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Last updated 5/02/2024 - Originally published 5/02/2024
Written by SimpleTire
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When it comes to all-terrain tires for 4WD light trucks and SUVs, the tire-buying process can be difficult. In the case of the Yokohama Geolandar AT G015 and Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S, we’ve got two tires that compare very well with each other in terms of design, handling, traction, longevity, and overall performance and value. They’re even pretty closely matched when it comes to things like speed ratings, load ratings, factory warranty coverage, tread depth, and price point.
Today, we’re going to lay out some of the details on each tire and do a little compare-and-contrast review to help you make an informed decision about which tire might be the best choice for your truck or SUV. We use our SimpleScore system to lend a little extra insight on these tires; SimpleScore looks at raw data and reviews and determines a numerical value for the categories of traction, longevity, and handling for each tire, along with an overall average SimpleScore that sums up the tire in general.
So what’s the Yokohama Geolandar AT G015 all about? At SimpleTire, we’ve been pretty impressed with everything from the Yokohama line and the Geolandar family for some time, and the Geolandar AT G015 is no exception. The Geolandar AT G015 is an all-terrain tire that’s durable and tenacious enough to be able to navigate through mud, sand, snow, and slush without breaking a sweat, but still delivers low noise, good ride quality and handling and generally composed road manners on the pavement.
The Geolandar AT G015 is covered by a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty and features Yokohama’s Enduro tread formulation, a proven tread compound that delivers long wear and damage resistance while staying flexible at subfreezing temperatures for great winter performance. The Geolandar AT G015 ejects mud, stones, and debris from the tread with Yokohama’s EdgeTec groove design. It’s a tire that looks great on a variety of vehicles, with your choice of outlined white letter or black letter sidewall.
SimpleScore numbers for the Geolandar AT G015 are 8.6 for traction, 8.5 for longevity, and 8.5 for handling, with an overall average SimpleScore of 8.5.
The Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S is an outstanding performer and value when it comes to all-terrain tires. The Discoverer A/T3 4S is covered by a 65,000 mile warranty and is designed with a silica-rich rubber formulation for excellent wear properties and enhanced traction in wet or wintry conditions. Cooper designed the Discoverer A/T3 4S around it's Even Wear Arch technology, which evenly distributes vehicle weight across the tire’s tread for improved handling and braking performance as well as long, even wear.
The Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S has a bit of an edge in its SimpleScore numbers, with 9.7 for traction, 9.1 for handling, and 9.2 for longevity, with an overall average SimpleScore of 9.1.
The Geolandar AT G015 is a capable performer when it comes to traction on- or off-road. It has a killer combination of EdgeTec grooves for grip in snow and slush, 3D sipes that expand and change shape as the tread wears down, and circumferential and angled grooves to expel water from the tire’s contact patch and avoid hydroplaning. In addition, the Enduro tread compound stays flexible for subfreezing temperatures, which is more along the lines of a winter tire – often all-season tires will stiffen up and lose traction in winter conditions. The Geolandar AT G015 has the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for severe winter service. SimpleScore for traction with this tire is a very respectable 8.6.
But then we come to the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S. That SimpleScore of 9.7 for traction is hard to beat, and for good reason. The 5-rib all-terrain tread does a great job of delivering traction on wet or dry surfaces, with sawtooth-shaped grooves within the tread blocks that enhance winter traction to the point where the Discoverer A/T3 4S can boast stopping distances that are 20 feet shorter on snow (compared to the competition). Zigzag sipes help multiply traction and surface area on snow and slush, and Cooper’s Adaptive Traction Technology means that the Discoverer A/T3 4S has the kind of versatility that can improve traction on all kinds of surfaces. Like the Yokohama, the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S has the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification.
ADVANTAGE: Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S
We’re pretty impressed with the handling properties of the Yokohama Geolandar AT G015. Endurocore internal construction helps the Yokohama with an improved load rating and excellent road manners and stability on the highway, which also helps resist tread squirm and deformation during hard maneuvers or cornering. The contact patch of the Geolandar is optimized to be wider, longer, and flatter, putting more rubber in contact with the road for improved braking, handling, and road manners. SimpleScore for handling for the Yokohama is a strong 8.5.
The Cooper tire, on the other hand, is outfitted with Micro-Gauge sipes and the Adaptive Traction technology package. Along with reinforced internal construction and stiffer sidewalls, the Cooper’s steering response is nimble and direct, with confident cornering and road manners that are so composed as to be downright unassuming on the highway. That SimpleScore of 9.1 for handling tells the story, after all.
ADVANTAGE: Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S
Here’s where the two tires are pretty closely matched, making it a tough call indeed. The Yokohama tire has its Endurocore construction package that equalizes tension and stresses within the casing, and the Enduro rubber compound is enriched with orange oil and a blend of polymers for superb damage resistance and excellent wear properties. In addition, the Yokohama has reinforced sidewalls with rim protectors that give it an edge in off-road durability. The Yokohama is protected by a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty and boasts a longevity SimpleScore of 8.5.
The Cooper tire, on the other hand, is equally at home on the pavement or in difficult off-road terrain. The Micro-Gauge zigzag sipes help boost the tread’s rigidity and its combination of Adaptive Traction technology suite and Even Wear Arch technology means it’s also designed for durability in rough use. The Cooper tire has a warranty of 65,000 miles and a SimpleScore of 9.2 for longevity.
ADVANTAGE: Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S
Again, both tires are pretty closely matched when it comes to value and performance. Both are equally capable in winter conditions with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating. Both tires are surprisingly composed and civilized on the highway, with low noise and the kind of road manners that are stable and secure at highway speed without a constant need for correction. Both deliver a ride that’s quiet and refined for an all-terrain tire, so really either tire would be a great choice if you’re the kind of driver who spends most of his time on the pavement but needs an advantage in traction for winter conditions or the occasional jaunt off the highway. Both tires would also be a good choice for a commercial vehicle, with the kind of traction, durability, and load capacity you need for performance on job sites or other rough applications. It’s worth noting here, though, that the Cooper is available in a wider range of sizes, including up to 22”, and that’s something that may well factor into your decision depending on what kind of truck you’re driving.
When it comes down to it, picking the tire that’s right for you depends on your ride, budget, driving habits, and needs. The Discoverer A/T3 4S is strong across the board and one of the best all-terrain tires on the market. Starting around $154/tire, a set of four new Discoverer A/T3 4S tires will cost at least $615. The Geolandar AT G015, on the other hand, might not perform as well as the Cooper tire across the board, but the two tires are pretty close in most categories. Starting around $145/tire, a set of four new Geolandar AT G015 tires will cost at least $580.
If you want the better-performing tire, then the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S is your best bet. That said, if you want a high-performing tire at a cheaper price then go with the Yokohama tire.
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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