Cooper ST Maxx vs. Duratrac

Hello everyone I am a new member here and have a few questions regarding new tires for my 2001 tacoma SR5 4x4 double cab. I am currently running 255x85x16 KM2's and have loved the tires up until the last 5K or so "they have 40K on them" because they have gotten hard to keep in balance. I have recently moved from louisiana to dallas and will be using my truck mostly in dallas, but during hunting seasons i will need a tire that will be able to hold its own in a mix a mud/clay/loose terrain. I loved my KM2's when i was using them only in LA, but now i need a tire more suited to a mix of pavement and off-road. I am torn between the Cooper ST Max and Duratrac in a 265x75x16, so i am looking for first hand experiences with each to help me make my decision. Thanks in advance.

 

While I don't own a Tacoma, I do own the Cooper ST Maxx tires. I live in south Texas and drive the ranch roads frequently and just returned home from a week long hog hunting trip south of San Antonio. We had wet/ muddy roads when we arrived on the ranch and the St Maxx's were great. They have done extremely well on the dirt and gravel roads too, though they do pick up some of the gravel in the treads which usually comes out pretty easy with speed. As far as Texas Tough......yes, they are. There are tons of mesquite thorns all over and while I did have some break off in the tire NONE penetrated the tire carcass. In other words NO leaks. I switched to this tire for that reason. I had Hankook ATMs on before, which was a great tire, just had to patch them every time I got back from the ranch. These tires are tough! They are also very heavy, mine weigh in at 60 lbs each for a 275/70r18. As far as road use, also great. Louder than my Hankooks but not annoying in any way and handle well. You will also "feel" the road more due to the E rating. Anyway, just my thoughts so far, hope it helps you out.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm leaning pretty heavily toward the st maxx, Because I want a tire that can take abuse and from what I have read the duratrac seems to have weak sidewalls.

 

get the s/t maxx...theyre quieter and more durable than the duratrac

 

they also run large for their size...ill post pics up in a bit of a side by side comparison with the same size bfg a/t

 

Thanks, pictures would be great!

 

Tacoftw is correct...st maxx has way stronger sidewalls than duratracs. Like I said earlier, thorns but no punctures through the sidewall or tread. Mesquite thorns are thick as nails down here too....but I still don't want to run over a nail. On the rough ranch roads they handle great. My original Bridge ATs got chewed up pretty badly, the Hankooks held up well especially for a P rated tire, but I have high hopes for the st maxx even though I only have about 500 miles on them. 300+ of them on the ranch alone.

 

I think your pictures have sold me on the st maxx. They look to be more aggressive than the bfg ko and right on par with the duratrac. Also, what size are your tires in the picture tacoftw?

 

They are 285/70-17 in both the cooper and the BFG

 

Cool pix! I'm sure you will agree, even pictures don't do these tires justice, they are even better looking when you see them in person. Taco, gas mileage? Lol, I know the answer......I've lost about 1.5 mpg since putting them on my Z71 tahoe.....still worth it.

 

In not really worried about weight/mileage, I'm going to be moving from a 255/85/16 KM2 so I will probably get a little mileage back if anything.

 

agree completely....and yeah my mileage is pretty bad compared to stock, but there was really no difference in mileage between these and the bfg

 

From BFG, not much difference.....i went from a 41 lb tire to a 60 lb......i can feel it, lol. Have you had them in mud yet? They actually did pretty well for a non mud tire. Haven't taken them too deep and probably won't but, did well in what I put them through.

 

what bfg were you running?? my a/ts were 56lb, so there was really no noticeable difference in the 4 extra pounds. they are AWESOME in the mud...I had mine aired down last time i went to durhamtown

 

Had Hankook ATM before the Maxx's ..41 lbs. they are really good tires also, just too many thorns in them, they were a P rated tire 275/65r18 Maxx's are LT 275/70r18. I sure noticed that the Maxx's shed the mud very well and quickly too. Going around sharp corners on gravel roads felt like I was on rails....stuck very well to the ground. Was the first time off road with them and the new Bilstein 5100 up front and the Pro Comp MX 6s in the back. Strange combo? I know. But, the bilsteins all around felt too soft on road so the shop switched out the backs for the MX6 adjustables......feels better on the streets, more stable. I soften them when at the ranch.

 

Thanks for the great pics! I am also considering getting the S/T MAXX for my '07. I've been running DynaPro ATMs for the last few years and have been VERY satisfied with them although I will be upgrading my rims this time around. I'm also looking at the Nitto Terra Grapplers and Falken WildPeak A/Ts. I'm thinking getting Black Rock 17x9 Type 997 wheels too! The MAXXs are more than I'd like to spend but they sure do look good! Thanks again!

 

i can't believe i never saw this thread before, my 285's are on the way!

 

Taco - great info, thanks.

I am in the same boat as others. Torn between Duratracs and St Maxx. I called a couple national tire chains around here and both said they couldn't get them. I have yet to find a negative comment on St. Maxx's.

- where did you get yours?
- what size rims are you running (would you happen to know back spacing and offset)?
- right now i have 2.5-3" with 265/70 17's, looking to possibly upgrade my rims when I get new tires (off topic, is that the largest tire I can fit on stock rim?).

 

I have a spacer lift on my Tacoma and was told the biggest tire size I could accommodate on my stock TRD rims was 275 (any wider and they might have rubbed on the UCA). If money wasn't an issue I would have done new rims with a better backspacing. Considered doing spacers, but again, too expensive for a poor graduate student's budget...

I got mine from Discount Tire Direct - free shipping, $25 discount, and no tax (Discount Tire Co. wanted $75 in tax...). Had them mounted locally. So far, I'm very glad I chose the ST Maxx over the Duras. Hope this helps!