Above ¾ ton pickups and commercial usage and, tough off-road usage are the best pair for Cooper ST Maxx and Goodyear Duratrac. These two beasts are placed in the top 5 in their segment. If you are looking for something with huge traction and long last tread life, these products must be on your list. Yet, they’re different in some cases.
At a Glance
| Cooper ST Maxx | Goodyear Duratrac | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Working trucks, highway driving, smooth & quiet ride, hauling & towing | Adventurers, severe off-road, aggressive appearance, winter traction |
| Pros | All-round tire, lasts longer, better responsiveness | Satisfying wet and winter traction for an all-terrain tire, acceptable tread life |
| Cons | Nothing much to talk about | A bit noisy, slightly harsh ride if you’re not used to all-terrain tires |
| Available on | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price | TireRack: Check Price Goodyear: Check Price DiscountTire: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Goodyear Duratrac is a better tire for adventure and severe winter conditions. It offers a smooth but a bit noisy ride. Moreover, it handles air-down conditions very well. On the other hand, Cooper ST Maxx is an excellent tire for work trucks. It can handle mild off-road very well and its dope sidewalls increase its hauling and towing capability. It’s one of the best all-terrain tires for commercial usage.
All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet
Finding the most suitable one for you among thousands of tires is very difficult.
My team & I have analyzed 100 different tires and generated this ‘Quick Answer Sheet‘ for those who don’t wanna spend too much time during tire selection.
Before we start, here are the incredibly helpful articles I highly recommend to take a look at;
- How to keep tire noise down:
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise - How to Air Down Tires?
https://www.discounttire.com/blog/airing-tires-down - What to Expect from 3PMSF Tires?
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/mountain-snowflake-symbol
Below the table, you can find my favorite tires that I have classified according to your needs.
If you’re in a hurry, here are the tires worth every penny;
- Toyo Open Country AT3 – Best All-Round & Longevity
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W – Best All-Round & Squishy Regions
- BF Goodrich KO2 – Best All-Round & Off-Road Adventure
- Falken Wildpeak AT Trail – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Severe Off-Road
- Nitto Recon Grappler – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
- General Grabber ATX – Best All-Round for 3/4-ton or above trucks
- Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac – Best On/Off Road tire for 3/4-ton or above trucks
- Cooper Discoverer 4S XLT – Best Commercial All-Terrain Tire & Hauling and Towing
If you’re looking for something at a bargain price;
- Vredestein Pinza AT – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
- Kenda Klever A/T2 – Best All-Round for Medium & Light Duty Usage
- Kenda Klever R/T – Best All-Round for Heavy-Duty Usage
Depending on your needs, also the below articles might help;
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-3-4-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-mud-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-rt-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-tires-for-snow-plowing/
I highly recommend checking the below pages out before making any purchase:
- DiscountTire Deals:
https://www.discounttire.com/promotions - TireRack Deals:
https://www.tirerack.com/specialoffers - SimpleTire Deals:
https://simpletire.com/tire-deals
Table of Contents
Off-Road Performance
Off-road performance is the strongest point of these two tires. No matter on mud, rock, or sand; they perform well in all applications. In that case, recognizing your operation will be a lifesaver. I recommend you read the below subtitles and pick the best fit for yourself.
- Goodyear Duratrac has better mud driving than Cooper ST Maxx
- Goodyear Duratrac has significantly better sand driving than Cooper ST Maxx
- Cooper ST Maxx and Goodyear Duratrac has equally good rock driving performance
Let’s examine their performance on different surfaces one by one.
Before starting to read this section, check this article out to what to expect from mud, rugged or all-terrain tires –> https://tireterrain.com/off-road-tire-tread-patterns/
Mud
Mud performance(best ones) isn’t a game-changer between these two. Though it is worth saying that Goodyear Duratrac can easily reach beyond your expectations.
Goodyear Duratrac will meet your expectations on every sort of mud. Tractive Groove Technology will guarantee the best traction even in deep mud. Self-cleaning shoulder blocks clear the tread smoothly. Though, consistent traction is guaranteed.
Due to higher sipe intensity, Goodyear Duratrac is a better tire on dirt.
Cooper ST Maxx is a decent mud tire. Due to its deep lugs, it provides huge traction on deep mud. Moreover, its self-cleaning ability is a huge plus for mud-driving consistency.
Overall, both tires are trustworthy options. There are no negative comments about mud traction for both. Yet, I recommend you go with Goodyear Duratrac. Just to stay on the safe side.
Sand
Sand driving is where these two competitors are separated. In that case, a less void area always works better. Well, Goodyear Duratrac steps ahead again with a v-shaped shoulders. These shoulders provide massive traction while protect you from dig down and stuck.
- Goodyear Duratrac has a significantly better sand driving performance
- Goodyear Duratrac has a significantly better evacuation capability
In this topic, Goodyear Duratrac is a more trustable option.
Rock
Rock driving(the best one) is the only off-road topic that Cooper ST Maxx can be lead. Strategically placed stone ejector ribs to prevent it from stone-holding. That feature does not exist on Goodyear Duratrac.
On the other hand, Goodyear Duratrac is an average rock driving tire. If you’ll use LT sizes, it will handle rock crawling with ease.
- Cooper ST Maxx has better rock crawling performance
- Cooper ST Maxx and Goodyear Duratrac has equal performance on gravel
You can go with both tires for rock driving. Both will meet your expectations. Yet, sidewall durability and stone ejector ribs are made me choose Cooper ST Maxx.
Dry Performance
Dry performance is tricky for commercial on/off-road tires. Due to their fluffy cap compound and lug-type patterns, they can handle dry traction easily. Yet, steering response and cornering stability are hard to reach for them.
Regarding steering response, Goodyear Duratrac steps ahead. Due to its inter-locked and way more linear center section block, it has a quicker steering response. However, Cooper ST Maxx’s steering response is highly acceptable for this heavy tire.
Regarding cornering stability, the battle is close. In that case, I should consider LT sizes cuz P-metric tires are mostly lighter. When you combine this feature with thick sidewalls, solid cornering stability is certain. Well, in that case, both have 3-ply sidewalls. Though, lighter tires always have better cornering stability. Goodyear Duratrac is our winner!
Noise Comparison
Noise comparison is where I come up with low expectations. Commercial all-terrain tires have mostly become noisy when the speed is up. Well, it is normal due to the aggressive tread design.
Goodyear Duratrac with highly angled tread blocks enhances lateral stability. That feature will help it to reduce noise.
Cooper ST Maxx has tried to solve the noise issues with smaller lugs. Well, it might work if they could arrange lug intensity on the tread pattern. This tire is noisy, especially after 10k miles.
Both have average noise reduction. You can go either way.
A side note here: Even though some tires tend to make noise because of their tread patterns, it’s still possible to keep your tire noise down.
I’m leaving a perfect explanation below from DiscountTire for those who need it;
How to Keep Tire Noise Down? –>
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise
Riding Comfort
Goodyear Duratrac is showing up and taking lead with huge ride comfort. It is really hard to reach this comfort level on the big tire. There is no competition in this section.
Goodyear Duratrac has the best riding comfort among the commercial traction tires.
Cooper ST Maxx can be considered as an average in this section. Watch out for your speed and inflation pressure if you want to increase your comfort.
Most tire sizes begin with modifier letters(P, LT, etc.) that identify the type of vehicle or type of service for which they were designed. Here is a perfect guide for reading tire size –> https://tireterrain.com/how-to-read-tire-size/
Wet Performance
Wet performance is the multi-domain feature for all-terrain tires. It has a huge effect on light mud and light snow performances.
Goodyear Duratrac has one of the best performances on wet grounds. It is reliable. It amazed us during our online research. There is no negative comment about neither wet traction nor wet sliding.
Wet performance is the weak point of Cooper ST Maxx. Users mostly complain about poor wet traction. Moreover, sliding is an issue on wet.
As a result, we strongly recommend Goodyear Duratrac for watersoaked conditions.
Note: Hydroplaning is vital for a safe ride under the pouring rain. However, it might occur even with the best tire. Maybe you can’t prevent it but if you know what it is and how to deal with it, you can easily stay on the safe side.
Here is an extremely efficient guide about ‘How to Deal with Hydroplaning?‘ –> https://www.discounttire.com/learn/hydroplaning
Winter Performance
Winter performance comparison is not puzzling for all-terrain tires. Especially, when one of the contenders has a winter rating.
Goodyear Duratrac has a 3 peak-mountain snow fleak and it is a prof of winter capability. Most of the users are completely satisfied with winter performance. You will be impressed when you see how they chewed into the snow.
Cooper ST Maxx is not an expert on snow. Extensive grooves do not help traction. Eventually, it causes sliding and handling issues. Customers are complaining about winter performance a lot. It is not a good sign for us.
Both tires have metal stud options to perform perfectly on ice. That’s good news. Yet, Goodyear Duratrac rips Cooper ST Maxx apart regarding overall winter performance. We recommend Goodyear Duratrac if you are living in hard weather conditions.
Durability and Tread Life
Durability is crucial if you are an off-road adventure lover. No worries, these tires are developed to perform in severe conditions. They are commercial tires. In that case, sidewall durability sometimes can be confusing for customers. Let’s explain it.
Sidewall durability can prevent lateral impacts. Yet, it doesn’t mean that tires can carry more load with stronger sidewalls.
Even wearing and rotation is key for wear life. I recommend rotating your tires every 7.5-10k miles.
- Goodyear Duratrac has slightly better sidewall durability, its sidewall protectors go through to bead and provide better protection
- Goodyear Duratrac has a significantly better wear life due to its optimized compound and contact pitch.
In this section, the battle is close. Before you start you should have detailed knowledge about your operation.
You can go with either Cooper ST Maxx or Goodyear Duratrac if your intent is commercial. If not, you can confidently go with Goodyear Duratrac and enjoy your long-lasting adventure tire.
Getting maximum wear life from a tire is related to you as well as your tire,
If you’d like to learn how to get maximum tread life:
Specs
| Cooper ST Maxx | Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Commercial All-Terrain Tire | Commercial All-Terrain Tire |
| Vehicle | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20” | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 19’’, 20” |
| Weight | 42 – 78 lbs | 35 – 68 lbs |
| Made In | United States | United States |
| Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF) | No (Only M+S) | Yes (3PMSF) |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 45 Days Test Drive | 50,000 Miles |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 45 Days Test Drive | 50,000 Miles |
| Prices | Check price section to see best possible prices | Check price section to see best possible prices |
Price
The tire market has a dynamic price policy. Hence, in my point of view, sharing tire price is pointless.
Though, I’ve analyzed the top 10 brands of most popular tire brands.
Here are the dealers with a reasonable price range,
DiscountTire
- Biggest dealer in the US. Founded in 1960
- 1000 stores in 35 states. You most probably find one on your parallel street
- Free rotation and balancing
- 5% off for DiscountTire cardholders on online purchase
- Highest rated online tire dealer in Consumer Affairs
- Almost all brands are available
- Delivery takes 2-4 days (30% shorter average waiting time when you book online)
- Frequent discounts and promotions
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/goodyear-wrangler-duratrac
Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/cooper-discoverer-st-maxx
TireRack
- Fast and Free shipping
- Usually delivered in 1 day
- Joint venture with DiscountTire(their installers and dealers are on your service)
- Tons of installer options, they also help you to choose the best one
- Mobile installers in many areas, your tires will be replaced while you’re working in the office
- Tire test results and comparisons can be found on the most product page
- 4.6/5 points on Google rate
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/goodyear-wrangler-duratrac
Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/cooper-discoverer-s-t-maxx
SimpleTire
- Free shipping
- Delivered in 2 days
- Verified shops near you(for mount and balance)
- Mobile installation option
- 7 million customers since 2021
- 4.7/5 points on Google rate
- Top-notch customer service, you may even request a price match
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac: https://simpletire.com/brands/goodyear-tires/wrangler-duratrac
Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx: https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/discoverer-s-t-maxx
Goodyear
- Price match guarantee ( if you find a lower price online 14 days after purchase, Goodyear will pay back to price difference)
- The rebate option is mostly available
- The warranty process is the easiest
- Monthly payment is available
- You can use any locale dealer that has an agreement with a Goodyear for an installation
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac: https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/wrangler-duratrac
While choosing dealers, I especially pay attention to reliability. All of the dealers on this list have 15-20 years of experience in the online tire business. Therefore, I can guarantee a smooth and fast tire buying process.
Conclusion
I’ve tried to explain everything as best I can. I would like to devote this section to recommendations.
| Cooper ST Maxx | Goodyear Duratrac | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Working trucks, highway driving, smooth & quiet ride, hauling & towing | Adventurers, severe off-road, aggressive appearance, winter traction |
| Pros | All-round tire, lasts longer, better responsiveness | Satisfying wet and winter traction for an all-terrain tire, acceptable tread life |
| Cons | Nothing much to talk about | A bit noisy, slightly harsh ride if you’re not used to all-terrain tires |
| Available on | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price | TireRack: Check Price Goodyear: Check Price DiscountTire: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
Tire selection depends on too many inputs. Below take-home points will help you to choose the best fit.
Take-Home Points,
- LT sizes have stronger sidewalls. That feature makes them more durable. Yet, these tires offer a rougher ride. (LT vs P-Metric tires)
- XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, if you’ll go with p-metric sizes, they might be a better pick for hauling and towing( XL vs SL tires)
- Please pay attention to the load range and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
- There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires
A side note here: If you’d like to get local advice and find the best fit for your driving habits, location, and road conditions DiscountTire – Treadwell Tire Guide can give you masterpiece recommendations.
Hope you guys enjoy this article. If you have any further questions, please write them below. I will answer them ASAP!
Guide Me Bruh!
This section contains my research and top picks. Depending on your need, you may choose a category and easily find the best fit for yourself. Remember, nobody knows your driving conditions and requirements better than yourself. You’re in the charge out here.
Start Here:
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