Cooper ST MAXX Any Reviews?

[aviator]

I've seen pics of the new Cooper ST MAXX, but haven't been able to find any to look at in person. Does anyone have any experience with these or reviews? I have narrowed it down to these, the Duratrac, and Cooper AT3.

[jim65wagon]

Originally Posted by aviator

I've seen pics of the new Cooper ST MAXX, but haven't been able to find any to look at in person. Does anyone have any experience with these or reviews? I have narrowed it down to these, the Duratrac, and Cooper AT3.

More pics for you:








I think they are great tires so far. I've got the 285/75/16s on the Tundra. I've got about 3000 road miles on them so far. For an E rated tire they ride very smooth. Quieter than the old style ST's that I had before and better in the rain.

I've only had them in the dirt once so far though (Blakey Mtn Rd in Rapidan WMA if anyone knows this area). The day we were there there was a small mudhole that was a no mudflinging easy affair. The rocky sections were easy with no slipping or spinning, but I'm no rock hound so I don't look for the big rocks to climb.

They were a little rough on the forest road but my OBA wasn't working at the time so I ran at street pressure. I think aired down to 15psi they'd be smooth on a rough road.

Not much of a review, maybe by the end of summer I'll have more

[aviator]

Thanks for the info, appreciate it! I'm curious if these are as "aggressive" as the Duratracs? I'm coming from Cooper STTs, so I don't want to give up WAY to much in the way of performance off-road.

[CAP650]

I'm excited to see this update to the ST and am anxiously awaiting some in-depth reviews. I'm currently running 255/85 ST's and the two upgrades on this new tire will cover the two biggest issues. Added Cut / Chip resistance will be nice, my ST have chunked a lot. The stronger Armor-Tek3 sidewalls will be nice too, hopefully preventing sidewall tears / blowouts.

I hope they will be turning these things out in the 255 size by the time I need new treads.

[jim65wagon]

Originally Posted by CAP650

I hopefully the will be turning these things out in the 255 size by the time I need new treads.

That's why I've got the 285s now.....wanted the new style to try out but no 255. Oh well, these fit with only a little trimming....

[aviator]

Local shop ordered some in to look at. I'm really impressed with the look of them, similar in "aggressiveness" to the Duratrac. I think that they will be a good compromise between the STT I was running and a standard AT. I'm curious if the E rating will have a negative effect on ride, but there aren't any other options. Now I have to decide between the 285/70/17 or 265/70/17....

[jim65wagon]

Originally Posted by aviator

Local shop ordered some in to look at. I'm really impressed with the look of them, similar in "aggressiveness" to the Duratrac. I think that they will be a good compromise between the STT I was running and a standard AT. I'm curious if the E rating will have a negative effect on ride, but there aren't any other options. Now I have to decide between the 285/70/17 or 265/70/17....

My D range ST's I kept at about 38f/36r psi and got a good ride with a good wear pattern. The E rated Maxx's are at 34f/30r and are riding more comfortably (IMO)than the ST's did. Hopefully they will wear well too...

[aviator]

Thanks Jim, appreciate the help. Do these make much noise on the road?

[jim65wagon]

Originally Posted by aviator

Thanks Jim, appreciate the help. Do these make much noise on the road?

Less than the original ST, which is somewhere between a BFG AT and a BFG MT.....

[aviator]

Got the ST MAXXs on and I must say I'm really impressed with them thus far. They aren't too loud, just a slight hum, but I'd be worried about their offroad capability if they didn't at least make a little noise I really like the look of this tire also, very aggressive for an AT IMO, but should hold up well offroad too with the ArmorTek sidewall. I'll update more after I have a chance to test them on the trails and in more driving conditions.

[CAP650]

What size did you end up going with? Pics?

[bealbrew]

Just got a set today. So far so good. 5100's at 1.75 and rear TSB.

[jim65wagon]

Just a quick 2 updates:
August:
we got back from Cape Lookout 2 days before Hurricane Irene landed. We were on the beach for 5 days and the ST Maxx's did very well in the sand.
I wish I could compare the to the ST of the same size.
In real soft sugar sand the Maxx's took more throttle to maintain speed than the old ST's did. I do not know if that is from the change in tread pattern or the change in tread width, or the fact that I only aired down a load range E tire to 20 lbs.Next time I'm going to try 15 and/or 10 psi. Regardless, we never got stuck, or even close to getting stuck.
STMaxx = good sand tire





December:
I haven't had them off road lately, last time was the trip to PA for junior deer season with my daughter. There is a steep winding track that was muddy and the Maxx's just climb right up.
On road I have no complaints. The tires continue to run nice and quiet.
I don't have any issues with them in the rain, like the original ST the rears will spin a bit (or a lot) if your foot gets too heavy, or the tires have too much air pressure, or the road still has that early rain oil layer on it - or a combination of all the above.
They seem to be hydroplane resistant, hitting standing water at speed they shed water quickly enough to maintain control and give you a chance to go - whew! that coulda been worse!
They do seem to be wearing like iron. Original tread depth was (measured by me) 19/32" after 13,000 miles of mostly road (but enough sand, gravel and mud to like these treads) they've worn down to 16/32. Math time peeps.
19/32 - 16/32 = 3/32
175,000 miles - 162000 miles = 13,000 miles
13,000 / 3 = 4333 miles per 1/32 of tread wear!
.
let's extrapolate!
if you drive these tires to their legal limit (3/32) that gives you a potential of 69,328 miles. [19 - 3 = 16/32; 16 x 4333 = 69,328]
even if you only like to use half the tread life (9.5/32) that gives you a potential of 41,163 miles. [19 / 2 = 9.5; 9.5 x 4333 = 41,163]
.
That's off road tire life I can live with!

[TACODOC]

Originally Posted by jim65wagon

Just a quick 2 updates:
August:
we got back from Cape Lookout 2 days before Hurricane Irene landed. We were on the beach for 5 days and the ST Maxx's did very well in the sand.
I wish I could compare the to the ST of the same size.
In real soft sugar sand the Maxx's took more throttle to maintain speed than the old ST's did. I do not know if that is from the change in tread pattern or the change in tread width, or the fact that I only aired down a load range E tire to 20 lbs.Next time I'm going to try 15 and/or 10 psi. Regardless, we never got stuck, or even close to getting stuck.
STMaxx = good sand tire





December:
I haven't had them off road lately, last time was the trip to PA for junior deer season with my daughter. There is a steep winding track that was muddy and the Maxx's just climb right up.
On road I have no complaints. The tires continue to run nice and quiet.
I don't have any issues with them in the rain, like the original ST the rears will spin a bit (or a lot) if your foot gets too heavy, or the tires have too much air pressure, or the road still has that early rain oil layer on it - or a combination of all the above.
They seem to be hydroplane resistant, hitting standing water at speed they shed water quickly enough to maintain control and give you a chance to go - whew! that coulda been worse!
They do seem to be wearing like iron. Original tread depth was (measured by me) 19/32" after 13,000 miles of mostly road (but enough sand, gravel and mud to like these treads) they've worn down to 16/32. Math time peeps.
19/32 - 16/32 = 3/32
175,000 miles - 162000 miles = 13,000 miles
13,000 / 3 = 4333 miles per 1/32 of tread wear!
.
let's extrapolate!
if you drive these tires to their legal limit (3/32) that gives you a potential of 69,328 miles. [19 - 3 = 16/32; 16 x 4333 = 69,328]
even if you only like to use half the tread life (9.5/32) that gives you a potential of 41,163 miles. [19 / 2 = 9.5; 9.5 x 4333 = 41,163]
.
That's off road tire life I can live with!

Wow. Very impressive.

[hard2kill]

Thanx for the updates!!!!

[aviator]

I chose 265/70/17. They have been wearing really well so far. Took them on one moderate wheeling trip aired down to 15psi and they did a great job. Great traction and no chunking or anything negative. These are also very good on the wet pavement from what I've seen.

[TacoBlanca97]

I think I have found my next set of tires. I've read good things about the Cooper st maxx. I know these tires are E rated, how's the sidewall flex at 15 psi?

[307prerunner]

Great info! I'm interested in these tires, might be sold after reading this! How are they with gravel roads at speed?

[aviator]

Originally Posted by 307prerunner

Great info! I'm interested in these tires, might be sold after reading this! How are they with gravel roads at speed?

I've had them on a fair amount of gravel roads and they handle really well. Still very happy with these tires.