Breakthrough Tyre

4X4 Australia

Cooper Tires has introduced a new all-terrain tyre that is said to be a better performer than any equivalent-purpose tyre.  Allan Whiting got dirty in western Sydney checking it out.

Cooper Tires has specialised in of-road and light-truck tyres for more than 50 years.  The independent, US-based tyre maker is one of only two US-owned North American producers - most US tyre brands are owned by European or Japanese corporations.

In Australia, Cooper is regarded as a small player, but group sales last year of $US3.6 billion isn't small beer.  The company kicked off in 1915 and in 1997 took over UK-based Avon Tyres.

Cooper international sales manager Steve Kersh, who was in Australia for the launch of the new tyre range, said one of the main advantages of home-ownership of the company is that new technology is incorporated as soon as testing confirms its reliability.

Kersh said it is common for foreign-owned corporations to employ new technology first in their own tyre brands and then later let it flow on to subsidiary brands.

Although Cooper Tires is big enough to set up its own Australian operation, the company's policy is to use local distributors in its export markets.

The new Cooper Discoverer Sure Trac (S/T) was designed in the US following significant input from Terry Smith of Exclusive Tyre Distributors, Cooper's Australian distributor.

Smith's contribution included sending worn Coopers and competitive tyres to Ohio for inspection and analysis by the company's engineering team.

The new Sure Trac tyres have been tested over the past few months and are now available here in popular sizes and in 8ply or 10ply load ratings.  Speed ratings are currently N, but S versions are being tested.

Its bevelled tread edges reduce the uneven wear that is often found with sharp or square tread edges, and the alternate blocks are scalloped to improve grip in muddy conditions.  The open shoulder lugs have stone-ejection ribs moulded in, to prevent stone retention and "drilling" of the casing.

The sipes (narrow cuts in the tread blocks that improve wet-bitumen grip) are longitudinal, not the more common transverse types.  Cooper says the longitudinal cuts retain wet road grip but aren't subject to tearing, like transverse sipes.

The company also says its all-terrain S/T tyre has at least 10 per cent more tread depth than other brands, improving grip and increasing tread life.

Traditional Cooper benefits have been retained in the new tyre, such as upright sidewalls to resist "staking"; open, straight tread grooves for better draining and self-cleaning; and the best quality halobutyl liner, for almost 100 per cent air retention.

Cooper claims its casing is 10.7 per cent stronger than a BFGoodrich casing in the belt area and 5.7 per cent stronger overall.

Future Cooper Tire developments include a new H rated 4WD tyre and light truck tyres.  The C140 is an all-steel (steel tread and sidewall belts) tyre range in 225/70R19.5 and 245/70R19.5 sizes.

It is difficult to assess a tyre's ability in a morning of driving but Sydney turned on some stormy weather that served to dampen the rough bitumen test loop, as well as making the dirt hill-climbing sections rather slippery.

The Coopers hung on well on bitumen and felt as good as any equivalent-service tyre we've driven - not as sharp or grippy as pure road-going 4WD rubber, and much better than most mud tyres.

Off road the grip was very good and the prominent patterns left in the dirt surface showed the advantage of the deep tread design.  We'll do a long-term test on a set of Cooper S/T's, so watch this space.