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Last updated 4/19/2024 - Originally published 4/19/2024
Written by SimpleTire
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Nitto Tires and Cooper Tires are both popular tire manufacturers who offer a range of passenger and light truck tires. Both Nitto and Cooper focus on offering affordable and good-quality tires, with Nitto focusing on light trucks, CUVs, SUVs, passenger, competition, and side-by-side tires, and Cooper offering a range of tires from light trucks to cars and minivans. Both brands offer different categories of tires such as all-terrain tires.
All-terrain tires are used generally on SUVs, light trucks, and Jeeps, and Nitto and Cooper offer a range of all-terrain tires to choose from. Today, we will be comparing two leading tires from the brand - Nitto Ridge Grappler vs Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S. Both these tires are designed for light trucks and offer exceptional performance thanks to the variety of tire features. We will be discussing the similarities and differences between these two tires in this Nitto Ridge Grappler vs Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S tire comparison.
The Nitto Ridge Grappler is an all-terrain tire designed for use on light trucks that offers the driver a quiet ride with strong on- and off-road traction. The tire is designed using a Variable Pitch Tread pattern and has staggered shoulder lugs for a quiet, smooth performance with consistent traction. Additionally, the tire also features stone ejectors and a dual sidewall design for enhanced durability and longevity.
The Nitto Ridge Grappler scored a great SimpleScore of 8.1 out of 10.
The Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S is an all-season all-terrain tire designed for use on light trucks and SUVs, and offer drivers excellent grip on rocky, smooth, wet, and snowy surfaces. The tire is also backed by a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for extended tread life and a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for its ability to perform reliably in severe snow. The Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S features Adaptive-Traction technology for enhanced grip and several other tire features, making it a great choice.
The Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S scored an excellent score of 9.1 out of 10.
Traction is extremely important, especially for all-terrain tires that are consistently used in rough terrains such as loose dirt, gravel, mud, snow, etc., Traction helps determine the grip of tires on the road which is important when driving on slippery roads or surfaces such as rocks. The traction of a tire is determined by different tire features such as design, rubber compound, and tread pattern.
The Nitto Ridge Grappler scored a great score of 8.4 out of 10 in traction thanks to the staggered shoulder lugs that give drivers traction on off-road environments. Additionally, the tire’s alternating grooves and biting edges enhance the traction of the tire considerably.
Traction is the strongest suit of the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S as it scored an impressive score of 9.7 out of 10. The traction of the tire is boosted by Adaptive-Traction Technology that offers consistent grip on any surface, paired with saw-shaped grooves within the tread for superior traction on snow surfaces. Additionally, the tire comes with a five-rib, all-terrain pattern that offers strong off-road grip and improved wet and dry traction. Additionally, the tire is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, ensuring reliable performance in harsh winter conditions.
While both tires offer great traction, the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S is a clear winner here solely based on the SimpleScore and the tire features. However, the Nitto Ridge Grappler will offer consistent traction throughout the year in dry, wet, or light winter weather conditions.
ADVANTAGE: Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S
While traction is important for all-terrain tires, so is handling, as it determines if the tires can help you switch lanes easily and ensure a consistent performance for your vehicle when driving on rough terrains. The handling of a tire can be determined using different factors such as the tread pattern, tire construction, and grooves on the tire.
Handling is the strongest suit of the Nitto Ridge Grappler and the tire scored a great score of 8.5 in it. The handling of the tire is boosted by the robust construction and rounder corners, paired with a symmetrical tread pattern, that ensures easy lane switching on paved roads and confident maneuvering on off-road terrains.
In handling, the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S scored an excellent score of 9.1 the tire features zigzag sipes which helps in improving tire stability and control while forcing out stones to prevent damage to the tire.
Both tires offer reliable handling in dry, wet, or light winter weather conditions and will be a great choice for you. However, based on SimpleScore, the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S is the clear winner.
ADVANTAGE: Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S
Longevity is another important factor to consider when purchasing a set of tires as it determines how many miles you might get out of the tire. Longevity helps determine the life of your tire by giving you an idea of how the tire’s tread pattern might wear over time. The longevity of a tire is determined by factors such as rubber compound, tread pattern, and tire construction.
The Nitto Ridge Grappler scored a good score of 7.6 in longevity, which is lower than handling and traction, but still strong because of the blocked tread pattern that helps to avoid uneven tread wear for a longer tread life. Additionally, the stone ejectors within the tread and dual sidewall design helps protect the tire’s tread from damage, to ensure a long tread life.
In longevity, the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S scored an excellent score of 9.2 thanks to the symmetrical tread pattern that helps ensure a longer tread life. Additionally, the tire is backed by a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty signifying a great mileage on the tires.
While both tires offer good mileage, the Discoverer A/T3 4S tires comes with a 65,000 mileage warranty with a better SimpleScore, making it a clear winner.
ADVANTAGE: Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S
Both Nitto Ridge Grappler and Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S are all-terrain tires designed to be used on- and off-road for light trucks and SUVs. As all-terrain tires can be driven on paved and unpaved roads, they are versatile and will be a great fit for your vehicle. Additionally, the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S comes with a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, making it apt in heavy winter weather conditions.
Finally, both these tires are durable, offer strong traction and handling performance, and can be reliably used on- and off-road.
So, which all-terrain tire might be the right choice for you? Well, the answer depends solely on your personal preference. As stated earlier, both Nitto Ridge Grappler and Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S offer reliable performance on paved or unpaved roads. However, there are a few key differences that can help you make an easy decision. The Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S scored better on SimpleScore in longevity, handling, and traction. Additionally, the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S has an average SimpleScore of 9.1 vs 8.1 of Nitto Ridge Grappler. The Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S outperforms the Nitto tire in all avenues.
Based on price, both tires are priced similarly, with the Cooper tire being slightly cheaper. The Nitto Ridge Grappler costs $281 per tire or $1,124 for a set and the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S costs $1,095 for a set or $273.99 per tire.
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose Nitto Ridge Grappler if you:
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S if you:
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.
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