You and Cooper tires......

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: alreadygone
Someone mentioned Goodyear having better/stiffer sidewalls, from my observations, most Cooper have 2 poly sidewall +2 steel belts. Most Goodyear have 1 poly sidewall ply + 2 steel belts. I prefer full 4ply tread area.


When I bought my Cobras a few years ago I could find nothing else in the same price range that also had a 2-ply sidewall. My inexpensive Weathermasters also have a 2-ply sidwall.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: Ken2
Try telephoning Cooper, 800-854-6288, and ask to speak with a tire engineer. If you get some good information, please let us all know what you get.

I phoned Cooper a few years ago and got good information. When I asked if Cooper's other brands...Dean, Mastercraft, etc., were as good as Cooper brand tires, he hedged and just said they were built in the same plant on the same floor. My impression was that Cooper brand tires are better.

In any case, I don't think Cooper's best are equal to GY, Michelin, Bridgestone's best. Goodyear is iffy, in any case. It took seven Tripletred tires to find four round ones for my car.



I think I am going to give that a try....

 

[Audi Junkie]

Originally Posted By: rpn453
Originally Posted By: alreadygone
Someone mentioned Goodyear having better/stiffer sidewalls, from my observations, most Cooper have 2 poly sidewall +2 steel belts. Most Goodyear have 1 poly sidewall ply + 2 steel belts. I prefer full 4ply tread area.


When I bought my Cobras a few years ago I could find nothing else in the same price range that also had a 2-ply sidewall. My inexpensive Weathermasters also have a 2-ply sidwall.



My Goodyear Eagle REs have a Carbon Fibre sidewall.

 

[labman]

I suspose the Falcons by Cooper I once ran on my truck are too long ago to be relevant. They wore very well, in fact several times, I was sure they would last the rest of my life. yes, they wore like iron, but rode and held the road the same way.

Years ago, before the Japs bought them, BFG made many of the private label tires. I ran a bunch of Strattons, great tires, cheap.

 

[Sayjac]

Quote:
Years ago, before the Japs bought them, BFG made many of the private label tires. I ran a bunch of Strattons, great tires, cheap.
I didn't know the "Japs" bought BFG. To my knowledge Michelin(French) bought BFG Tires and still makes them. Very enlightened expression.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: labman
I suspose the Falcons by Cooper I once ran on my truck are too long ago to be relevant. They wore very well, in fact several times, I was sure they would last the rest of my life. yes, they wore like iron, but rode and held the road the same way.

Years ago, before the Japs bought them, BFG made many of the private label tires. I ran a bunch of Strattons, great tires, cheap.



I've heard that quite a bit about the older cooper tires...

 

[alreadygone]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Quote:
Years ago, before the Japs bought them, BFG made many of the private label tires. I ran a bunch of Strattons, great tires, cheap.
I didn't know the "Japs" bought BFG. To my knowledge Michelin(French) bought BFG Tires and still makes them. Very enlightened expression.

BFG, Uniroyal, and Michelin are all one big, happy family. With a frog ,er, frenchman (Michelin) as CEO, but majority owned by Japs er, Japanese.

Bob

 

[fsskier]

Consumers Reports has tested both the Cooper Lifeliner and the Cooper Cobra.
The lifeliner tested well under all conditions, the Cobra rated well on dry roads but miserable in rain and snow.

That seems to match well with my experience - I have owned the Lifeliners, a good winter tire. One Escort came (used) with new Cooper Cobras, my wife requested they be made into boat dock bumpers after the first bad weather hit! I would not consider them unless you also buy winter tires. They may work well in an autocross - unless it rains or snows!

 

[mcshooter]

just seen where they are going to tax chinese made tires, cooper, bridgestone, goodyear, michlein. look at the tire as it shows where made.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: fsskier
Consumers Reports has tested both the Cooper Lifeliner and the Cooper Cobra.
The lifeliner tested well under all conditions, the Cobra rated well on dry roads but miserable in rain and snow.

That seems to match well with my experience - I have owned the Lifeliners, a good winter tire. One Escort came (used) with new Cooper Cobras, my wife requested they be made into boat dock bumpers after the first bad weather hit! I would not consider them unless you also buy winter tires. They may work well in an autocross - unless it rains or snows!


I didn't expect to hear that! I thought the Cobras were excellent in snow and rain, and I used them year-round on my Grand Am for a few years. My buddy had Lifeliners on his Acura Civic at the same time and they were so bad in snow that he wanted to sell his car and get a Subaru. I convinced him to put studded winter tires on his spare rims instead and he was very happy with that. Maybe the old Grand Am was just a good winter car, because people even thought it had a lot of traction with the mediocre BFG Premier IV tires I had before the Cobras.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: Ken2
Try telephoning Cooper, 800-854-6288, and ask to speak with a tire engineer. If you get some good information, please let us all know what you get.

I phoned Cooper a few years ago and got good information. When I asked if Cooper's other brands...Dean, Mastercraft, etc., were as good as Cooper brand tires, he hedged and just said they were built in the same plant on the same floor. My impression was that Cooper brand tires are better.

In any case, I don't think Cooper's best are equal to GY, Michelin, Bridgestone's best. Goodyear is iffy, in any case. It took seven Tripletred tires to find four round ones for my car.



Okay, called the number:

Most cooper tires are pretty close to the same. Cooper, Mastercraft and American are VERY close to the same tire. He told me to compare them side to side to see the slight differences..


The reason for the issues with the Dean/Kenda/Starfire tires are that most of these two brands are made in China to keep a lower price point for the "value" consumer....



The guy was real nice. I think he might have given me a bit of extra info, but I think it help that I knew my tires.


It so refreshing to hear that, it made me feel good about buying tires from Cooper.


We even talked about tires for my car. Now I know what tires will make my car happy.....

 

[DeeAgeaux]

My nephew bought Futura brand tires at Pepboys made by Cooper.

They came with a 50K mile warranty.

Three years and 30K miles later the right rear tire blew off its tread in the middle of the freeway.

Pepboys replaced the tire for free but charged $20 for mount and balance.

The flying tread caused $2300 in damages according to the body shop of the local Honda Dealer. In a normal body shop that means $1200-$1500 in damages.

The tread hit the right rear door,pulled off the moulding, and tore the rear bumper cover about half way off. The right rear quarter panel was slightly hit(or could be previous damage, not sure) Might be more damage underneath but I did not do a full inspection as it was night time.

 

[rszappa1]

Any tire that Pep Boys sells i would stay away from...cheap and junk... You get what you pay for....

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: DeeAgeaux
My nephew bought Futura brand tires at Pepboys made by Cooper.

They came with a 50K mile warranty.

Three years and 30K miles later the right rear tire blew off its tread in the middle of the freeway.

Pepboys replaced the tire for free but charged $20 for mount and balance.

The flying tread caused $2300 in damages according to the body shop of the local Honda Dealer. In a normal body shop that means $1200-$1500 in damages.

The tread hit the right rear door,pulled off the moulding, and tore the rear bumper cover about half way off. The right rear quarter panel was slightly hit(or could be previous damage, not sure) Might be more damage underneath but I did not do a full inspection as it was night time.



If I remember right,Futura tires are made in China...



I'm hearing that Pep Boys are going to drop Cooper tires anyways...as their tires sales are pretty bad.



Sounds like they want to go after the "value" market, i.e. Chinese tires. (I thought I heard GT brand)

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: rszappa1
Any tire that Pep Boys sells i would stay away from...cheap and junk... You get what you pay for....


People still shop at Pep Boys?

 

[DeeAgeaux]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Originally Posted By: DeeAgeaux
My nephew bought Futura brand tires at Pepboys made by Cooper.

They came with a 50K mile warranty.

Three years and 30K miles later the right rear tire blew off its tread in the middle of the freeway.

Pepboys replaced the tire for free but charged $20 for mount and balance.

The flying tread caused $2300 in damages according to the body shop of the local Honda Dealer. In a normal body shop that means $1200-$1500 in damages.

The tread hit the right rear door,pulled off the moulding, and tore the rear bumper cover about half way off. The right rear quarter panel was slightly hit(or could be previous damage, not sure) Might be more damage underneath but I did not do a full inspection as it was night time.



If I remember right,Futura tires are made in China...



I'm hearing that Pep Boys are going to drop Cooper tires anyways...as their tires sales are pretty bad.



Sounds like they want to go after the "value" market, i.e. Chinese tires. (I thought I heard GT brand)


Nope, you remember incorrectly.

It says "Made in the USA" on the tires.

I told him not to get those tires,more like I strongly urged him not to get those tires.

I just thought I would pass the information along.

My nephew will try to make a claim with Cooper, we shall see how that goes.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: DeeAgeaux
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Originally Posted By: DeeAgeaux
My nephew bought Futura brand tires at Pepboys made by Cooper.

They came with a 50K mile warranty.

Three years and 30K miles later the right rear tire blew off its tread in the middle of the freeway.

Pepboys replaced the tire for free but charged $20 for mount and balance.

The flying tread caused $2300 in damages according to the body shop of the local Honda Dealer. In a normal body shop that means $1200-$1500 in damages.

The tread hit the right rear door,pulled off the moulding, and tore the rear bumper cover about half way off. The right rear quarter panel was slightly hit(or could be previous damage, not sure) Might be more damage underneath but I did not do a full inspection as it was night time.



If I remember right,Futura tires are made in China...



I'm hearing that Pep Boys are going to drop Cooper tires anyways...as their tires sales are pretty bad.



Sounds like they want to go after the "value" market, i.e. Chinese tires. (I thought I heard GT brand)


Nope, you remember incorrectly.

It says "Made in the USA" on the tires.

I told him not to get those tires,more like I strongly urged him not to get those tires.

I just thought I would pass the information along.

My nephew will try to make a claim with Cooper, we shall see how that goes.




Hopefully they take care of him....

 

[bullwinkle]

My experience with Cooper (and Goodyear for that matter) is KEEP THEM ROTATED!!! My work had several vans with Goodyear 10 ply tires that nobody bothered to rotate-they wore well, but got so bumpy that they had to be replaced. My Sierra had Cooper 10 plys n it when I got it-exact same problem. Both companies make a decent tire-but they're not the best by any stretch. I agree w/the previous poster on Pep Boys Futuras-worthless junk, and GT has been making the private label Primewell tires for Tires Plus & others-my tire guys have told me to stay away from them. Unfortunately, in tires you get what you pay for-and this new excise tax will ensure that you pay MORE!!! The Chinese made ones will increase, & so will the American made ones (less cheap competition).

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
My experience with Cooper (and Goodyear for that matter) is KEEP THEM ROTATED!!! My work had several vans with Goodyear 10 ply tires that nobody bothered to rotate-they wore well, but got so bumpy that they had to be replaced. My Sierra had Cooper 10 plys n it when I got it-exact same problem. Both companies make a decent tire-but they're not the best by any stretch. I agree w/the previous poster on Pep Boys Futuras-worthless junk, and GT has been making the private label Primewell tires for Tires Plus & others-my tire guys have told me to stay away from them. Unfortunately, in tires you get what you pay for-and this new excise tax will ensure that you pay MORE!!! The Chinese made ones will increase, & so will the American made ones (less cheap competition).



I thought Primewell was a firestone made tire.....

 

[DeeAgeaux]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Originally Posted By: DeeAgeaux
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Originally Posted By: DeeAgeaux
My nephew bought Futura brand tires at Pepboys made by Cooper.

They came with a 50K mile warranty.

Three years and 30K miles later the right rear tire blew off its tread in the middle of the freeway.

Pepboys replaced the tire for free but charged $20 for mount and balance.

The flying tread caused $2300 in damages according to the body shop of the local Honda Dealer. In a normal body shop that means $1200-$1500 in damages.

The tread hit the right rear door,pulled off the moulding, and tore the rear bumper cover about half way off. The right rear quarter panel was slightly hit(or could be previous damage, not sure) Might be more damage underneath but I did not do a full inspection as it was night time.



If I remember right,Futura tires are made in China...



I'm hearing that Pep Boys are going to drop Cooper tires anyways...as their tires sales are pretty bad.



Sounds like they want to go after the "value" market, i.e. Chinese tires. (I thought I heard GT brand)


Nope, you remember incorrectly.

It says "Made in the USA" on the tires.

I told him not to get those tires,more like I strongly urged him not to get those tires.

I just thought I would pass the information along.

My nephew will try to make a claim with Cooper, we shall see how that goes.




Hopefully they take care of him....


He called Cooper. They are opening a claim case.

They are sending him a "kit" to send them back the tire.

Pictures of the car and three estimates.

I told him to call his insurance company and see if they want to inspect the tire first.

He had an accident that was deemed the other party's fault 7 months ago. But he is afraid his rates will rise.

I told him he keeps making penny wise pound foolish decisions.

I told him comprehensive and collision claims are two seperate things. Neither claim is his fault. Well his only fault is being dumb enough to buy Futura tires.This 24 year old buys $200 shirts but $40 tires. I told he has it backward. And he does not have a long history of claims that would raise a red flag for fraud. We shall see if he listens to me for a change.