Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT Tire Review and Ratings
Dry Conditions – 90%
Wet Conditions – 90%
Snow – 80%
Comfort – 80%
Noise Reduction – 80%
Durability – 90%
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One of the many perks of having an off-road capable vehicle is the ability to drive in any condition you want. Sure, not all of them are created equally, and some will do a better job on the road while others will excel at it.
Owing this kind of vehicle means that, unlike with your average Corolla, you’re looking at a more flexible option when it comes to the type of tires you get. If you drive on the road, then any highway tire will do the job just fine. For those who are into some light off-roading, all-terrain tires are the best option.
Most of the prominent manufacturers in this industry have a few models in the all-terrain segment, and the same goes for Cooper. As part of the Discoverer AT3 lineup, the company has 3 models, and the one I’ll be talking about today is the XLT.
As a mid-range option, can the Discoverer AT3 XLT deliver on everything Cooper promises, or will you need to make some compromises?
Pros
- Pretty good off-road performance for an all-terrain tire
- Performance on paved roads is excellent
- Stable in harsh rain
- Long treadwear warranty
Cons
- Almost no traction on ice
- The handling isn’t the best
The Features of the Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT
Despite being an all-terrain tire, most of the Discoverer AT3 XLT features revolve around off-road performance.
The Discoverer AT3 XLT is an all-season tire and is designed with Cooper’s Even Wear Arch technology. It aims to keep the tire’s wear balanced on the road while ensuring the handling remains consistent throughout its lifespan.
Another aspect of the Discoverer AT3 XLT that aims to help with road performance is the Whisper Grooves technology. It works by adding a sound barrier in key places across the tread, which should help lower the noise levels.
On the off-road performance side of things, the Discoverer AT3 XLT is designed with stone ledges in the voids. They aim to help eject stones in the tread, which can help prevent damage to the blocks from lodged stones.
Driving in off-road conditions means that you may need to rely on traction in more extreme conditions. To help with that, especially in muddy conditions, the Discoverer AT3 XLT features traction shoulders aiming to improve performance in these conditions.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT in Dry Conditions
Dry performance with the Discoverer AT3 XLT is very good. It’s not a tire that will excel in every metric, but it’s more than enough for daily driving.
The grip and traction levels are very good for a mid-range tire from this category. You have a dependable and safe performance from a tire that will satisfy the needs of most drivers. The Discoverer AT3 XLT may not be a tire that you’ll compare with a performance option, but at the end of the day, that’s not what it’s intended for. Sure, there is some room for aggressiveness, and the tire will be fine, but it’s not a fun tire on a twisty road.
This is to be expected because we’re talking about an all-terrain tire. The Discoverer AT3 XLT offers enough performance for what most people need in daily driving scenarios. It’s the same story with the handling.
The Discoverer AT3 XLT handles as you’d expect from a bulky tire designed with off-roading in mind. There is a slight delay when you add an input to the point it reacts, but it’s not the slowest tire in this category. You won’t notice a lot of feedback, but on the positive side, the straight-line tracking is pretty good.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT on Wet or Slippery Roads
Cooper added some touches to help the tire with wet performance, and it shows. The Discoverer AT3 XLT is a solid performer, especially when you consider it’s a mid-range all-terrain tire.
On damp roads, the traction is pretty decent, meaning you can accelerate without experiencing slip. Like with most tires, you can get the Discoverer AT3 XLT to slip if you’re aggressive enough, something that most drivers rarely do. The tire does a good job in the corners, offering enough grip to minimize understeer and remain as planted as it can be. You also have decently short braking distances to rely on, and even though they aren’t the shortest, they are perfectly safe.
Driving in harsh rain is something that the Discoverer AT3 XLT won’t struggle at all. Thanks to the large voids and the tread pattern, the tire’s aquaplaning resistance is excellent. As a result, it can remain stable even at higher speeds.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT in Snow
All-terrain tires generally do a solid job in winter conditions, and the Discoverer AT3 XLT is no exception. Even though it’s not a replacement for dedicated winter tires, it’s a good option for light winter conditions.
If you’re driving on unpacked snow, the aggressive pattern of the Discoverer AT3 XLT will help you get enough traction for normal driving. The tire will handle slightly deeper snow, but it’s not a miracle worker. Unlike some of its rivals, this tire also does a pretty solid job on packed snow. In both situations, the braking distances aren’t too long.
Even though it seems like it’s the world’s best tire for snow, the Discoverer AT3 XLT has some limitations. Driving in very deep snow can be problematic, and the tire will show its weaknesses. In addition to that, the traction on ice is very poor, making it almost unusable.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT Off-Roading
When it comes to off-road performance, the Discoverer AT3 XLT is a tire that doesn’t disappoint. It’s not comparable to a mud-terrain tire, but it’s among the best in this category.
The Discoverer AT3 XLT offers all the performance you’ll need on hard-packed surfaces like dirt or gravel roads. There’s plenty of traction, allowing you to push it hard before it starts to let go. In these conditions, I’d put it very close to the premium models like the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar.
Even though all-terrain tires aren’t impressive on mud, the Discoverer AT3 XLT doesn’t do a terrible job. It can easily handle shallower patches, offering enough traction so you don’t get stuck. Going for the deeper ones won’t be a very positive experience, which is to be expected from this kind of tire.
Rock crawling isn’t something that an all-terrain tire will be good at, and the same goes for the Discoverer AT3 XLT. The tire will deal with smaller obstacles fine, but you’ll need a mud-terrain tire for the bigger ones.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT for Sporty Driving
As an all-terrain tire, the Discoverer AT3 XLT won’t be anyone’s first choice for sporty driving. The tire’s performance is good for daily driving, and that’s as much as you’ll get out of it. It won’t handle aggressive driving, and with its handling characteristics, it’s missing the two most important ingredients for having fun on the road.
Does the Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT Ride Comfortably?
Tires made for off-roading aren’t known to be the most comfortable or quiet tires. Surprisingly, the Discoverer AT3 XLT isn’t as bad in this regard as I thought it would be.
The comfort levels are acceptable for a tire from this category. Smaller imperfections aren’t an issue, and the Discoverer AT3 XLT offers a comfortable-enough ride. It becomes a bit harsh when you’re driving on bad roads.
Cooper did a pretty good job tweaking the tread pattern and making the Discoverer AT3 XLT a quiet tire. Considering the aggressive pattern, the growl is there, and you will notice it. With that said, it’s not too intrusive like with some of its rivals.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT Warranty
All-terrain tires come with a warrant, and the one on the Discoverer AT3 XLT is excellent. Backed by a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, the tire is on the same level as the Trail-Terrain T/A, TerrainContact A/T, and many other premium models.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT Pricing: Is It Worth the Price?
Mid-range tires are often more affordable than the premium ones, which is why people are so interested in them. It’s the same thing with the Discoverer AT3 XLT, but the difference isn’t massive. Comparing a 16-inch model reveals that it’s more affordable than its premium rivals, but the difference is roughly $20, depending on the model. As for the other mid-range tires, it’s priced similarly to the Grabber A/TX and a bit cheaper than the Wildpeak A/T3W.
Should I Buy the Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT?
The Discoverer AT3 XLT is a tire that doesn’t carry too many drawbacks. I wouldn’t call it perfect, but considering that it can trade blows with the premium tires, it’s a model that’s worth it.
It’s not the most affordable tire, even in the mid-range category, but with that, you’re getting an almost premium-like performance. As an all-season model, you can use the Discoverer AT3 XLT throughout the year, meaning that dry, wet, and winter performance is enough for daily driving. As an off-road model, you have one of the best all-terrain performers, dealing with almost no drawbacks.
In addition to that, the Discoverer AT3 XLT is a well-defined model. Keep in mind that I’m comparing it to models from the same category.
When it comes to deciding, as long as the Discoverer AT3 XLT falls within your budget. You won’t find many tires that offer this level of performance without too many compromises. I can recommend this tire to anyone looking for a combination of on- and off-road performance.
What Vehicles Will the Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT Fit?
Here’s a sample list of cars that the Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT will fit:
- BMW X5
- Chevrolet Suburban, Traverse
- Ford Bronco, Expedition, F-150
- Honda Passport, Ridgeline
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Subaru Outback
- Suzuki Grand Vitara
- Toyota Tundra, Land Cruiser
Tire Sizes of the Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT
15″
- LT 31X10.50R15 109R
- LT 32X11.50R15 113R
- LT 33X12.50R15 108R
16″
- LT 285/75R16 126/123R
- LT 295/75R16 128/125R
- LT 305/70R16 124/121R
- LT 315/75R16 127/124R
17″
- LT 285/70R17 121/118S
- LT 285/75R17 121/118S
- LT 295/70R17 121/118R
- LT 305/70R17 121/118R
- LT 315/70R17 121/118S
- LT 37X12.50R17 124R
19″
- LT 265/70R18 124/121S
- LT 275/70R18 125/122S
- LT 285/65R18 125/122S
- LT 285/75R18 129/126S
- LT 295/70R18129/126S
- LT 305/65R18 124/121S
- LT 325/60R18 124/121R
- LT 325/65R18 127/124R
- LT 35X12.50R18 123R
- LT 35X12.50R18 128R
20″
- LT 265/60R20 121/118R
- LT 275/55R20 120/117S
- LT 275/60R20 123/120S
- LT 275/65R20 126/123S
- LT 285/55R20 122/119R
- LT 285/60R20 125/122S
- LT 285/65R20 127/124S
- LT 295/60R20 126/123S
- LT 305/55R20 121/118S
- LT 305/55R20 125/122S
- LT 325/60R20 126/123R
- LT 35X12.50R20 125R
- LT 35X12.50R20 121R