The company has added a new model to the Discoverer lineup called the ROADMASTER RM230WB
Cooper has introduced the new Cooper ROADMASTER RM230WB to the US market, an all-season tire designed for off-roading, but claims to have optimum performance on asphalt making them suitable for everyday life.
“We are very pleased to announce that new tires are available for sale because we knew how long drivers had been waiting for just such a product,” said Michel Kramer, chief product marketing officer for Cooper. “They are suitable for all purposes and guarantee both excellent off-the-beaten-track flotation and a comfortable ride on Monday morning commutes.”
There are two sidewall designs to choose from during installation
When operating on asphalt at high speed, Whisper Grooves block the rapid passage of airflow, reducing noise levels, and Stable Trac Technology has been used to improve stability and control - multidirectional micro-slats increase traction on slippery surfaces. In addition, the pattern has been refined to repel rocks and prevent damage.
"It has all the trappings of an off-road tire, such as deep tread depth and aggressive upper sidewall design, and drivers don't usually associate these tires with long, comfortable rides, but the ROADMASTER RM230WB is designed to handle both with ease." - added Kramer.
Cooper Tire has announced the availability of the new ROADMASTER RM230WB all-terrain tires across the US, a combination of solid road and off-road tires.
In addition, they are characterized by excellent handling and grip on wet roads, the aggressive appearance of mud tires, and high mileage.
Fast and accurate steering response
Thanks to its fairly open design, the tread of this model contains a large number of drainage grooves. They are located not only longitudinally, but also transversely, which, in combination with their large capacity, allows the tire to maintain grip, both in rain and snow or during thaws.
Main features of Cooper ROADMASTER RM230WB
- the protector with sipes and five longitudinal ribs is effective both in summer and in winter;
- capacious drainage grooves prevent both aquaplaning and slash planning.
The Cooper ROADMASTER RM230WB tires, in comparison with the Discoverer CTS model, have a more reliable grip on wet and dry asphalt, less noise, and are less "voracious". Low rolling resistance with high grip properties may sound like an oxymoron, but one secret to achieving this seemingly unattainable goal is silica, an amazing rubber compound additive.
A fourfold (versus the silica content of other touring SUV tires) increase in the silica concentration in the ROADMASTER RM230WB compound resulted in a significant improvement in the performance of the model. Skid grip has improved, friction has been reduced during normal operation, resulting in more reliable grip and reduced rolling resistance.
In addition, Cooper used a more curved tread design. Looking at the front of the tire, you can see that the upper tread of the ROADMASTER RM230WB is more arched than normal tires. This engineering move reduced the weight and rolling resistance of the model. However, under load, the contact patch becomes flat and the tread wears out evenly.
The wavy sipes on the tread surface work like miniature scrapers wiping off water to give the tire a better grip in the rain. Cooper uses 3D micro-slats cut to 1.6mm depth, which means the ROADMASTER RM230WB tires will stay in contact with the road right up to the replacement. Overall, the Cooper ROADMASTER RM230WB has 185% more sipes than the retired Discoverer CTS.
The ROADMASTER RM230WB model is considered an all-season model, so some winter technologies have been applied to it. For example, "snow pockets" recessed in the depths of the tread. Acting like tiny buckets, they grab the snow and keep it inside the tread. Trapped snow, in contact with a snow-covered road, provides much better traction than with the usual contact of rubber with snow.
To prove that all these technologies work, it was decided to compare the performance of the Cooper ROADMASTER RM230WB and the Goodyear Wrangler SR-A universal tire for CUV and SUV. To do this, the same Chevrolet Tahoe drove out onto the wet circular track, which had to go through a route that included both drivings in a straight line and S-shaped bends.
Cooper ROADMASTER RM230WB tires also dominate lateral grip at high speeds, although in straight-line driving, both test subjects provide the same information content, consistently losing contact with the road, which makes them very predictable. Cooper claims the ROADMASTER RM230WB should provide more steering feel, but Mike didn't notice. The ROADMASTER RM230WB's braking performance was better, especially in an emergency, but not significantly.
“Cooper set out to dominate the tire niche for CUV and SUV vehicles that not only outperformed the brand's previous models but also be cut head and shoulders above the best tires in the segment. Although we have conducted only minor comparative tests from a select few competitors, we still feel that Cooper has achieved his goal. "