes it's pretty much the ideal setup. The big reason they are used is for balancing truck tires(which aren't balanced in any conventional way) and oversized off-road tires, like 35"+ but especially into the 40" range. Most of the reviews are from mudders when I looked them up.

Pro tip: use airsoft beads instead and save a bunch of money! :peelout
They keep the table of oz per tire size on the dynabead website so it's always ready for comparison.

Just make sure you don't use the biodegradable airsoft BB's!
 

chillman88

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Is anyone else running the Cooper Discoverer A/T3s? What about the BFG A/T's?

@tjsea has the AT3 on his escape and likes them.

I've had very good luck with the BFG AT tread pattern on my truck but they were recaps so I can't vouch for the BFGs themselves.

The recaps with the BFG pattern were GREAT in the snow on my 2wd dually and my buddy ran them on his Dakota and loved them.

If price is comparable I wouldn't hesitate to run either of those two choices. Pretty sure the Coopers are cheaper than the BFGs though.
 

catbird7

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I've had numerous sets of BFG tires both trucks and cars (love those TA's) always providing good service life. However the set currently on my truck have me a bit concerned. While they have excellent tread remaining with around 35,000 miles, they are 8 years old and dry rot cracks are everywhere. On the sidewalls and even in between the tread pattern. This truck is normally parked in a garage therefore UV damage should've been minimal.... Hate to say it however I'll likely purchase new tires before the start of hunting season which is when I load that butt ugly slide in camper that weights a guzillion pounds and hit the highway. I hate getting flat tires!
 

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