I feel like a real noob posting another question about tires on this forum, but I'm flip-flopping <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" /> over this decision and have to commit. Once I get off my <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" /> and put these new coils under my truck I am going to step up tire size. Here are the contestants:

Dunlop Rover RVxt 265/75/16 LR-E
Dunlop Rover RVxt 265/75/16 Passenger
Dunlop Rover RVxt 265/70/16 LR-C
Cooper Discoverer ST 265/75/16 LR-C

The dilemma is with ride quality.... this will be my DD for a while yet, and I need good street manners. I drive spirited and don't want to compromise my cornering ability any more than it already is. I'm not looking to win any races, but if another truck feels more sure-footed in the twisties, then that's what I want. I am anticipating that some Procomp ES3000s will help with this, but that's for another topic.

I think the best tire for me would be one with a C load rating, and as big as I can go without drastic cutting and fitment issues; aka 32". With my above selections that would be the Cooper. I called my Cooper retailer and he said he hasn't sold a lot of the STs, maybe a set or two, but can recall one guy really complained about the road noise after installation. (He personally recommended the new ATR, but I haven't heard enough about that tire to convince me.) I can handle a little more road noise than the current OEM Duelers, but if I get an A/T I don't want it sounding like an M/T. I'm hoping they'd be along the lines of the BFG A/T KOs in noise level. Do some shops offer a [insert number] day exchange if you're not happy??? Anyone have some first hand experience with these?

The Dunlop seems like an ideal tread pattern to my driving style both on-road and off, but it's C load tire is only available in the smaller 265/70 size. I think the E will dive me crazy with stiffness and the passenger rated tire's sidewalls will be too flexy for cornering stability.... although it may be more cushy over the potholes??? Honestly, I think the 265/70/16-C will probably provide me with the ride characteristics that I want, but I know I'll always be asking myself why I didn't get an inch larger tire for the same price and better all-terrain ability. Afterall, I know all you are always saying you're gonna want more lift/tire as the bug bite gets deeper.

Anybody willing to add their $.02, and try to persuade me one way or the other please comment. Sorry for the long post. TIA
-Eric

BTW: Cooper is one of only 2 tire manufacturers still owned and made exclusively in America. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

FWIW, I would go with the Coopers. Dont get me wrong, dunlop makes a good tire, but the RVxT seems more like a street tire than A/T. If your looking to retain some cornering ability, then the E-load range might be better suited with its stiffer sidewall. It wont flex as much during cornering. I had 31-10.50-15 C rated dunlop rover RVs for a year on my rodeo. At stock pressure the tire would tend to roll over the rim, so I pumped it up to about 45 psi and it took care of that problem. I also got great mileage. But had lousy treadware. Personally, I like BFG ats and the Cooper STs

Dan

For what it's worth, I have Cooper tires on my truck (though they aren't branded Cooper, the guy at the local Discount Tire store swears they're made by Cooper) and they've been great. They've held up to some highway mileage (1500 mile rd. trip to Vegas last November in some killer snow), around-town commuting, and a little bit of light off-roading (camping trip in a national forest), as well as rain and some farily nasty winter weather and they've been outstanding.

And I couldn't beat the price - $70 per tire for 31x10.5x15. If you're interested in complicating the issue, check out the Discount site (http://www.tires.com) to see the tires for yourself.

I had a set of Discoverer LTs once, great tire, made some noise, real good wear, and decent off road traction. Personally though, I am not a fan of A/Ts, if you are looking at the coopers, look into the STTs, alot of people run them around the local area, and a few Zu's that are currently living it up, down in Uwharrie... Anyway, I have ridden in a few trucks with them, adn the noise/ride isnt much different from my old LTs... or the MT/Rs I have on the trooper...

much better than my Swampers though

My 2 cents
Chase

Dunlop RV/XT tires are among the most aggressive AT tires. They are awsome street tires, but still there is no other AT tire which is more aggressive and tougher than RV/XT, except may be BFG. Have you ever seen them in person ? (I am not talking about older RV design, I am talking about RV/XT).

I use Dunlops 265/70-16-C and I am pretty happy with them. Very capable tire, for an AT tire.

RV/XT has significantly better traction than my prevoius Yokohama AT+ in any condition.

Oleg
Rodeo S 4WD 2002

Oleg, I was hoping you might chime in as I know you are a fan of the RVxt. Unfortunately, I have never been witness to their capabilities. I have to agree with you on pretty much everything you have said though; I just can't decide which to one of the three I mentioned to go with. Can anbody at least help me narrow down which RVxt to go with... or not?

Also, having heard all the testament to how great Coopers have been, it's very hard to discount that tire. I wish I could go with an M/T but with my daily driving and the volatile climate here in the northeast it's fairly prohibitive of anything chunkier than an A/T. I think that if the Dunlops had the RVxt in a 265/75 C-load I would jump on it in a sec. Since it appears no one can argue with the Coopers and they come in the size and stiffness that I'm leaning towards (it appears that no one is going to argue against the bigger is better motto), then I am going to have to follow my gut and go with the STs.
Like I said before, I still have time yet to put these coils underneath, so in the meantime I'll still consider any more arguments. Thanks for the assistance, 4x4wire gurus!

FWIW, I had my LTs when I was living in MASS(before Navy), they were avail Range c through E, and I had Ds. They have some good "knobs", with enough siping to get a bite in the slick stuff, thats the primary reason I used them, as close as I could justify to an M/T at the time....

Chase

The question is really difficult. Let's exclude the passenger tires from the consideration, for understandable reasons. LT265/75 are taller than LT265/70 about 0.7" (30.8 vs 31.5). Taking into account that this is DIAMETER, not RADIUS, the 75s probably will give to you about 0.3-0.4" of additional vehicle height. Not much, but on a trail, every millimeter counts. You can offset it by additional coil spacers and more trosion bars crank.

75s advantages:

- vehicle is taller;
- tires roll over obstacles easier;
- tires are stronger;

70s advantages:

- you do not need to cut fenders;
- crawl ratio and speedo are less affected;
- softer ride;
- tires are lighter;

choose what is more important for you ...

Best regards,
Oleg

Go with the Cooper Discoverer!! Fixing to put 285/75/16's on my Trooper

I have seen the rvxt's in person at a tire shop. The BFG is aggressive, but so is the procomp AT. The dunlop also tends to have a shallower tread than others. I had the Rover RVs and they seemed far more aggressive than the rvxt's I saw. The RVXT seems more like a snow tire with lots of siping and blocks in the tread. The RVXT also had a fairly rounded tread, I tend to prefer a squared off tread with lugs that stick out on the sidewall, similar to the BFGs. Yes, there are less agressive ATs the the dunlop, but there are some that are much more agressive.

Dan