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Kumho vs Cooper

20K views 19 replies 14 participants last post by  bull geek  
#1 · (Edited)
I've had a little bad luck with my tires lately. I had a flat that couldn't be repaired. I found a pair on CL that happened to match the other two and had a lot of tread left. The problem is ONE has a problem that's giving me a lot of vibration so I need to get something done.

Since I only got about 1/2 the treadwear i was hoping to get I'm looking for a set toward the budget end of the spectrum. I can currently get a set of Kumho Ecsta 4x KU22's or a set of Cooper Zeon RS3-A's for the same price.

Any experience with either?
 
#2 ·
Given a choice I only purchase USA tires.

Most if not all Cooper is USA.

I have pair of Cooper CS4 on the front of my 1997. Made in USA. I think I paid $110.00 or $112.00 mounted and balanced.

On a slightly different note.
The CS4 comes in 5 speed ratings.


On a different note.
Always look for the date of manufacture.
One or two large chain stores were selling outdated tires.
 
#5 ·
Given a choice I only purchase USA tires.

Most if not all Cooper is USA.
I did a little looking, and unfortunately the rs3-a's are made in china.

Kumho is obviously a Korean company - haven't found out where they actually make Ecsta 4x KU22's.

Either way - this would be an online purchase. $261 for either set, shipped after rebates. I will have them mounted locally for about $50.
 
#3 ·
I recently replaced the Continentals on my '02 SES. Don't know if you have Discount Tire stores where you live but Discount Arizonian (store brand) tires are made by Cooper. They offered the 215X60X16 Arizonian's for $398 "out the door". I couldn't be happier, smooth and quiet, just as satisfied as I was with the 2nd gen Continentals I had. AND YES ! They are stamped "Made in USA'.
If we don't save America, who will?
 
#4 ·
I wish what I have to say is helpful, but it's probably just whispers in the breeze...but I am finally replacing the tires in the back of my wagon. Cooper Trendsetters, bought in August 2002, well-maintained and cared for (including the occasional rubber treatment) but they are finally wearing out. Tread's at the safe minimum, after almost 90,000 miles - far beyond the warranty. The fronts wore out early, due to worn-out tie rods which I replaced last September. I replaced the tires with some Uniroyals, and wish I'd have put Coopers on again.

I would not hesitate to get another pair or set of these tires. Quiet, smooth and excellent traction.
 
#6 ·
I love Cooper tires. I'm on my third set.

First set of Cooper Cobras lasted me over 70,000 miles on a Ford ZX2. I only replaced them because winter was coming, so they could've gone a bit longer.

I ran the second set for another 30K+ before selling the car.

I have a set on my DD Pontiac now too, they're Sigma tires made by Cooper and after about 18 months, they still look brand new. $400 for 4 16" tires. Tough to beat $100 for a quality 16" tire. When the Taurus needs tires, I'll probably get some of these for the Bull too.
 
#8 · (Edited)
I work as a tire tech, and let me tell you that you don't want the Kumhos. I have never seen a single customer meet their mileage warranty with those plus we hear a lot of ride/vibration complaints. We do not sell Coopers but I generally hear good things about them. We recently started carrying a pretty cheap tire from Dunlop, badged as a signature II. Comes with a 65k mile warranty and the tread block looks astonishingly similar to the Goodyear Assurance ComforTread which is an 80k mile tire. The Dunlop II is looks like its gonna be a great tire and they are some of the cheapest we have in our inventory (I think they are hovering around 80 bucks a tire in a 205/65R15). Again we have been carrying them for just under a year but they balance better than a lot of much more expensive tires and we have heard nothing but rave reviews from our customers. I would recommend them to any budget minded tire customer. I was gonna put them on my car but as luck would have it a Michelin Sale rolled around when I got my tax return so I popped 4 Defenders on and these are great tires if your willing to separate with 120 bucks per tire. (90k miles is a pretty good warranty for those defenders though)

Although I am not sure if the Dunlop Signature II comes in the 225/55R16 on the SHO... I'd be willing to bet you could find a Dunlop Sport Signature, or at least a Fierce Instinct (50k mile warranty asymmetrical design) Those Fierce Instincts are essentially the same thing as the Goodyear Eagle GT but I believe they are the cheapest tire our shop has in the SHO size (the Eagle GT runs about 30 bucks more per tire)

Speaking of tires.

What is the proper tire pressure?
33 psi for gen 3, 32 psi for most gen 4, not sure about gens 1,2, and 5+

When you open your driver door look in the seam where the door normally latches to the car (called a door jamb IIRC) there should be a sticker on there or on the side of the door where the latch is with the correct inflations.
 
#10 ·
I work as a tire tech, and let me tell you that you don't want the Kumhos. I have never seen a single customer meet their mileage warranty with those plus we hear a lot of ride/vibration complaints. We do not sell Coopers but I generally hear good things about them. We recently started carrying a pretty cheap tire from Dunlop, badged as a signature II. Comes with a 65k mile warranty and the tread block looks astonishingly similar to the Goodyear Assurance ComforTread which is an 80k mile tire. The Dunlop II is looks like its gonna be a great tire and they are some of the cheapest we have in our inventory (I think they are hovering around 80 bucks a tire in a 205/65R15). Again we have been carrying them for just under a year but they balance better than a lot of much more expensive tires and we have heard nothing but rave reviews from our customers. I would recommend them to any budget minded tire customer. I was gonna put them on my car but as luck would have it a Michelin Sale rolled around when I got my tax return so I popped 4 Defenders on and these are great tires if your willing to separate with 120 bucks per tire. (90k miles is a pretty good warranty for those defenders though)

Although I am not sure if the Dunlop Signature II comes in the 225/55R16 on the SHO... I'd be willing to bet you could find a Dunlop Sport Signature, or at least a Fierce Instinct (50k mile warranty asymmetrical design) Those Fierce Instincts are essentially the same thing as the Goodyear Eagle GT but I believe they are the cheapest tire our shop has in the SHO size (the Eagle GT runs about 30 bucks more per tire)


33 psi for gen 3, 32 psi for most gen 4, not sure about gens 1,2, and 5+

When you open your driver door look in the seam where the door normally latches to the car (called a door jamb IIRC) there should be a sticker on there or on the side of the door where the latch is with the correct inflations.
On the Gen 4 its a little sticker on the gas door.
 
#9 ·
I would put coopers on your car. Well sell them at my work like crazy and have never had a problem with them. Ours have like a 60k warrenty. I run 35psi n my gen 3 taurus, the tires look flat with anything lower.
 
#12 ·
Recommended tire pressures are more related to the tires' load carrying capacity than anything. They're calculated at the max GVWR and vehicle top speed. So I think the reason the tire pressure dropped on the Gen 4's was because they went to wider tires that had a higher load carrying capacity (less pressure was then needed). I think I went through the whole calculation once and I did get right around 30 psi, so the recommended pressures are correct. Having said that, I still found a happy balance about about 32.5 psi in the tires because 30 psi felt too soft (I run all my cars a few psi above sticker).
 
#13 ·
Do you have the formula handy? :)
 
#15 · (Edited)
Well - one of the the used GY's I mentioned in my OP finally failed today - so that turned out to be a bad temporary solution ($140 bought me a little over 2 mo.). Luckily it went flat while sitting and not on the hwy. Looked the tire over expecting to see a puncture, but I found a dime sized bump in the side wall and it feels very thin in that spot. Weird. Glad it didn't blow on the road. Tire has a fair amount of tread left too - so not sure what the deal is -- seems like a defect to me, but I'm sure GY would claim otherwise.

Anyway -- discount tire direct is having an assortment of rebates going on right now, so I was able to get the Cooper Zeon RS3-A's for $247. I think these should be at least decent tires, and I'm really happy with the price. They'll be $50 or so to mount/balance.
 
#16 ·
I just put a set of BF Goodrich advantage ta's on my sel,, they balanced out real good, ( hardly any weights) this car has 127xxx miles and it drives like 20,000!! I cleaned the inside, and washed the inside of the wheels before install. I also run about 39psi, front and 35 back on most of my vehicles, except the M/C
 
#18 ·
You guys buying "American made tires" only are missing out! Hankook, Dunlop, Yokohama...etc, all make some fantastic products.

With that being said, opinions on tires is like opnion on what oil to use....there will be 500,000 different opinions. Your best bet is to read user reviews on tire rack for the specific tire you are looking for and go from there.