Cooper SST/BFG Mud TA or Goodyear MTR

[Joss]

Well this is my first post although I have been lurking.... Lots of great info. Maybe you guys can help me out. I live in Oregon and love to hunt, fish and do all that, I love the outdoors. I own a 1999 F350 Diesel and it is time for new tires. The three listed above are the tires I am looking at. I have owned the BFG's in the past. I do haul a boat around and have been told that I should use a 10 ply tire for this truck. I don't do really any major mud digging, but have been in situations that barely go me out with a All terrain tire. I am in all types of weather, Snow, Ice, rain, mud etc.

I do launch my 19' Northriver boat on a dirt/rock launch when duck hunting in the winter. When the water came up and left that muddy river silt on the launch my all terrains slide all over.

Any thoughts on these tires would be great.

Thanks again.

[crawler#976]

Hey Joss,

What size rims are on your truck?

What size tire do you plan on getting? It sounds like you'll need a D or E rated tire in that specific size - that may make a big difference in your choice of brands.

Mark

[Joss]

I guess that would help. My truck is stock height. 285/75 R16 is the tire size.

[crawler#976]

All three are load rated "D" for 3305 Lbs per tire @ 65 PSI.

The BFG and GoodYear both cost about $200.00 each, the Cooper about $170.00.

I've not used a Cooper Tire, so can't give you any first hand experiance with them.

The BFG will wear longer for steet use, but tend to chunk severely in hard use - especially in rocky terrain. Sidewalls are prone to cuts in rocky terrain, or in areas where roots protrude in deep ruts. They have a poor reputation in the roundness/balancability area. I'd expect them to last roughly 50K in primarily street use. They work well in wet conditions. I have a set on my '98 Tacoma (31-10.5 x 15) that I've damn near pay someone to take. I can't explain why I didn't put a set of MT/R's on the Taco, other than at the time I "saved" about $60.00 on the BFG's.

A GoodYear MT/R is a great tire for dry conditions, and work OK in wet conditions, but require being aired way down to clean out. (4 to 8 PSI works very well, but it's easy to lose a bead) They also have balancing problems, but if Road Force Balanced do quite well. I'd expect them to go over 40K in primarily street use - I've seen them with over 50. I have a set on the '05 Taco (265/75x16 E rated - machine siped for snow/ice traction) that now have 25K on them, and look to be at about 60% tread. I've had two sets of 35-12.5x15's on the trail rig - they get severely abused by a spooled diffs - and I expect them to go about 16K. MT/R's are a very, very tough tire.

Hopefully BajTaco can comment on the Coopers, if not, do a search on his user name and see what comes up.

Mark

[Joss]

Thanks for the info Crawler. I use my truck in Eastern Oregon hunting and go from roads that have some shale rock, so I need to watch the side walls, to standard gravel to that higher elevation dirt that becomes mud in an instant when wet. I would be worried about clean out unless you don't think it would be an issue for my use. I don't do any hard core mudding. I just want to get out if I need to.

How did the siping work? Did it inprove your wet weather traction? We have lots of rain but then it could be followed by snow.

j

A GoodYear MT/R is a great tire for dry conditions, and work OK in wet conditions, but require being aired way down to clean out. (4 to 8 PSI works very well, but it's easy to lose a bead) They also have balancing problems, but if Road Force Balanced do quite well. I'd expect them to go over 40K in primarily street use - I've seen them with over 50. I have a set on the '05 Taco (265/75x16 E rated - machine siped for snow/ice traction) that now have 25K on them, and look to be at about 60% tread. I've had two sets of 35-12.5x15's on the trail rig - they get severely abused by a spooled diffs - and I expect them to go about 16K. MT/R's are a very, very tough tire.

[crawler#976]

The siping makes a big difference in rain/snow/ice, and, at least according to the hype at Discount Tire, makes the tire wear longer. We just returned from a 505 mile trip to the White Mountains in eastern AZ. - drove over a +9000' pass in driving snow and 40+ MPH winds and never had a bobble or even needed 4x4. The multitude of edges really grips well.

The '05 Taco sees 90/10 pavement/dirt, so chunking on the sipes is pretty much nonexistant. Chris (BajaTaco) on the other hand drove his siped MT/R's almost exclusively off highway. Here's a link to his tire reviews:

http://www.bajataco.com/bajastires.html

Mark

[calamaridog]

Siping an MT tire will often lead to chunking off large pieces of rubber. I'm not convinced that siping an MT tire is the answer, but my experience here is second hand.

If you really want an aggressive tire though, then perhaps you should look at the Toyo MT. My boss runs them on his F350 and tows a heavy trailer too. He loves the traction, ride, and wear. He previously ran the BFG MT and Procomp MT and swears the Toyos are much better.

I've heard nothing bad about the Toyo MT, except the price is high. I think they will be my next tire.

I have found my Yokohama Geolander ATII's clean out the mud better than other All terrain tires I've used in the past, but they only come in 15 and 16 inch sizes. They have also handled the rain/snow/ice well this winter.

[eurorom]

Siping an MT tire will often lead to chunking off large pieces of rubber. I'm not convinced that siping an MT tire is the answer, but my experience here is second hand.

If you really want an aggressive tire though, then perhaps you should look at the Toyo MT. My boss runs them on his F350 and tows a heavy trailer too. He loves the traction, ride, and wear. He previously ran the BFG MT and Procomp MT and swears the Toyos are much better.

I've heard nothing bad about the Toyo MT, except the price is high. I think they will be my next tire.

I have found my Yokohama Geolander ATII's clean out the mud better than other All terrain tires I've used in the past, but they only come in 15 and 16 inch sizes. They have also handled the rain/snow/ice well this winter.


I agree the Geolanders AT + II Rock, they are the perfect tire between a regular At and a Mud terrain tire, only good things I can speak of on the Geolanders!:beertoast:

[Spike Pretorius]

I agree the Geolanders AT + II Rock, they are the perfect tire between a regular At and a Mud terrain tire, only good things I can speak of on the Geolanders!

Interesting opinion. In my neck of the woods Geolanders are generally frowned upon.:confused:

[eurorom]

Interesting opinion. In my neck of the woods Geolanders are generally frowned upon.:confused:


knock on the woods! I have used them in Baja, rocky terrain, washboard trails, deep sand, and no problems yet!

[Spike Pretorius]

In SA the GY MTR is viewed as top of the pile. The problem is price. They are double the price of anything else. No good reports about wet highway handling though.
Then comes Cooper STT2
After that Kumho KL71

The Coopers and Kumho's are more popular due to price and wet highway grip.

The Yoki's get complaints about soft compound/tyre life, wierd wear patterns and resulting road noise

[mojavedave]

knock on the woods! I have used them in Baja, rocky terrain, washboard trails, deep sand, and no problems yet!


My Dad's TJ has 33" Geo's on it ( Geolandar A/T+II) and it does well off road (sand, rocks, sorta ok in mud) and great on the highway.

Just my $00.02...

[MrS]

I do launch my 19' Northriver boat on a dirt/rock launch .....When the water came up and left that muddy river silt on the launch my all terrains slide all over.

Any thoughts on these tires would be great.

Thanks again.

I’m not real sure you can compare the BFG MT with the GY MTR. The BFG are a mud tire, where the MTR’s are more of a rock tire.

I’ve been using the BFG AT the last ten or so years, but got the GY’s this time. I like the MTR’s better in the dirt/rocks, not as good on pavement. Also the MTR’s are a lot higher maintenance than the AT’s. I’ve never used the BFG MT’s because then not really make for the dried terrain found in the desert where I travel most.

I know you didn’t ask about the BFG AT, but they are aimed at similar users.

IMO you should give the BFG MT’s a try

[XtremeXJ]

Well to drag this old thread up.....
I've ran both the BFG & the MTRs and no experience others then hear say and forum posts concerning the Coopers & Toyos.

Short of giving me the MTRs I will never run them again..... I'd take them for free then sell them.....
I've ran the BFG/MTs for 10 yrs. (around 40K per set) minus the 1.5 yrs. and less than 30K miles I got out of the MTRs.....

The straw that broke the camels back was when the tire came apart at 70 all the way down to the side wall letters.... GONE !! two 4" flat flapping inner & outer sidewalls were left... the entire carcass passed me up took out the Dr. rear view mirror.... AND !! the lucky part was I had JUST ! exited the Virgin River Gorge heading N. into Ut.

I had plugs in 4 of the 5.... got about 28K out them.... probably could of stretched 30K.
The one area I found them to work well was on the rocks.... I live in the desert 98% of my wheel'n is in the desert..... in the sand the did very little for forward movement..... just down to China.

I for years was a A/T fan and admit the BFG A/T is a great tire.... but in my twisted desert mind the BFG MTs offer the best of both worlds.
I know others who like the Toyos..... HEY ! Robbie broke BFGs 30 yr. reign on the Baja last fall..... on Toyos.... Hmmmmm.

I’ve never used the BFG MT’s because then not really make for the dried terrain found in the desert where I travel most.

MrS
I believe they are well adapted to the desert..... no disrespect... I think when the MTRs wear out you'll migrate back to the BFGs A/Ts..... OR !!!! maybe MTs....
Maybe not.... it's all about what works for us..... right ?
Sorry for the rant..... I haven't stopped in for awhile & saw this thread and thought I'd rehash a scary time for myself & the family......

Curt

[Mayne]

You may want to consider Coopers ST line. They are an agressive AT that have good road manners, they don't howl really bad while driving down the highway, and have good road manners. They also seem to do pretty well off road as well.

Mayne:sign_goodluck:

[MrS]

MrS
..... I think when the MTRs wear out you'll migrate back to the BFGs A/Ts.....

That’s very likely to happen since I like the BFG’s so much.

After almost a year and 7K miles the MT/R are wearing well and I’m happy with them. If a tires splits (so to speak) like yours did, OR goes out-of-round like many report, that will end the MT/R’s on my truck.

[MrS]

MrS.........no disrespect...

None taken, I like all well learned input presented in a respectful way, no matter who the person is replying too. So many car web sites have some real knuckle draggers, then can only build their point by tearing down other’s. Here people present their info. or questions in a helpful atmosphere where we can all learn.

:ok-kewl:

MrS ......think when the MTRs wear out you'll migrate back to the BFGs A/Ts.....

That’s very likely to happen since I like the BFG’s so much. :yeah:

After almost a year and 7K miles the MT/R are wearing well and I’m happy with them. If a tires splits (so to speak) like yours did, OR goes out-of-round like many report, that will end the MT/R’s on my truck.

[crawler#976]

MT/R update:

The 265/75-16's on the '05 taco are now at 30K w/ with just under 50% of tread remaining. We will be replacing them this fall due to ever increasing tread noise as they wear, and to have a fresh set of rubber for the winter months. Since the '05 is not being used for hard trail use, we'll be putting on a set of Michelin A/T's. When we purchase the '05, we envisioned it as our primary OHV/exporation rig since at that time I was driving a 7.4L GMC 3/4T 4x4 as a tow rig/DD. Now my '98 is doing the OHV work instead...

Since this was posted, I've put a set of slightly used (only had about 800 miles on'm) 31/10.5-15 MT/R's on my '98. Going from the much disliked BFG MT's was both a blessing and a curse.

The blessing - I've got what I consider to be the best off highway radial made on the truck. Just like my other MT/R's, they've proven to be dang near bullet proof.

The curse - I found the MT/R's caused a very noticable drop in MPG. In fact, it was enough of a loss for me to use my spare A/T's up front for a recent 3800 mile road trip to get back some economy.

Mark