- A short note here: As a former Bridgestone engineer, I strongly recommend checking Discount Tire - Treadwell out. Now, you can effortlessly get recommendations based on value, performance, and local favorites without going to the Discount Tire store.
TRIED & TRUSTED!
Hercules is the flanker brand of Cooper. The brand is known for its successful rugged-terrain tires. While Hercules Terra Trac AT2 is an all-terrain tire that focuses on off-roading, Cooper Discoverer AT3 is an all-terrain tire that is built with on-road intent as much as off-road intent. So, there are 3 different Cooper Discoverer AT3 (see the comparison) patterns in the market now. Since Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S and Hercules AT2 have similar usage, I’m going to compare these two for this time. Let’s begin!
At a Glance
As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S is a better tire overall. It has huge wet and winter performances along with good on-road manners. On the other hand, Hercules AT2 has better sidewall durability. Moreover, its cut & chipping resistance is higher than Cooper Discoverer AT3. Therefore, it’s a better option for off-road. Moreover, its loose ground traction capability overperforms Discoverer AT3. Yet, it is struggling in wet and snow.
For severe off-road –> Hercules Terra Trac AT2
For better on-road and mild off-road –> Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S
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 - Is it time to change your tires?
https://simpletire.com/learn/tire-news-information/tire-wear-bar - How do all-terrain tires do in the snow?
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/all-terrain-mud-tires-in-snow - Tire rating charts & reviews
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/rating-chart&reviews - Tire test report
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests
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 Content
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S vs LT vs XLT
Lately, Cooper decided to discontinue Discoverer AT3. They’ve replaced it with 3 different AT3 patterns. I like the idea beyond it. These 3 patterns cover 3 different customer expectations.
So who are these customers;
- Mainly on-road and highway riders –> Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S(4 seasons)
- Mixed on/off-road riders –> Cooper Discoverer AT3 LT(Light Truck)
- Heavy loaded and mixed on/off-road riders –> Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT(Extreme Light Truck)
I’ve deeply analyzed all patterns to find the best competition of Hercules Terra Track AT2. Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S has the closest intent. I will move on to a comparison with it.
Tread Appearance
In fact, these tires have a soft tread design for an all-terrain tire. They will not look aggressive in your vehicle. Yet, this feature comes up with the on-road driving advantage.
Narrow void areas and angled shoulders will decrease the road noise significantly. Well, this will affect harsh off-road traction negatively. Though worth mentioning, severe off-road traction is not the priority of these tires.
Hercules AT2’s shoulder design is more aggressive than Cooper’s. That will increase their traction ability on deep mud or snow.
In summary, if the aggressive look is your priority, I would recommend Hercules AT2 every day of the month.
Treadwear
Treadwear is highly dependable on your driving attitude. Most importantly, rotation timing.
You might face uneven wearing and balance issues with Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S. That will decrease your tread life. On the other hand, Hercules AT2’s compound is not as solid as Cooper’s.
It is totally up to you at this time. If you can keep your tires healthy, Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S is a better choice.
Note: Both tires have 65000 miles of treadwear warranty.
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:
Noise Comparison
As I mentioned above, noise is not an issue for these tires. They have well on-road manners.
However, Cooper Discoverer AT3 AS is a less vocal tire. That’s for sure. But I would like to share my research result. That might change your idea.
- Cooper Discoverer AT3 is changing manner after 30k-40k miles using. They become highly noisy stuff.
- Hercules AT2 is a stable noise level.
In summary, depending on your wear life expectation, you can go both ways. Yet, Hercules AT2 seems a bit more reliable option.
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
Comfort
I have to admit that Hercules shows good manners regarding price level. Well, comfort is where it fails.
Riding comfort is mostly about compound quality. In that case, Cooper has really good references. They are showing their skills on Cooper Discoverer AT3 AS.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 AS offers way much smoother ride than Hercules AT2.
For all-terrain tire newbies: All-terrain tires wear well. We all know this. Yet, compared to the all-season tires these tires offer a rough ride. If your interest in all-terrain tires is fresh, I highly recommend reading the linked article before making any purchase.
Durability
In that case, sidewall durability will be our superior decision-maker.
Hercules has stronger sidewalls. Upper sidewall protectors will provide better protection. Unfortunately, Cooper’s sidewall protection seems weak. I do not believe that they can handle any harsh sidewall impact.
In this section, I would like to go with Hercules AT2 again.
Wet Performance
I love comparing wet performance, indeed. But, making this comparison is an injustice to Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S.
Cooper has very good sipe density. Moreover, angled blocks have a huge evacuation ability. This tire works like all-season ones. I love it.
On the other hand, Hercules’s wet performance is disappointing. Some evaluate it as dangerous.
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
Both tires have 3-peak snowflake marking. That seems nice. They are trustworthy. However, I will separate them due to operations.
- Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S is better tire for light snow
- Herculer AT2 is slightly better tire for deep snow
- Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S is slightly better tire on ice. Yet, it is not best
In summary, they have different snow intend. You should define your operation before pick one.
Off-Road Performance
These tires will not work properly in severe conditions. So, making a comparison for mild conditions is more accurate. Even so, if severe off-road is your priority, I would recommend Hercules AT2.
You will mostly face dirt if you are willing to buy these tires. So, dirt is crucial.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S is a beast on dirt. The vast amount of biting edges ensure traction and minimizes sliding issues. On the other hand, I am positive about Hercules AT2 too. Its design is also encouraging.
Sand performance is not the strongest part of these tires. Nevertheless, Hercules AT2′ shoulder design will provide more traction. I am going with the Hercules this time.
The other one is mud. Let’s keep it simple. Do not use these tires in the mud. Yet, Hercules will work better. Check this article out for the best tires on mud!
Even though rock performance is mostly about biting edges, sidewall durability is a must on the rock. Tires can not grip when they burst out. I would like to go with Hercules AT2 again.
- 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/
Specs
| Hercules Terra Trac AT2 | Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All-Terrain Tire | All-Terrain Tire |
| Vehicle | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 15”, 16”, 17”,18”, 20” | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20”, 22” |
| Weight | 28 – 35 lbs | 29 – 46 lbs |
| Made In | Findlay, Ohio, USA | Findlay, Ohio, USA |
| Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF) | Yes (3PMSF) | Yes (3PMSF) |
| Warranty (P-metric) | Up to 100,000 miles (depending on size) | 65,000 Miles |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 60,000 – 85,000 Miles | 65,000 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
Hercules Terra Trac AT2: Not available
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/cooper-discoverer-at3-4s
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/cooper-discoverer-at3-xlt
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
Hercules Terra Trac AT2: Not available
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/cooper-discoverer-at3-4s
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/cooper-discoverer-at3-xlt
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
Hercules Terra Trac AT2: https://simpletire.com/brands/hercules-tires/terra-trac-at-ii
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S: https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/discoverer-a-t3-4s
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT: https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/discoverer-at3-xlt
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
Even so, Hercules AT2 has more winning section; the difference is so small compared to Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S victories.
In summary, I would recommend Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S for daily driving. If you need a little bit more durability, you can go with Hercules AT2 or Cooper Discoverer AT3 LT.
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.
I hope this article was helpful. If you have any further questions or comments, please leave them below!
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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