Cooper at3 in reality

5lugger

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2014
So I'm in the market for a cheaper set of all terrains, I need something that is going to give me 50k+ miles since I'm a broke college kid and something that can do well offroad. I spend probably 10 hours a week on trails and in the mud/dirt and drive about 30 miles on the road a day. So a good all around tire is what I'm after.

The best ones I've seen so far is supposedly the Cooper AT3, the most appealing part is that 55k warranty. But how do these do offroad since they are a lot less aggressive then say a bfg at? All the info on them is sponsored by Cooper in some way shape or form and I need some people's opinion that have actually had them in the dirt.

Ps. I know the bfg AT is a great tire, but they suck in the rain and I'm getting tired after my 3rd set haha.
 
My old boss got stuck with n wet grass with his 3500 srw cummins alot with at3 and swaped to a Goodyear duratracs and hasn't been stuck since. My buddy runs 315 75 16 on his 2dr jk and they crawl as well as any mud tire I've seen. Very impressed with them as a weekend warrior tire

Most people only get 35k-45k out of a duratracs though
But sounds like you do no more then 15k a year
 
I've ran the cooper at3 for about 2 years now. As compared to the other tires I've tried there great all the way around. Kinda funny considering we tried duratracs on the same truck (k1500) and they didn't go nearly as well as the at3's have. Some of the things I like about the at3 is how straight it tracks, less hydroplane potential than other tires I've tried and I swear by the fact they go better than most anything I have ever ran in a AT tire. Offroad I couldn't tell you much there, we've got some rough areas that we daily drive and have no issue - pulling loaded trailers up pretty steep gravel/mud roads has never posed any issue. I'm Sure there's better tires put there but these definitely do what I need.
 
Yeah I assumed their great on the road^^ but I'm mainly concerned about them Offroad now. The wet grass thing kinda scares me especially in such a heavy truck.
 
I've not noticed any similar issue - wet grass - mud. I'm sure a all out m/t would do better. Hard to get the best of both worlds.
 
My AT3s do spin on wet grass or mud, but its also a 7000 lb crew cab diesel. When it happens I usually laugh and thank God I didn't buy a 2WD tow rig. Next I lock hubs and proceed to idle out of it. Other than towing 7k pounds on muddy and occasionally steep terrain it sees mostly road miles. I'm on three years with these tires and for what I use them for, I would happily purchase again.
 
My trucks 3,500 and I play in the mud and on muddy trails a lot so I may get the bfgs again if these don't have as good off-road capabilities as Cooper says.
 
You'll do far better with the at3 imo. Comparing a diesel pickup with extreme low end torque to your Toyota is like comparing apples to oranges. Any tire will spin if enough off idle torque is applied. I ran the bfgs and the at3s and I feel there pretty well equal in regards to traction in most situations.
 
I love my duratracs. 315/75/16 load e's. Im right around 40k in a year towing on a extcab shortbed 2000 f250 7.3 4x4. Just the truck with my work stuff that stays in the truck 24/7 weighs out at 8k, my trailer alone weighs 3k, and i regularly haul 5tons of material. 85% of the 40k was loaded down. They do very well for an aggressive all terrain, and i can get them for right at 1k from tirerack
 
At3 is a highway only tire in my opinion.

To compair it to a bfg a/t is a joke.

What you looking for its very hard to beat a bfg a/t. Only thing I see that fits the bill is a duratrac or a mickey thompson ATZ
 
Yeah I think I'm going to stay clear of the at3s everything I've seen them on seem street queeny. I have $700 to spend and would prefer a 32 on a 15 so my options are kinda limited. The bfg A/t, kenda klever MT (not proven enough ImO) and a few other off branded tires. May just play safe and run the bfg again. The Kendas seem cool but people were apparently having balancing issues
 
If you want a street friendly MT check out the Mickey Thompson Baja MTZs. I ran a set on my truck for a while and really liked hem both on and off-road.
 
I have a set of Kenda MT's on my JK. Came on it when I bought it. Had never heard of them. So far they have done a decent job. Been on Hurricane Creek 3 times. Dry, sloppy muddy and ice / snow. I've never run any other MT so I can't give you a comparison but for your price range at least take a look. See if you can find any more online reviews.
 
Only have a little of 2k on them (just got the jk) so I can speak to long term tire life. Take a look at the Cooper S/T and ST MAXX also. Ran the max on my F150 for 15k before I sold it. Performed well.
 
I love my at3s. I've had them in 235/85/16 on a 2wd 73 f250. 315/75/16 on a 96 ram 2500 and currently the same size on my 78 4x4 ford pickup. my buddy has them on a new f150 and another buddy has them on a 98 Chevy 1500. It's the only AT I'll buy now and I use to be a bfg AT fan boy when I had my tacoma.
 
There is another thread discussing some of the tires mentioned in here.

IMO, I'd save up for some BFG A/Ts. Great tire, great tread life, good highway and off road use.
 
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