Even though Cooper ST Maxx and Cooper STT Pro can handle off and on the road, they’re different in some aspects. While Cooper STT Pro is a mud-terrain tire, Cooper ST Maxx is a commercial all-terrain (hybrid) tire that focuses on durability and traction mostly. In this article, I’m going to help you with that. Let’s begin!
At a Glance
| Cooper ST Maxx | Cooper STT Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Working trucks, highway driving, smooth & quiet ride, hauling & towing | Adventurers, severe off-road, aggressive appearance |
| Pros | All-round tire, lasts longer, better responsiveness | Satisfying wet and winter traction for a mud-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 | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Cooper STT Pro is a tire for loose grounds. It has superior traction. It’s also a better option for winter conditions. On the other hand, Cooper ST Maxx is available only for LT sizes. Though, it has a harsh and noisy ride. Yet, its tread lasts longer and it’s a perfect tire for those who are working in severe conditions like a construction site. It’s also slightly better tire on wet.
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
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/
Off-road performance isn’t a big deal for these two. These tires can be evaluated as mud-terrain tires than can handle all kinds of surfaces.
Cooper ST Maxx and Cooper STT Pro are both above average on severe and mild application. Though, both are experts on different surfaces.
- Cooper STT Pro has significantly better performance on rock
- Cooper STT Pro has significantly better performance on deep mud
- Cooper ST Maxx has significantly better performance on sand
- Cooper ST Maxx has better performance on dirt and gravel
If you like adventure and spend most of your time in severe conditions, Cooper STT Pro is your tire.
If mild but loaded application performance meets your expectations, I can confidently say that Cooper ST Maxx is on your service.
- A side note here: If you’d like to see the best all-terrain tires by vehicle or usage, this article is GOOOOLD –> https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
Mud Performance
Opposite to all-terrain tires, hybrid tires are performing smoothly on mud driving. We strongly believe that mud performance should be evaluated in two different approaches. Deep mud and light mud.
We’re all familiar with deep mud. On the other hand, light mud can be confusing users. Light mud is the combination of dirt and water.
Deep mud is related to traction and evacuation. About the light mud, it is a bit tricky. Wet performance is strongly related to it. So in that case, you should consider hydroplaning resistance as well.
- Cooper STT Pro is an expert on deep mud. Its traction is extraordinary. Large lugs evacuate and grip mud very well
- Cooper ST Maxx is a slightly better tire on light mud
You can trust both tires on mud applications. They are trustworthy.
Sand Performance
Sand and deep mud performances are generally showing parallel results. The grip is a key point out there.
Cooper used Earth Digger Technology on Cooper STT Pro. That increases its grip and cleaning ability significantly.
Both tires have exceptional grip. They can move on sand easily.
Just a little tip for Cooper STT Pro. These huge lugs will dig to sand if you will not get easy with the gas pedal. Do not put yourself in a bad situation.
- Cooper STT Pro has slightly better performance than Cooper ST Maxx on sand
There is no specific winner in that label. Both are reliable options.
Rock Performance
Rock performance (review of best one) is where we can see the difference. Rock driving is a heavy-duty off-road adventure. Guys, please welcome our ORC Off-Road Championship winner, Cooper STT Pro!
Cooper STT Pro has exceptional grip and durability. Rock Climber Sidewall Technology helps break the toughest path.
Stone Armor Technology prevents Cooper STT Pro from sharp rock and debris.
- Cooper STT Pro has significantly better rock performance
- Cooper STT Pro has better sidewall durability
Cooper STT Pro is known for rock performance. It’s taking the lead among other hybrid tires.
On-Road Performance
Highway performance is the weakest point of hybrid tires. The best hybrid tires on the highway are let’s say average. Yet, these tires are built with different intentions. Cooper ST Maxx has a stiff compound and stiff sidewalls. Though, its on-road performance is limited. However, Cooper STT Pro with soft compound and flexible sidewalls provides a smooth ride. Yet, sure it’s a bit vocal as expected.
- Cooper STT Pro is a slightly less vocal tire
- Cooper STT Pro offers a slightly smoother ride
Cooper ST Maxx is a solid tire that can perform very well in severe conditions. But the highway is not their expertise.
I recommend Cooper ST Maxx only for commercial usage. However, Cooper ST Pro is a good pick if you can slightly sacrifice quietness for an aggressive looking.
Road Noise
Noise on highways is a common problem of commercial tires. Due to achieving durable rubber and a higher load index, they need strong sidewalls and stiff compounds. Even though Cooper STT Pro is a mud-terrain tire, its noise level is still better than Cooper ST Maxx.
I’m expecting that much from both tires. They both will be noisy at high speeds.
- Cooper STT Max has less noise than Cooper STT Pro
- Rotation is key if you wanna keep them silent for a long time
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
Riding comfort is composed of steering, handling, and rebounding performance.
Steering and handling are mostly aligned with the weight of the tire. When you are at high speeds, the heavier tires have more acceleration. This feature decrease response time and eventually it will decrease your handling and steering.
In that case, Cooper STT Pro is a heavier tire, so let’s consider it.
- Cooper ST Maxx has slightly better steering than Cooper STT Pro
- Cooper ST Maxx has slightly better handling than Cooper STT Pro
- Cooper ST Maxx and Cooper STT Pro have equal performance on bumps etc.
In general, Cooper ST Maxx has better riding 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
Rugged (best ones) and mud tires (best ones) tend to slide on wet ground. Big spaces between lugs are the main reason for this deficiency.
We examine both tread patterns. Cooper ST Maxx has a more strict pattern design. This feature allows it to better dewater. It will also help you to stay stable while cornering.
- Cooper ST Maxx and Cooper STT Pro have equal grip and bite on wet
- Cooper ST Maxx has slightly better handling on wet
- Cooper ST Maxx has better cornering and steering on wet
As a result, wet performance is not a pioneer feature of these tires. Yet, we can recommend Cooper ST Maxx between these two.
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 can be variable depending on surfaces and air temperature. Road surfaces might be frozen or squish and slippery. Sometimes even cover with fluffy and thick snow labels.
Hybrid tires sometimes struggle with one of the above surfaces. Lucky you, Cooper ST Maxx and Cooper STT Pro are both usable winter tires with little defects.
- Cooper ST Maxx has slightly better performance on squish snow
- Cooper STT Pro has better performance on thick snow
- Cooper ST Max and Cooper STT Pro are both average tires on ice
We can confidently say that both tires have regular winter performances. Deciding inflation pressure will be a decisive factor to have a good ride.
Durability and Tread Life
Durability and wear life are the strongest points of these tires. Both are leading the competition among the competitors. In that case, we’ve decided to categorize them based on the operation.
- Cooper STT Pro has a pretty good tread life for mild operation. (Below ¾ ton)
- Cooper ST Maxx has a pretty good tread life for severe operations
- Cooper ST Maxx and Cooper STT Pro will meet your durability expectations on mild applications
- Cooper STT Pro has iconic durability even in the hardest conditions
Armor Tek3 Construction Technology has been applied to both designs. So, these are tough tires with a satisfying wear life. Cooper strengthened STT Pro with rock climber sidewall and stone armor tech. That will ensure you will not get burst in severe conditions.
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 | Cooper STT Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All-Terrain Tire | Mud-Terrain Tire |
| Vehicle | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20” | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ |
| Weight | 42-78 lbs | 42-94 lbs |
| Made In | U.S | U.S |
| Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF) | No (only M+S) | No (only M+S) |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 45 Days Test Drive | 45 Days Test Drive |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 45 Days Test Drive | 45 Days Test Drive |
| 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
Cooper Discoverer STT Pro: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/cooper-discoverer-stt-pro
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
Cooper Discoverer STT Pro: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/cooper-discoverer-stt-pro
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
Cooper Discoverer STT Pro: https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/discoverer-stt-pro
Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx: https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/discoverer-s-t-maxx
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
Depending on your usage, both tires are trustworthy options. Though Cooper ST Maxx is a better option for hauling and towing, Cooper STT Pro is an adventure tire that offers a comfy ride on highways.
| Cooper ST Maxx | Cooper STT Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Working trucks, highway driving, smooth & quiet ride, hauling & towing | Adventurers, severe off-road, aggressive appearance |
| Pros | All-round tire, lasts longer, better responsiveness | Satisfying wet and winter traction for a mud-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 | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
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.
Cooper ST Maxx is designed for commercial usage. Though, it has longer tread life but not have good on-road manners. On the other hand, Cooper STT Pro overperforms ST Maxx with off-road capability. I recommend ST Maxx for loaded but mild, and STT Pro for severe but unloaded operations.
I hope you guys enjoy this article. If you have any further questions, please write them below. We will answer it 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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