Coopers or Michelins?? - Diesel Forum

jkeller3 · 10-10-2005, 11:45 PM

Hello all. It is now time to get new tires.

I've been wieghing the options and settled on the Cooper ATR or Michelin LTX M/S. Either will be 235/85/16 size.

Have any of you run either of these tires? If so, what do you think of them?

There is more than $200 difference in a full set out the door. I am wondering if there is really that much difference.

Your help is always appreciated.

John

Dane Launius · 10-11-2005, 12:40 AM

I haul a camper and went with bigger tires this time and I am much happier. LT265/75-16 I think, I know the 265 and 16 are correct. Much better with weight on. Unless you have a dually which I didn't see in your signature, but doesn't mean I didn't miss it. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

Dualie · 10-11-2005, 02:35 AM

Michelins 235/85R16 LTX M/S on everything in the sig. well trailers run XPS rib in the same size.

Can beat them for wet weather traction, light fresh snow, or slightly muddy fire trails. got 60,000 out of the last set and was pleased as punch. I will not run another tire on any of my trucks period. After all the troubles I have had with trailer tires the only ones that LIVE are the Michelins.

Zrob · 10-11-2005, 06:55 AM

I just put a set of Coopers on mine, I couldn't be happier with them

craiggo · 10-11-2005, 10:30 AM

I had 5 of them seperate on me. The fifth being the spare. Found out that a major refinery here in the Bay Area spent almost $1/2 mil replacing their Michelins for the same reason. If I had been more on the ball, I'd have documented the hell out of them and called my local news agency. I put BF Goods on from COSTCO and they've been the best tires I've had on the truck.

Craig

libsys · 10-11-2005, 11:46 AM

I've got about 50k on my Michelins, and there's still pretty good tread left.

huskyhauler · 10-11-2005, 03:35 PM

one thing i have found about Michelins, is you will likely rot them out before you wear them out. just because you have tread does not mean the tire is still good. my father in law had about 50k on a set of Mich on his e series. he blew two out, and screamed about how bad michelins were made, and tread was still like new. turned out yeah they still had tread, but were well over 5 years old. you could pop a dime in some of the sidewall cracking. i have a set on my truck with 45k, tread is still good, but the sidewalls wont make it through another summer. no bad for tires that tow a trailer 80% of the time. most of it life is off the highway on nasty quarry roads, and thats hard on tires. when the time comes i will again buy michelins hands down..

Fozz · 10-11-2005, 05:27 PM

I did the BFGoods from Costco as well. I am very pleased as well.

thefermanator · 10-11-2005, 05:35 PM

My Sub had coopers on it when I bought it and I didn't like them one bit. They had a harsh ride and hydraplaned easily in light rain. I've got Bridgestones right now and they ride and handle much better than the coopers did. The Michelins are great tire but they do have to be replaced every 5 years mandatory. A friend of mine who does billboard lighting uses michelins on all of his vehicles, he got over 120,000 miles out of his last set. This was on a work truck in stop and go traffic bad roads and everything. But he puts about 60K on a vehicle in a years time so they didn't dry rot, he does get them rotated every 5K though at Sams where he bought them.

DSBlack · 10-11-2005, 07:03 PM

I love the cooper that I have. good performace all around. Plus they are a USA company.

Mike Lewis · 10-11-2005, 10:25 PM

I bought the Coopers because they were an American company if not American made. Can't remember...

Anyhow, my advice is--hands down, Coopers. I had them on my half ton that looked BRAND NEW when I had 15,000 miles on them. Virtually no wear when I sold the truck. The tires weren't just city-driven with no load... many miles with a horse trailer behind the truck.

Couldn't beat the price either--I think they were the lowest-prices tires of the ones I considered--same size, load rating, etc. No issues on snow or wet road... or pulling the horse trailer on paths/gravel.

tim94f250 · 10-11-2005, 11:35 PM

When I was working, I did 45-60k a year, F350, 2wd. Had Coopers one set lasted 35K. Michlins: set of four cost $150. more than Coopers, lasted 3x as long as Coopers plus the sidewalls were much stronger. Truck didn't have the roll that the Coopers did.

Zrob · 10-12-2005, 02:37 AM

Just a heads up. Cooper just redesigned their 10 ply tire. I beleive it's called the ATR, now. It's much quieter, with better traction. (or so they say) Mine are quiet and we just got over with 4 days of rain. 5"+ I never hydroplaned once.

moburki · 10-12-2005, 04:33 PM

And Cooper makes a 255/85-16 in that tire, which is approximately 33 inch tire (highway rpms could drop to help mpg)

johnny_munyak · 10-12-2005, 05:31 PM

I would also consider a BF Goodrich All Terrain TA KO. These tires have very good praises for durability and tire tread longevity for those running on a combination of terrain. (Rocks, gravel, dirt, pavement, etc.) Came hightly recommended by at least 6 different tire retailers I've called in the past looking for tire for this type of use and in the size 265/75/16 or 285/75/16.

I intend on giving them a closer look.