Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

As per the title, I'm interested to hear from people who've actualy used BOTH these brands.

I'm chasing new tyres in the 265/70/17 size and not sure what to go for. The car is a weekday shopping trolley and alternative weekend warrior hence I need a tyre which is relatively quiet on the black stuff and can handle off road.

How do these compare for:

1. Road noise
2. Extra fuel consumption
3. Off road capability
4. Do both come in the LT construction (as far as I'm aware LT means the tyre will have the wire mesh on its sidewalls??)

I know there are specific threads on these tyre but none of them actually compare the two

[playdotoy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close playdotoy]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

i currently run the cooper st on the 12o prado (v6 auto). have found them to be quite noisy compare to a set of bfg all terrains that i had on a previous patrol. i found the coopers to be ok in the wet, better than the bfg (different vehicles though) and not too bad in the rough stuff (better than the bfg) i currently run bfg km2 on a patrol ute (5' lift, 35's, and are quieter than the coopers) and they are an awesome tyre, so good infact, that i'll be fitting them to the prado in due course.

don't think that i would buy the coopers again (definately not the bfg a/t) and will just stay with the bfg mud tyres ( i got 80,000KM from the old style).
at the end of the day mate, every one has their opinoin on tyres and their vehicles duties are different to every other.

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

I haven't owned both but did a 6500km trip through the Flinders Ranges, Oodnadatta tk and the Red Centre last year with a mate who has Coopers on his 120 Prado (I had BFG AT's) and the Coopers chipped their lugs far more over the long gravel miles. Mine were in a lot better condition at the end of the trip. His are better in mud though as they're slightly more aggressive. His may also be fractionally louder but hard to tell on different vehicles.

[ookami Member Find all posts View Profile Close ookami]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

Have you read 4wd Monthly Issue 146? It compares most tyres and tests them. Coopers chip easily and are slightly overpriced IMO. As for road noise the BFG are probably one of the quietest AT out. If tyre noise is a problem, get a roof rack or a louder stereo :lol: The BFG however don't like the wet, I originally had BFG AT on my patrol when I bought it and it handled better with MT MTZ on wet bitumen - round abouts were a blast though :lol: The BFG AT were even worse in mud. No tyre is perfect, they all have their downfalls though. Most people seem to be getting ~1-2/100km worse off after fitting lightly taller LT tyres. Offroad capability the coopers would be superior however the damage to the tyre would be more significant. Have you considered MT ATZs? Most people have been quite happy with them so far.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

Offroad capability the coopers would be superior however the damage to the tyre would be more significant. Have you considered MT ATZs? Most people have been quite happy with them so far.

Getting the tyre pressure right can help minimise the damage to any tyre, including Coopers. ATZs are made in the same Cooper factory as Cooper ST and I believe it is even the same rubber compound. I have ATZs with some chipping but more my fault than the tyres. Father in law was on the same trip and had BFG and has the same amount of chipping. It's all horses for courses.

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

Have you considered MT ATZs? Most people have been quite happy with them so far.

Are we talking 4 or 5 rib? Love the look of the 4 rib but I guess the road noise/fuel economy would be much higher than the BFGs AT? Also do 4 rib come in the LT construction?

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

Have you considered MT ATZs? Most people have been quite happy with them so far.

Are we talking 4 or 5 rib? Love the look of the 4 rib but I guess the road noise/fuel economy would be much higher than the BFGs AT? Also do 4 rib come in the LT construction?

They are not that noisy and I do not believe they are available in anything but LT.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

i had bfg at on my v6 4runner and they werent a bad tyre, quiet on the road, good in the sand and gravel, ok in the mud and on wet tar roads they were a bit slippery, ive got coopers st on my gx now and i am very happy with them, they are more noisey then the bgf but with the roofrack and exhaust drowned them out, as for handling, offroad in the sand they are a good tyre, they dig a little more due to more aggressive tread pattern, in the mud they are as good as an at is going to be ie they are alot better then the bfg, they still do clogg a little but more right foot fixes that, as for wet roads they are pretty good, i have had mine on for 35 000km now and they are not half worn yet. both these sets were lt rated. As schaffer said tyre pressures have a lot to do with how a tyre holds up, these are just my opinions and experiences. cheers samo

[ookami Member Find all posts View Profile Close ookami]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

Offroad capability the coopers would be superior however the damage to the tyre would be more significant. Have you considered MT ATZs? Most people have been quite happy with them so far.

Getting the tyre pressure right can help minimise the damage to any tyre, including Coopers. ATZs are made in the same Cooper factory as Cooper ST and I believe it is even the same rubber compound. I have ATZs with some chipping but more my fault than the tyres. Father in law was on the same trip and had BFG and has the same amount of chipping. It's all horses for courses.

Yeah I understand what your saying and there are always those situations that no matter how you set your tyres damage is unavoidable. However I think the problem is they (the coopers) are prone to it more. MT and Coopers do operate at the same production line but are still separate in there methods apparently.

[ookami Member Find all posts View Profile Close ookami]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

Also forgot to say Another option now available in a 265/70/R17 are Dick Cepek FC-II. My old man has these on his 80 series, and he abuses the crap out of his car and tyres and they are holding up quite well.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

Also forgot to say Another option now available in a 265/70/R17 are Dick Cepek FC-II. My old man has these on his 80 series, and he abuses the crap out of his car and tyres and they are holding up quite well.

Also made in the same factory as Coopers. Have you looked at Pro Comp. I am seriously thing of a set of Pro Comp Mud Extremes for my next set but might have two sets and swap (but that is starting to get to be a PITA.

[ookami Member Find all posts View Profile Close ookami]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

Seeing Mickey Thompson own both Dick Cepek & Cooper it would make sense to have them all in the same factory if conditions permitted. Sony and Samsung LCD panels come out of the same factory also, it doesn't mean they are the same product or have the same production techniques or components or QA processes.

Also Forgot to mention Pro Comp Tyres are made by Cooper - so I assume same factories

Procomp Tires are designed and manufactured by the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company specializing in the design, manufacture and sales of passenger car, light truck, medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires, as well as tread rubber and related equipment for the retread industry. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has 39 manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities around the world.
Cooper Tire - Findlay, Ohio
Pro Competition Tire Company

Corporate and Tire Headquarters
701 Lima Avenue
Findlay, OH 45840

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 550
Findlay, OH 45839-0550
USA
Consumer Relations: 1-800-854-6288

http://www.procomptires.com

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

Hi Pjorek

Which model prado do you have. I have a 2005 1kz auto and have recently fitted 265/70/17s and it has changed the driveability. There is now a lag at around 80k's(most driving for us) where it feels like it is overgeared. Fuel consumption has gone up .5l as well.

Just something to consider.

I imagine a manual, the D4D or V6 would not have noticed the change

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

Hi Pjorek

Which model prado do you have. I have a 2005 1kz auto and have recently fitted 265/70/17s and it has changed the driveability. There is now a lag at around 80k's(most driving for us) where it feels like it is overgeared. Fuel consumption has gone up .5l as well.

Just something to consider.

I imagine a manual, the D4D or V6 would not have noticed the change

auto d4d, is ur suspension stock? any rubbing?

reading few posts here and there and even though 265/70/17 are supposed to be the same size no matter who makes them, seems like BFG owners with stock suspension are not complaining about any guard rubbing whereas MT owners do, can anyone confirm?

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Cooper ST vs BFG A/Ts

reading few posts here and there and even though 265/70/17 are supposed to be the same size no matter who makes them, seems like BFG owners with stock suspension are not complaining about any guard rubbing whereas MT owners do, can anyone confirm?

I have Mickey Thompson ATZ4s and had them loaded on the Monday with stocko suspension and didn't notice any rubbing that night but the following day had OME fitted. The only time you should see any rubbing is when wheels are at full lock and you can easily avoid (and should avoid) doing that on any care due to damage to your power steering. Also the more plys in the side wall the more square the walls are due to additional strength. I know the MT ATZ4 has more plys than the ATZ5 in the side wall so the ATZ4 sits nice and square but the ATZ5 will bulge. An ST should sit square and so should a BFG AT.