Show off your Cooper ST Maxx

I have question's about studding these tires. I want studs but what is the deal with studs? I've never had a reason to use them before. I can't possibly believe that studs would last more than a few hundred miles on dry pavement. If that. If one was to remove the studs for summer driving I can't possibly believe whatever they screw into isn't going to be packed with dust and dirt. How does "studding" work if I want to use the same set of tires year round? Is there an insert in the tire we can "plug" for the summer and then put new studs in when winter hits? How many times a year are these studs replaced? There is no such thing as a tire that works even reasonably well on slippery glare ice that's why I'm asking.

My RC 1st Gen 4X4 with the 2.7 gets "real" squirrely on glazed/glare ice and there are times I have to drive 140 miles a day on this crap. One slip and with the short assed wheelbase with no weight it doesn't take long to get slideways. Eventhough I have about 500 lbs in and on the bed during winter. Hasn't happened yet but I don't want it to. I drive over 600 miles a day for a living in a semi on the worst stretch of interstate in the country. In the winter that is. Thanks to the high wind summer can be bad also. That's bad enough but when I'm in the lightweight Taco it is even worse. I need some traction for this wimpy little lightweight vehicle.

 

I quit buying warranties years ago. The manufacturers warranty is all I need. Why would I pay so much for any given, high quality product if i thought I needed an additional warranty? I've got Michelin MS/2's on my 1st Gen 4X4 now. They have a 2 ply side wall and have seen many a rock bed, with very sharp rocks I might add, ledges, gravel, shale snow and ice and I have never had a flat. They have 50,000 miles on them. I'm considering these ST Maxx's for the sole reason that I won't ever have to worry about sidewall punctures or anything else with the type of off-roading I do. I won't pay for an additional warranty from anyone. I'll just use the manufacturers warranty and if they don't honor it? They lose a customer, I eat the loss and tell all my friends.

 

You'll need to run two sets of tires, one studded and one not. I don't know Utah's law's but you will prolly have restrictions on summer use. Colorado allows studded tires year around, but to be honest they suck on pavement, loud, and they will spin on the blacktop.
https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/studded-winter-tires

 

I opted for studs on my Maxxs.

My understanding is that if you want studs in these tires at all, you have to put them in new tires and leave them in. At that point, you run them year-round or you keep another set of tires as your three season setup.

I run my studs year-round because I can, and because I like a little bit of extra help here in Colorado on ice and packed snow. In fact, I pulled the trigger on the Coopers because a buddy of mine had them on his truck (with studs). He lives in the mountains and raved about the Maxx. His studs are still going strong and he has some pretty good wear.

On the pavement, they do click, but I hardly even notice at this point. Some can tolerate that, some can't; it's personal preference.

One thing I would consider regardless of the studs is siping. Many places offer siping services for a decent price, and guys like Brett see good results from just adding additional siping instead of studs.

 

Mine are studded and I plan on driving on them year round mostly because I can't afford another set of tires. I drive quite a bit on pavement going back and from the school, the mountain, and just in general. The studs might make more noise but it doesn't really bother me but I drive a 1st Gen so it's noisy in the cab anyway.

 

Love mine so far

 

Thanks for the info. I actually live in Wyoming now. I went to change the Utah location once and couldn't figure out how to do it. I'll have to give it another try.

 

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll have to think about it.

 

Almost 40k and they are still badass in a 1-3 foot of snow....

 

I can't think of the best place to ask this question so I'll just ask it here. How many Taco's does anyone think have auto's in them that get off roaded a lot? I don't think an auto is the best set up for any serious offroading but I'm wondering how many people on this forum actually do it. Doesn't make any difference whether its a 1st, gen, 2nd gen, 3rd gen or a 6 or a 2,7.

 

I'm an auto and do some stuff, I don't get too crazy but I definitely feel like I put some miles down on dirt.

 

Do you do any serious climbing and descent?

 

Why wouldn't it be the best for 90% of people? My manual means I have to worry about not stalling and I have to mess with the clutch and worry about wheel spin and rolling on hills, ect.

 

Like just up a hill?

I drive up plenty hills and stuff.

Don't have a problem driving from town to the mountain either.

 

I was thinking that getting down a really steep dirt road with an auto would be a little harder with an auto than with a manual. Less compression breaking.

 

If you put it in low and put over drive off it isn't an issue, at least it hasn't been for me.

 

OK, cool. My dad wanted me to ask on this forum. When he hurt his back he couldn't drive a stick anymore which is how I got my hands the the 2004 RC I have. He's got a Furd F-250 4X4 now with an auto and has a hard time getting down steep hills with the auto. I suspect he's doing it wrong but I've always thought there is more control with a manual when it comes to off roading. He may have not had it in 4Lo or low gear when it almost got away from him getting down a pretty steep dirt road with a turn at the bottom.

 

I run an auto and have never had any problems wheeling with it. 4 wheel low in 1st gear will give you plenty of downhill control. +1 for never stalling.

 

Good info. I don't know what engine he has or what year it is but you're right. A whole lot of trucks had ridiculously high gears and I myself think the Furd is geared way high for serious off roading. I'd have to ask him next time I call him. He lives in NV and I'm in WY. Going to visit him in May. I'll figure out what the problem is then. I suspect the gearing is way high and with the weight that thing has it just overpowers any compression braking on a real steep downhill.. He was just curious if anyone on this forum wheels with an auto. He's new to an auto. He drove nothing but manuals for decades up until he got this Furd. I think he wants another Taco but it's iffy whether he can drive a stick now or not. After he hurt his back he couldn't but he's a lot better now.

At his age (85) he shouldn't be out there "wheeling" alone anyway but you know how some of these old geezers are. He uses a walker and still goes hunting every season and gets a buck every season. He goes Turkey hunting, too. He's got a much younger friend half his age that goes with him. Which I'm thankful for.