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Cooper Discoverer A/T3

*Est. $200

Reviewed

March 2012

by ConsumerSearch

Best all-terrain truck/SUV tire

Pros

Great grip on wet, dry and snowy roads
Good on sand, loose dirt and mud
Quiet, comfortable ride
55,000-mile tread warranty

Cons

Mediocre ice traction
Not suitable for extreme off-roading
High rolling resistance can diminish gas mileage

Where to Buy

for $178.00

Our Analysis
Specs

Plenty of all-terrain tires for light trucks and SUVs grip well on wet, dry and snowy pavement, but the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 goes a couple steps further: It manages a quieter, more comfortable on-road ride than many other off-road tires, and its tread lasts longer than most competitors' in an independent test. Cooper backs the tire with a 55,000-mile tread-wear warranty.

Off-road, it's not too shabby, either. Auto journalists who spend a lot of time off the pavement say they are pleasantly surprised by the Discoverer A/T3's prowess on sand, loose dirt and deep mud. Still, these tires aren't for hard-core off-roading; for that, reviews say the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar (*Est. $210) is the best pick.

If your truck or SUV rarely leaves the pavement, keep in mind that all-terrain tires rarely deliver good ice grip, and they often create a lot of drag or rolling resistance that lessen your gas mileage. Regular all-season light truck/SUV tires like the top-rated Michelin LTX M/S2 (*Est. $225) tend to grip better on ice, create less rolling resistance and last longer in tests.

ConsumerReports.org tests tires scientifically, but its evaluations are on-road only. Off-road enthusiast publications and websites, including Petersen's 4Wheel & Off-Road, Off-Road.com and 4x4Review.com, test the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 on dirt, sand and mud in addition to pavement.

Where To Buy

Cooper Discoverer A/T3 Radial Tire - 235/85R16 120RR E1

2 New from $178.00

In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.org

ConsumerReports.org compares the Cooper Discoverer AT/3 with 12 other all-terrain tires. Experts here rank the tires from best to worst based on their own tests of handling, braking, rolling resistance, tread wear and more.

Review: All-terrain Truck Tire Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. Petersen's 4 Wheel & Off Road

For a truck that spends most of its time on the road, the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 is "a great daily driver tire," Fred Williams says. It grips well on loose dirt and sand, too, with lots of siping that should also give good snow traction.

Review: Cooper Discoverer A/T3 Tire Test, Fred Williams, March 2012

3. Off-Road.com

Off-Road.com accepts Cooper Tire's invitation to test the Discoverer A/T3 at the Cooper testing grounds. Josh Burns tests it against rival tires on wet pavement and finds the A/T3 grips best. He also finds the A/T3 surprisingly capable in deep mud.

Review: Cooper Tire Unveils New All-Terrain and Off-Road Tire, Josh Burns, Feb. 27, 2011

4. 4x4Review.com

Mike Darr attends the same Cooper press event as Off-Road.com and comes to the same conclusions, but Darr includes more detail in his write-up. For example, he writes a paragraph about how each competing tire performs on a wet track.

Review: Getting Traction -- Cooper Tire Discoverer A/T3 and S/T Maxx, Mike Darr

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