The Cooper Discoverer STT PRO SUV tire was introduced by the North American manufacturer in the summer of 2015. From all other representatives of this line, this model is distinguished by its excellent adaptability for operation, first of all, off-road, for which it was created. At the same time, the North American company used almost all the latest technological developments that appeared after decades of successful activity in this area.
Reinforced frame
One of these technologies is ARMOR-TEK 3, which is a reinforced frame. The number "three" in the name indicates the number of steel cords used in the carcass construction. It is for this reason that this model weighs several kilograms more than most of its counterparts. However, this is an extremely small price to pay for the exceptional durability and reliability that it demonstrates even on the toughest off-road terrain. The manufacturer claims a 50% reduction in damage. Another advantage of the additional steel cord is that the tread is even more resistant to uneven wear, which significantly increases its service life, as well as reduced rolling resistance.
Tread pattern with an alternating number of longitudinal ribs
The tread pattern is characterized by openness, which is expressed in the form of a large number of separate blocks distributed over several functional areas - the central part and the shoulder areas. They are arranged in such a way that, when moving, they form an alternating number of longitudinal ribs. Due to the shortened shoulder blocks, two or three of them are formed in the central part. This design gives the tire increased stability and good road handling, as well as improved flotation on wet terrain.
Increased softness on the go
In addition to acoustic comfort, a lot of attention was paid to the North American tire manufacturers in the development of this model to ensure the good softness of the ride. For these purposes, special zigzag lamellas were used. Due to them, the tread blocks are deformed in a certain way, thereby absorbing most of the impact from irregularities on the surface of the roadway. In addition, the same sipes when driving on slippery smooth surfaces, forming many additional edges, improve grip with it.
Open shoulder design
The above design features allowed the company's specialists, without fear of comfort and other operational properties, to give the shoulder areas the most open design. They are characterized not so much by the presence of numerous blocks as by their large width and a considerable distance between them. Thanks to this, the Cooper Discoverer STT PRO tire demonstrates confident behavior when overcoming the most difficult off-road sections. At the same time, special asymmetric cuts on the sidewalls of the blocks additionally increase the permeability on soil surfaces with a reduced bearing capacity.
Additional traction edges on the sidewalls
A significant part of the tread pattern is located on the tire sidewalls. The blocks on them provide additional traction on sandy and earthy soils. In addition, they give the tire even more efficiency when running flat, which significantly improves off-road performance.
Reinforced rim design
The excellent off-road reliability of this model is ensured not only by the three-layer steel cord but also by the optimized design of its rim. North American tire workers have shaped this part of the tire in such a way that the likelihood of the rim getting both the tire itself and the rim is minimized.
At the same time, its reinforced design ensures a more tight fixation of the tire to the rim. This feature significantly increases the traction and grip properties, and in addition, allows the tire to be used in a flat state.
Main features of the Cooper Discoverer STT PRO tire
- a three-layer steel cord provides a 50% increase in reliability in off-road operation, increases the tread resistance to uneven wear;
- low noise level due to the alternating number of longitudinal tread ribs and multi-step arrangement of blocks;
- special zigzag grooves give the tire extra softness on the go;
- the open design of the shoulder areas, containing many wide blocks, improves passability on unpaved surfaces with reduced load-bearing capacity;
- special asymmetric cuts on the sidewalls of the shoulder blocks increase traction on sandy and earthy soils with a high moisture content;
- additional blocks on the sidewalls of the tire improve cross-country ability on sand and mud;
- the optimized shape and reinforced design of the rim provide reliable protection of both tires and rims from damage, as well as a tighter fit between them, which improves handling.
On rocky terrain, the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro is once again impressive thanks to its rubber compound and tread pattern. The medium rubber compound, but the ratio of carbon black to silica provides good adhesion. Pulling force on the rocks is also facilitated by the cutting edges of the protruding blocks and siping, which improve mechanical adhesion and eliminate micro deformations. 6
These tires will gain popularity among fans of rock-crawling, not only because of the excellent grip properties, efficient block operation but also because of the durable shock-resistant sidewalls. Cooper's tires, for example, are widely recognized in Australia, where Aboriginal people value them for durability and reliability, thanks to the reinforced sidewalls Armor-Tek3, which includes two main thick layers and one additional protective layer, placed at an angle to the radial layers. The integrity of the blocks will also not be compromised due to the presence of inter-block jumpers. The rubber compound also includes special additives to improve durability during high-speed travel on gravel roads and rough terrain.
Cooper has integrated rock-crawling-adapted technologies into the new tires by placing grooves on the sidewalls of the tire to control low-pressure deflection of the carcass. It turns out that the side sections, interacting with the obstacle, reduce deformations and provide maximum mechanical grip and traction.
The Cooper Discoverer STT Pro is a high-performance, high-quality tire for both overland travel and extreme recreation. They are designed to provide a smooth, quiet ride on the highway, and the best possible traction in mud and rocky terrain. Do not assume that they are intended exclusively for mud walks, since they can be quite easily used intensively in everyday life. In the foreseeable future, as soon as the opportunity arises, we will test the model in deep mud, on the sand, and even try its capabilities on the snow.