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Last updated 9/05/2024 - Originally published 9/05/2024
Written by SimpleTire
Headquartered in Tokyo, Yokohama is a 100-year-old tire manufacturer, just like the American brand, Cooper Tire. Both tire makers are credited with breakthrough innovations that transformed the tire industry. Whether you need tires for passenger cars, minivans, CUVs, SUVs, or light trucks, they offer reliable options under different tire categories like the all-season, all-terrain, winter, summer, ultra-high-performance, and UHP all-season. The Geolandar A/T4 G018 and Discoverer A/T3 4S are two of their highly sturdy offerings in the US market.
Designed for CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks, the Yokohama Geolandar A/T4 G018 and Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S are all-terrain tires that offer superior traction, grip, handling, durability, and longevity in challenging conditions. With limited manufacturer tread life warranties, the Yokohama and Cooper are great options in the premium yet affordable tire range. Which one should you go for? Let’s compare Yokohama Geolandar A/T4 G018 vs. Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S using our proprietary scoring system SimpleScore to let you know which one has an advantage over the other.
Yokohama Geolandar A/T4 G018 tires
Launched this year, the Geolandar A/T4 G018 is the fourth generation of the original Geolandar A/T series, which was introduced in 1996. The aggressive tread design of the Yokohama with optional black or white outlined sidewall accentuates the visual appeal, while the dual sidewall protectors, Geo-Shield technology, and enduro-compound allow increased resistance to cuts, chips, and abrasions to boost durability and longevity. The optimized tread design reduces noise and vibrations on paved roads, so you enjoy comfortable ride quality. With the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, the Geolandar A/T4 G018 assures superior performance in moderate to severe winter weather conditions of ice and snow. Backed by a solid 55,0000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Geolandar’s triple 3D sipes and zig-zag grooves not only improve traction and grip but also enhance handling and stability across different terrains.
With all the attributes, the Yokohama scores an excellent average SimpleScore of 9.5 out of 10.
Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S tires
Introduced in 2018, the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S is loaded with Cooper’s Adaptive-Traction Technology that helps it navigate over rough, rocky, and challenging terrains in different weather conditions of dry, wet, and snowy. While the five-rib tread pattern with Sure-Grip flushes out water quickly to avoid the risk of hydroplaning and boost wet performance, the special silica rubber compound of the Discoverer A/T3 4S makes it strong enough to resist cuts, chips, snags, and abrasions on uneven surfaces. Whether hot, wet, slush, or ice, the Cooper tire is able to run through various driving temperatures and conditions thanks to its robust construction and unique rubber compound. Backed by a solid 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Discoverer A/T3 4S features the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, assuring superior winter performance. It also carries the optional black or white sidewall lettering for added oomph.
Boasting an 8.5 SimpleScore, the Discoverer A/T3 4S assures great grip, comfort, traction, handling, and durability.
Yokohama Geolandar A/T4 G018 vs. Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S tires on traction
Traction ensures the tire continues to stick to the ground without slipping away. For traveling through rocky terrains or paved roads, the Geolandar A/T4 G018 and Discoverer A/T3 4S promise excellent traction.
The Geolandar A/T4 G018 scores an incredible 9.9 in traction thanks to its aggressive tread pattern, which features a 2-in-1 center block for enhanced off-road traction, zigzag deep grooves for improved off-road and wet performance, and deep wavy sipes for excellent traction on slippery surfaces. Additionally, the large side wall blocks further boost off-road performance.
Thanks to its symmetric tread pattern and Adaptive-Traction Technology, the Discoverer A/T3 4S returns great grip, control, and traction throughout the year, scoring a fantastic 8.7 in traction. With a special rubber compound, the Cooper can survive extreme temperatures as it remains flexible in low temperatures. The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol further assures its excellent performance in winter weather conditions.
The Yokohama tire is a clear winner with a substantial lead over the Cooper.
ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Geolandar A/T4 G018
Yokohama Geolandar A/T4 G018 vs Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S tires on handling
The better the steering response, the more confident a driver is. With precise handling, both tires promise reassuring control.
The Geolandar A/T4 G018 continues to impress in handling too by scoring a spectacular 9.8. Thanks to the deep, zigzag grooves and wide shoulder grooves, the Yokohama tire offers accurate steering response and enhanced stability in dry, wet, moderate to severe snow and ice. With a S-speed rating for all tires, the AT/4 is clearly the slower tire.
Contrarily, the Cooper tire achieves a moderate handling score of 8.4. Thanks to the zigzag sipes, the Discoverer A/T3 4S returns improved handling and stability, while stone ejectors resist stone drilling to protect the tire from wear and tear. The saw-shaped grooves boost braking performance on snowy surfaces, while the five-rib tread design allows accurate steering response on most terrains. With T and H as the available speed ratings, the Discoverer A/T3 4S offers customers the faster tire.
Despite the above, the Cooper stands no chance, and the Yokohama proves to be way ahead in handling!
ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Geolandar A/T4 G018
Yokohama Geolandar A/T4 G018 vs Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S tires on longevity
Longevity is defined by the number of miles or years a tire can perform on the road. Durable compounds, sturdy construction, and tread designs all ensure the longevity of the tread is maintained.
Boasting a longevity score of 8.8, the Geolandar A/T4 G018 features 2-in-1 center blocks and a unique rubber compound that resists cuts and chips. The vertical elements in void areas help evacuate stones, mud, debris, and rocks for consistent performance and promote even wear. It is backed by a 55,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
With a superb durability score of 9.2 out of 10, the Discoverer A/T3 4S finally gets ahead of the Geolandar A/T4 G018. While the special rubber compound resists cuts, chips, and snags, the large shoulder pattern and reinforced construction strengthen the internal structure for a longer service life. It is backed by a 65,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
With a higher mileage and longevity score, the Discoverer A/T3 4S finally ‘discovers’ a win in this comparison.
ADVANTAGE: Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S
When to use each
All-terrain tires are preferred if you travel mostly on paved roads but occasionally hit rough roads for a job or adventure. If your route is rocky, muddy, or sandy, you should go for mud-terrain tires as they feature large tread blocks and a wider void ratio for exceptional traction on slippery surfaces.
Among the two, you should pick the Yokohama if you undertake more off-road travel. Similarly, select the Cooper if you’re someone who loves doing rounds on paved roads.
Which one should you choose?
In the end, the question of which one is better boils down to your preferences. With a 2-1 score, the Geolandar A/T4 G018 cements its place as an able performer for grip, traction, handling, and control. You can pick the Yokohama if you prioritize traction and handling over longevity as the Cooper is an ideal option if you are looking for extended tread life and more warranty. Let’s have a look at their prices for a fair decision. . For a tire size of 265/70R18, the Yoko is tagged at $274 for a single tire, and a set of 4 costs around $1096, while a single unit of the Cooper costs $194, and 4 such tires cost $776 (a slight difference of $320!).
You should go for the Yokohama Geolandar A/T4 G018 if you:
- Drive vehicles like the Ford F-250, GMC Yukon, and Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Want excellent traction (9.9 vs 8.7)
- Prefer exceptional handling (9.8 vs 9.4)
Similarly, the Cooper tire should be your preference if you:
- Drive vehicles like the Toyota Tundra, Suzuki XL-7, and Chevrolet Suburban
- Want a long-lasting all-terrain tire (9.2 vs 8.8)
- Want a more affordable tire
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, and our helpful agents will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.