The Cooper Discoverer AT3-4S tires are a great all-terrain option for the stock overland vehicle.
“I love the smell of new tires. I usually place them in my bedroom for a night or two before mounting them onto my vehicle.” My friend, Tyson, stated.
“Ahhhh…. Really?” I questioned in a somewhat concerned tone.
“The smell or should I say aroma is so nice,” reiterated Tyson.
Vehicles need them, and tires are one of the most critical pieces of overlanding equipment one can purchase. Where the rubber meets the road. Some people, like my friend Tyson, go beyond the need of tires and admittedly take it to a literal extreme. For most of us though, including myself, tires are viewed as a necessity that’s neither most glamorous or pleasurable. However, that may change with the Cooper Discoverer AT3-4S tire. While I would much rather spend my money on some other outdoor goodies and equipment, I understand and appreciate the need for quality, reliable tires on my vehicle. They “connect” me to the road. Tires get me to my destination and back in a comfortable, reliable fashion. And that’s what this Cooper tire does and does well.
Driving home from my local tire shop, the importance of solid, reliable tires was evident. My Land Cruiser just didn’t ride and feel right. The ride was rough, and I could feel a vibration coming from the front end. It wasn’t anything too extreme but noticeable. I wondered if it was the newly mounted E-rated tires that caused these symptoms. Previously, my Land Cruiser had a nice set of street tires on it, so maybe the stiffness of the new tires was the culprit.
Back in Issues 25-28 of OutdoorX4 Magazine, I wrote a series based around my choice of purchasing a 200 Series Land Cruiser for family adventure. At the time, I was looking for larger tires to accommodate the vast needs of my family through the various types of terrain and areas we planned to travel. I chose and mounted a new set of the Discoverer AT3-XLT version and overall, after 12 months the tires have performed flawlessly. Whether on rock, sand, or gravel the tires have been outstanding (see OutdoorX4’s Gear Issue, Issue 30, for full review). But, Cooper Tires had a little secret up their sleeves.
Cooper Tires decided to develop and engineer three separate versions of their Discoverer AT3 tire to meet the variety of vehicle demands on the market today. Why should a stock off-road vehicle have the identical set of tires of a monster diesel truck? Isn’t a Ram diesel truck different than a Toyota Tacoma truck? What about a weekend warrior adventure vehicle that’s driven to the office on Monday? Many manufacturers create one tire and try to meet a variety of different vehicle needs and applications. This is not the case with Cooper Tires.
Cooper engineered three separate Discoverer AT3 models that include the 4S, LT, and XLT versions. The XLT’s were mounted on my laden heavy Land Cruiser. But, what about a vehicle left in stock form? A tire that doesn’t need to support the additional weight from vehicle modifications. Is there a tire that could perform on and off-road, but wouldn’t lose a smooth, comfortable ride on tarmac? What about all-terrain tires that come with a tread-life warranty?The Cooper Discoverer AT3-4S version does all of that and more.
I mounted the Discoverer AT3-4S tires on a stock Land Cruiser 200 Series. A vehicle without any modifications or weight added to it—bone stock. The tires have many new attributes that became evident the more they were used. One of these attributes, Secure-Grip, is an all-terrain five-rib pattern that specifically allows more traction in wet and dry road conditions. Along with the Micro-Gauge siping that provide more stability and control, while also reducing stone/rock retention. The tires are designed with what Cooper refers to as snow grove technology. Mini teeth trap the snow in the tread to produce better handling in conditions when the white stuff is on the ground. Additionally, Aqua Vac channels in the tires prevent hydroplaning when the roads are wet due to rain. The fancy jargon sounds nice but the real question is how would the tires handle in the real world?
After 15,000 miles, the tires have performed flawlessly and with confidence in a variety of conditions. The tires gripped the snow of the Tetons and Wasatch Mountains in Wyoming and Utah without the vehicle feeling it would slip. The tires are confident and comfortable at speed as they have handled the dirt and sand of the desert southwest. Driving on tarmac is smooth, with very little road noise, which is important because all of us typically travel on long stretches of pavement to get us to the areas we enjoy recreating and exploring in. To date, the tread has been wearing evenly, and the tires have stayed in balance. Despite having little opportunity to test the tires in mud, all other conditions have been thoroughly tested in the areas I’ve written about for OutdoorX4 this year in the print magazine, and the tires have performed exceptionally well for a tire that starts in price from $120 and works its way up depending on size and selection.
Unlike my friend Tyson, I’m not sure I would sleep with a set of Discoverer AT3-4S tires in my room. However, I would mount them to any stock SUV, crossover vehicle, or truck given the versatility and attributes these tires provide for vehicle-based adventure travel. Tires that can handle a variety of conditions and get you safely to and from your destination. Theses tires are designed and created with a stock vehicle in mind. If you drive a modified vehicle with added weight, consider the LT and XLT versions. Regardless, give the new Cooper Discoverer AT3 tires a consideration for your next tire purchase.
More insights and information
-65,000 mile tread life warranty
-Severe weather rated
-Adaptive-Traction Technology for superior grip performance
-45-Day Free Road Test
Editor’s Note: Cooper’s AT3 tires were previously featured in Issue 30 of OutdoorX4 Magazine in the Vehicle & Storage section of the Gear Guide. This review, while brief, provides general considerations when making your next tire selection. Each vehicle, and need, is different. If you require or prefer a more aggressive all-terrain, the BFGoodrich KO2 tire continues to impress as our Publisher has put over 100,000 miles on two sets of the KO2 and is currently testing, for long-term review, the all-new Yokohama Geolandar X-AT. That tire will be featured in a long-term Field Review in an upcoming issue of OutdoorX4.
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