Tough decision: BFG A/T or Cooper S/T
#1
Tough decision: BFG A/T or Cooper S/T
I am one click away from buying the cooper S/T's but something tells me I should get the BFG a/t's instead... I cant make up my mind. Im just affraid the S/T is gonna be too much of a mudder and not have good long lasting wear. But i want cooper because everyone has bfg's. I can get 4 31x10.5's for under $530 shipped to my house, you think its a good deal? I dont think im gonna get the warranty
Last edited by a311fanam; 11-07-2005 at 11:24 AM.
#3
#6
#7
#8
Originally Posted by a311fanam
i want some grip this winter in the snow
The typical snow tire will wear out faster than the typical AT or MT, because of the softer compound that the snow tire is made of, but that's the price you pay for added traction on ice and hardpacked snow.
So if traction on ice and hardpacked snow (plus of course traction in soft and deep snow) is the main factor in purchasing a tire, get one of the better SNOW tires. That's what I do, and I run them only from Nov. to April. I also get them studded, which significantly increases traction on hardpacked snow and ice.
#10
I've said it before, but I'll say it again. The problem w/ running dedicated snow tires in southern New England is that 80% of the time you simply won't need them. Let's face it, once the plows do their thing, the primary roads around here are actually pretty darn good within a day or so after a major storm. This means you're running your soft-compound rubber on pavement for a significant amount of the time. That means lotsa wear and lotsa $$$ out the window.
Now you can get a set of snow tires, mount them up on a second set of wheels, and run them only as needed. Or you can refrain from taking the truck on extended drives on any of the well-plowed primary roads once the snow has been cleared.
AT's strike me as a suitable comprimise. You get good, if not excellent snow traction while the snow is flying and being cleared away, yet you get decent (although not exceptional) wear once the plows get the job done. And you don't have to go swapping wheel/tires on and off your truck as the storms come and go. For the kind of suburban and urban driving we see and the excellent job the road crews do here in southern New England these days, I think AT's are an excellent comprimise.
I've never used any of the Cooper products. But I like my BGF AT's very much. Most especially for their snow traction. The fact that I can occasionally play off-road in the warmer months is just an added bonus..
Now you can get a set of snow tires, mount them up on a second set of wheels, and run them only as needed. Or you can refrain from taking the truck on extended drives on any of the well-plowed primary roads once the snow has been cleared.
AT's strike me as a suitable comprimise. You get good, if not excellent snow traction while the snow is flying and being cleared away, yet you get decent (although not exceptional) wear once the plows get the job done. And you don't have to go swapping wheel/tires on and off your truck as the storms come and go. For the kind of suburban and urban driving we see and the excellent job the road crews do here in southern New England these days, I think AT's are an excellent comprimise.
I've never used any of the Cooper products. But I like my BGF AT's very much. Most especially for their snow traction. The fact that I can occasionally play off-road in the warmer months is just an added bonus..
#11
Originally Posted by jmacmaster
I've said it before. I'll say it again. AT tires and MT tires are NOT snow tires. And snow tires, generally speaking, grip better on ice and packed snow than AT and MT tires, generally speaking. The Cooper S/T and BFG/AT are NOT snow tires. They are all-terrain tires. The reason that snow tires grip better on ice and hardpacked snow is that they are made of a softer compound than AT and MT tires and the softer compound allows the tire to grip better on ice and packed snow. Another reason that snow tires grip better on ice and hardpacked snow is that the good ones have a lot of sipes, many more than AT and MT tires, and the more sipes, the better the grip on ice and hardpacked snow. Yeah, some AT and MT tires will grip better on ice and hardpacked snow than some snow tires, but as a class of tires, snow tires grip better than either AT's as a class of tires or MT's as a class of tires. Do the research. The tire manufacturers will tell you all this, and so will studies of the hardpacked snow and ice traction of various types of tires.
The typical snow tire will wear out faster than the typical AT or MT, because of the softer compound that the snow tire is made of, but that's the price you pay for added traction on ice and hardpacked snow.
So if traction on ice and hardpacked snow (plus of course traction in soft and deep snow) is the main factor in purchasing a tire, get one of the better SNOW tires. That's what I do, and I run them only from Nov. to April. I also get them studded, which significantly increases traction on hardpacked snow and ice.
The typical snow tire will wear out faster than the typical AT or MT, because of the softer compound that the snow tire is made of, but that's the price you pay for added traction on ice and hardpacked snow.
So if traction on ice and hardpacked snow (plus of course traction in soft and deep snow) is the main factor in purchasing a tire, get one of the better SNOW tires. That's what I do, and I run them only from Nov. to April. I also get them studded, which significantly increases traction on hardpacked snow and ice.
also, IMO snow tires are overrated, it depends on where you live, i mean, in columbus ohio, it snows, but not all winter, most of the winter the roads are clear, then having a snow tire on a dry clear pavement is a waste, speacilly since they are a softer tire, meaning if you are a grandma at the throttle, you will tear them up. So IMO, unless you live in a place where theres snow 24/7 I wouldnt bother with snow tires, a good set of allterrians will help you out just fine
#12
Originally Posted by NHBubba
I've said it before, but I'll say it again. The problem w/ running dedicated snow tires in southern New England is that 80% of the time you simply won't need them. Let's face it, once the plows do their thing, the primary roads around here are actually pretty darn good within a day or so after a major storm. This means you're running your soft-compound rubber on pavement for a significant amount of the time. That means lotsa wear and lotsa $$$ out the window.
Now you can get a set of snow tires, mount them up on a second set of wheels, and run them only as needed. Or you can refrain from taking the truck on extended drives on any of the well-plowed primary roads once the snow has been cleared.
AT's strike me as a suitable comprimise. You get good, if not excellent snow traction while the snow is flying and being cleared away, yet you get decent (although not exceptional) wear once the plows get the job done. And you don't have to go swapping wheel/tires on and off your truck as the storms come and go. For the kind of suburban and urban driving we see and the excellent job the road crews do here in southern New England these days, I think AT's are an excellent comprimise.
I've never used any of the Cooper products. But I like my BGF AT's very much. Most especially for their snow traction. The fact that I can occasionally play off-road in the warmer months is just an added bonus..
Now you can get a set of snow tires, mount them up on a second set of wheels, and run them only as needed. Or you can refrain from taking the truck on extended drives on any of the well-plowed primary roads once the snow has been cleared.
AT's strike me as a suitable comprimise. You get good, if not excellent snow traction while the snow is flying and being cleared away, yet you get decent (although not exceptional) wear once the plows get the job done. And you don't have to go swapping wheel/tires on and off your truck as the storms come and go. For the kind of suburban and urban driving we see and the excellent job the road crews do here in southern New England these days, I think AT's are an excellent comprimise.
I've never used any of the Cooper products. But I like my BGF AT's very much. Most especially for their snow traction. The fact that I can occasionally play off-road in the warmer months is just an added bonus..
crap, beat me too it, i agree 100%
#13
Originally Posted by NHBubba
I've said it before, but I'll say it again. The problem w/ running dedicated snow tires in southern New England is that 80% of the time you simply won't need them. Let's face it, once the plows do their thing, the primary roads around here are actually pretty darn good within a day or so after a major storm. This means you're running your soft-compound rubber on pavement for a significant amount of the time. That means lotsa wear and lotsa $$$ out the window.
#15
Yes, the S/T's are not snows, but my tire dealer uses them for snow tires on all his delivery trucks, lol. They are not mud tires either. They are a HYBRID of all-terrain and mud tire. They incorporate larger lugs and voids, but shaped to provide edges in more directions, and they are siped. The result is a singularly "well-balanced" tire for an incredible range of conditions.
S/T's will not be as quiet as all terrains, or as grippy as mud terrains, but will do well in either's territory. In addition, the siping and edges provide good light snow performance, and the self-clearing voids good deep snow performance. Not a perfect tire, but one of the best compromises around.
S/T's will not be as quiet as all terrains, or as grippy as mud terrains, but will do well in either's territory. In addition, the siping and edges provide good light snow performance, and the self-clearing voids good deep snow performance. Not a perfect tire, but one of the best compromises around.
#17
I have had both the BFGs and I now have the Coopers and if your looking for an A/T tire go for cooper hands down. No snow in Houston but I can tell you that they give you great traction in hard rain and in mud which is hard to find. Mud tires suck in the rain and most A/ts arent the best in the mud. Go Cooper.
#18
From what I've seen the Coopers are only a couple of bucks more, so both are probably fine choices. The only problem I can think of is finding someone to sell you the coopers. Cooper dealers are fairly rare around here. I see very few dealers stocking these S/T tires. Yet every other shop stocks the BFG AT's as they are wildly popular.
One site I just look at is actually advertising these S/T's as 'Light Truck Winter' tires..
One site I just look at is actually advertising these S/T's as 'Light Truck Winter' tires..
#19
www.tiresavings.com has them $40 cheaper each tire then any shop around here, probably gonna buy from them
#21
#22
Originally Posted by Gearhead61
Thing with buying online is to remember that you've still got to get them mounted and balanced, so figure that into your costs as well.
No stupid! It's the shipping they rip ya on! Mounting and balancing you hafta do anyways. When I bought mine 4 tires 20 bucks to my door, just cause the company I used shipped outta seattle. But if you don't have a good shipping location, then expect them to charge a lot to ship them. Mounting and balancing is like, 40 bucks at Les Schwab or something.
How much does Rhode Island get for snow? If you're only looking at a few storms, then you can get away with A/Ts no problem, but if you guys have snowy winters then I wouldn't take tire recommendations from people in Texas (or Alaska for that matter since the weather is different). Ask someone from the area.
Aaron
#24
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Coal Region, MTC to be exact...heart of the coal region.
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what u fail to reconize is BFG AT and ProComp ATs are both snow rated tires. therefore they can be considered snow tires.
directly from BFGs site:
directly from BFGs site:
All-new version of America's best all-terrain tire. ShoulderLock™ Technology. Even more go-anywhere traction, durability. Exceptional treadlife. Same great looks. Meets RMA definition for passenger and light truck for use in severe snow conditions. TriGard® construction for serious durability.
#25
Originally Posted by NHBubba
Don't forget about shipping too.. And why not support your local business man when you can!
Although I'm relatively confident you can get them shipped, mounted, and balanced for less then $40/tire..
Although I'm relatively confident you can get them shipped, mounted, and balanced for less then $40/tire..