Cooper ST Maxx and Goodyear Duratrac are commercial all-terrain tires designed for a wide range of vehicles, including SUVs, heavy-duty pickups, and sport utility vehicles. While they may appear as rivals due to their American origins and common usage scenarios, they excel in different aspects. In this article, I will delve into the distinctions between the Cooper ST Maxx and Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac. Let’s get started!
| Cooper ST Maxx | Goodyear Duratrac | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Dry regions, 3/4 ton or above pickups, Severe applications | Daily driving, Snowy regions, Off-road adventures |
| Pros | Responsive, Last long on severe conditions, Year-round performance (expect snow) | Satisfying wet and winter traction for an all-terrain tire, acceptable tread life, Smooth ride for its aggressiveness |
| Cons | Not a great tire for winter | Nothing much to talk about |
From my experience as a former Bridgestone engineer, the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac and Cooper ST Maxx offer distinct advantages. The Goodyear Duratrac excels in adventure and severe winter conditions, providing a smooth ride despite some noise, and its ability to handle air-down situations is commendable. On the other hand, the Cooper ST Maxx is a top choice for work trucks, delivering excellent performance on mild off-road terrain and showcasing its hauling and towing capabilities with its durable sidewalls. Both tires serve their respective purposes well, making them reliable options for different applications.
All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet
Finding the ideal all-terrain tire among the plethora of options available can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, my team and I have taken on this challenge head-on. Besides our hands-on experiences with these tires, we also analyze thousands of customer reviews and test reports.
Please note that: Light-Duty is 1500 series, Medium-Duty is 2500 series and Heavy-Duty is 3500 series. If you do towing or hauling, I recommend considering at least Medium-Duty tires.
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Table of Contents
Dry Performance
Dry performance can be a bit challenging to assess when it comes to commercial all-terrain tires. These tires, known for their width and aggressiveness, often offer decent dry traction but can vary in terms of responsiveness. Let’s delve into the dry performance of the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac and the Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx.
Dry Traction: Both the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac and the Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx excel in providing excellent levels of dry traction. This can be attributed to the multitude of biting edges integrated into their tread designs.
Cornering Stability: In terms of cornering stability, both tires shine. However, the Cooper ST Maxx boasts the Armor Tek3 technology, featuring robust 3-ply sidewalls. This technology enhances responsiveness, making it an excellent choice for heavy-duty pickups.
Responsiveness: When it comes to responsiveness, the Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx maintains a slight advantage. Its compact and interlocked center section contributes to its nimbleness. Meanwhile, the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac is no slouch, thanks to its 4-2 lug pattern that acts like a wide center rib.
In summary, the Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx emerges as the superior choice for overall dry performance. While the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac may be better suited for daily driving, the Cooper ST Maxx shines, particularly for those who spend a significant amount of time navigating unimproved construction sites.
Wet Performance
Wet performance can be a concern when it comes to commercial all-terrain tires due to their wide tread patterns, which can lead to hydroplaning. Hydroplaning resistance is crucial, as it determines a tire’s ability to evacuate water and maintain contact with the road surface.
Hydroplaning Resistance: Both the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac and the Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx feature two circumferential grooves designed to direct water to the shoulder areas, where it can be expelled. However, it’s important to remember that these are still highly aggressive tires, and cautious driving in wet conditions is advisable.
Wet Traction: Achieving good wet traction relies on factors like a soft compound and an effective siped pattern. In this aspect, the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac gains an edge due to its softer compound and a sipe density that outperforms the Cooper ST Maxx.
In summary, the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac holds a slight advantage in wet performance. Furthermore, it’s noteworthy that all sizes of the Duratrac are marked with the 3PMSF symbol, indicating their capability for cold-weather winter traction.
Winter Performance
Comparing winter performance between these all-terrain tires is straightforward, especially when one of them comes with a winter rating.
Goodyear Duratrac proudly displays the 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snowflake) symbol, indicating its winter capabilities. Users report excellent satisfaction with its winter performance, particularly in snowy conditions where the tire’s aggressive tread pattern digs into the snow effectively.
Cooper ST Maxx, on the other hand, doesn’t shine in snow. Despite its extensive grooves, it struggles with traction, leading to issues like sliding and handling. Numerous customer complaints about its winter performance reinforce this point.
Both tires offer the option to add metal studs for enhanced ice performance. However, in an overall winter performance comparison, Goodyear Duratrac outperforms Cooper ST Maxx. If you reside in an area with challenging winter conditions, the Duratrac is the recommended choice.
A side note here: Understanding the snow performance of all-terrain tires can be quite challenging. For those who find it perplexing, I’d like to direct your attention to a helpful resource: “6 Best All-Terrain Tires for Snow by AT Tire Category“ This article is specifically designed to assist you in making informed decisions regarding all-terrain tires in snowy conditions.
Noise Comparison
Commercial all-terrain tires, known for their aggressive tread patterns, are often associated with increased road noise. Additionally, as these tires wear down, their noise levels tend to escalate due to the design’s expanding void areas.
Reducing the void area is a key strategy to minimize noise. In this regard, both Cooper ST Maxx with its 4-2 lug design, and Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac with its interlocked shoulder and center lugs, are quite competitive in noise reduction.
However, it’s important to note that both tires still provide a somewhat noisy ride. For a conclusive decision, let’s delve into the next section, which can be pivotal in your choice.
A side note here: Even though some tires tend to make noise due to their tread patterns, it’s still possible to minimize tire noise. For those interested, DiscountTire provides an excellent explanation on “How to Keep Tire Noise Down.” You can find it at the following URL: How to Keep Tire Noise Down?
Riding Comfort
Riding comfort is significantly influenced by the tire’s inner structure, and in this aspect, Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac holds a slight advantage. One notable factor contributing to this is that the Duratrac is available in P-metric sizes, which tend to enhance ride comfort.
As previously discussed, both tires have robust sidewalls, but here’s where they differ. The Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx is exclusively offered in E and F load range sizes, emphasizing traction and durability over comfort. In contrast, the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac boasts a broader size range and slightly less rigid sidewalls compared to the ST Maxx.
In summary, if a comfortable ride is a priority, the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac is the preferable choice. However, for vehicles with a 3/4-ton rating or higher that require superior handling capabilities, the Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx remains an excellent option.
Tread Life
The longevity of commercial all-terrain tires is closely tied to factors such as compound stiffness and the ability to wear evenly over time.
While the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac does feature a softer compound and carries the 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) designation, the difference in compound hardness isn’t particularly significant.
In my assessment, the Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx boasts a more compact tread pattern. However, it’s important to note that the broader center blocks can wear unevenly if proper rotation intervals aren’t adhered to.
On the flip side, the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac exhibits a design that promotes longevity. Its center and shoulder lugs are interlocked, a feature not commonly found. But here’s the catch.
The Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac, with its 4-2 pattern, excels in providing an extended tread life, especially under softer driving conditions or for those who primarily navigate mall parking lots. However, if your needs involve heavy-duty applications, I recommend considering the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro due to its more robust sidewalls and compound, which are better suited for demanding tasks.
Note: Getting maximum wear life from a tire depends on both your actions and the tire itself. If you’d like to learn how to maximize tread life, you can visit the following URL: How to Make Tires Last Longer.
Off-Road Performance
Off-road performance is the undeniable forte of both these tire models. Whether you’re traversing mud, rocky terrain, or sandy paths, they demonstrate commendable performance across various off-road applications. To make an informed choice, it’s crucial to understand the specific requirements of your operations. Below, we’ll delve into their performance on different surfaces one by one.
Mud
Mud performance, while not a decisive factor between these two tires, does deserve attention. It’s important to note that Goodyear Duratrac can often exceed expectations when it comes to mud performance.
Goodyear Duratrac is a reliable choice for tackling various types of mud. Its Tractive Groove Technology ensures excellent traction, even in deep mud. The self-cleaning shoulder blocks effectively clear the tread, ensuring consistent traction.
Cooper ST Maxx also performs well in muddy conditions. Its deep lugs provide substantial traction in deep mud, and its self-cleaning capability is a notable advantage for maintaining consistent performance.
Overall, both tires are dependable options for mud traction, and users have generally positive feedback. However, I recommend choosing Goodyear Duratrac for its slightly greater void area, which can enhance mud performance.
Sand
When it comes to sand driving, the tire’s ability to “float” on the surface is crucial. Typically, less aggressive tread designs perform better in sandy conditions. However, in this comparison, both tires have similar levels of aggressiveness.
I have confidence that both of these tires can handle sand effectively due to their strong self-cleaning capabilities. However, the specific shoulder design of the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac gives it a slight advantage in sandy conditions.
Rock
When it comes to rock driving, tires with strong sidewalls and durable compounds tend to perform best.
In this context, the Cooper ST Maxx holds a slight advantage, particularly in more challenging rock driving situations. Its design features a more compact pattern and robust sidewalls, which are highly beneficial for rock driving. However, it’s worth noting that the reduced void area in its tread can sometimes result in stone retention, reducing its gravel traction.
On the other hand, the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac is a respectable tire for rock performance. Its primary drawback is its soft compound, which can wear more quickly in severe rocky conditions.
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
Cooper ST Maxx and Goodyear Duratrac are both dependable commercial all-terrain tires. Wrangler Duratrac stands out in the snow and daily driving, while Cooper ST Maxx shines in tougher conditions and heavy-duty use.
| Cooper ST Maxx | Goodyear Duratrac | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Dry regions, 3/4 ton or above pickups, Severe applications | Daily driving, Snowy regions, Off-road adventures |
| Pros | Responsive, Last long on severe conditions, Year-round performance (expect snow) | Satisfying wet and winter traction for an all-terrain tire, acceptable tread life, Smooth ride for its aggressiveness |
| Cons | Not a great tire for winter | Nothing much to talk about |
Hope you guys enjoy this article. If you have any further questions, please write them below. I will answer them ASAP!
