Cooper Evolution M/T Tire Review and Ratings
Dry Conditions – 80%
Wet Conditions – 70%
Snow – 80%
Comfort – 80%
Noise Reduction – 60%
Durability – 0%
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire PriorityTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
Off-roading has been a popular activity for a long time. Driving in the wilderness away from paved roads is something that people enjoy, as long as they cover the basics. To drive in these conditions, you need a vehicle capable of off-roading and tires that can deliver the best performance.
Let’s say you already have the vehicle but are unsure what kind of tires to get. In the off-road segment, there are several sub-categories of tires. They range from ones that can handle light off-roading to hard-core ones you can take anywhere. On today’s review list, I’ll talk about a tire that covers the second segment.
Mud-terrain tires are the most aggressive form of off-road tires. They’re designed to tackle any off-road conditions without any compromises in those conditions. What is compromised is almost everything else, and people are fine with that. They aren’t the best option for road use, but most of them are safe enough.
For today’s review, I’ve chosen a mud-terrain tire from the mid-range segment. Cooper is known for making solid performers at an affordable price, and the same can be said about the Evolution M/T. Having this in mind, will it deliver on the promised performance, or is it just another cheap tire that doesn’t perform well?
Pros
- Excellent off-roading capabilities
- Solid performance in dry conditions
- Studdable
- Comfort levels are solid for a mud-terrain tire
Cons
- Wet performance is behind some of its rivals
- The tire’s noise levels aren’t the lowest, especially when driving on the highway
The Features of the Cooper Evolution M/T
The Evolution M/T is a mud-terrain tire, and as such, most of the features it offers exist to help off-road performance.
As an off-road capable tire, the Evolution M/T has a durable construction that will help it survive these conditions. Specifically, I’m talking about the stone barriers in the grooves, which act as stone ejectors. This will not only help keep the grooves clean of rocks but also prevent damage to the rubber.
The self-cleaning tread pattern is another great feature of the Evolution M/T. Designed with the Mud Slingers technology, Cooper made it to keep the grooves clean from mud buildup. This should result in a tire that will have consistent performance when driving in muddy terrain.
For the overall performance in off-road conditions, the Evolution M/T features the Earch Diggers technology. The shoulder blocks are designed with scoops and lugs, which should help in multiple conditions, regardless of whether we’re talking about hard-packed surfaces or softer ones like sand or mud.
If you’re into rock crawling, the Evolution M/T has something to help you. The tire is designed with the Trail Grip Sidewall technology, which features a special sidewall design. There are climbers on the side of the tire, which should help the tire claw onto rocks and help you overcome obstacles.
Cooper Evolution M/T in Dry Conditions
Even though the Evolution M/T is designed for off-roading, the on-road performance isn’t terrible, as long as you’re aware of its limitations.
The tire delivers satisfactory performance, which puts it in the safe category. There’s enough grip and traction for daily driving, and as long as you’re not too aggressive, you won’t have massive issues. The limits aren’t exceptionally high, so reaching them doesn’t take much. While you have relatively short braking distances, considering the category, I wouldn’t classify it as a tire you should push too much.
As far as the handling is concerned, the Evolution M/T acts like most mud-terrain tires. It’s not particularly responsive and you won’t have a lot of feedback. One thing worth mentioning is that the on-center feel is pretty decent, which is good for highway driving.
Cooper Evolution M/T on Wet or Slippery Roads
Due to the design, the Evolution M/T is a tire that won’t impress anyone in wet conditions. To be fair, many mud-terrain tires aren’t excellent in these conditions.
As a tire that needs to perform in off-road conditions, the aggressive tread pattern of the Evolution M/T means that the contact patch is reduced. The result of this is a tire that doesn’t have particularly high levels of grip and traction on damp roads. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not unsafe, but it’s far from the best. This also becomes evident from the braking distances, which, despite being safe, are still longer than some of its rivals, especially the premium ones.
The aquaplaning resistance is one thing the Evolution M/T does decently well. All of that void between the blocks means that the tire can channel a lot of water, keeping it stable. To be fair, you probably won’t be driving it too fast, but it’s good to know that the stability isn’t’ compromised.
Cooper Evolution M/T in Snow
Most tires in this category seem to do well with snow, and the same goes for the Evolution M/T. It’s not perfect, but it does the job in lighter conditions.
Driving on unpacked snow is not a problem for the Evolution M/T. The tire delivers solid traction in these conditions and doesn’t seem to struggle in slightly deeper snow patches. With that said, packed snow can be a bit problematic. It’s not like it will be terrible and unsafe, but you’ll need to be a bit more careful when driving in these conditions.
The Evolution M/T is technically an all-season tire, meaning the traction on ice is almost non-existent. One good thing here is that it’s a studdable tire, which greatly helps, especially with ice-covered roads.
Cooper Evolution M/T Off-Roading
Now we come to the part where the Evolution M/T feels at home – off-roading.
Starting off with the lighter stuff, we have dirt or gravel roads, which the Evolution M/T easily tackles. You can get aggressive, and the tire will remain planted without slipping without control. The best part is that the stone ejectors work well, keeping the tread stone-free.
Next up, we have mud, which is another situation where the Evolution M/T won’t struggle. The tire will go over shallower patches like they’re not even there. For the deeper ones, you may notice it struggling, but at a certain point, it will dig in and find traction to get you out of there. The self-cleaning design makes the performance consistent regardless of how deep the mud is.
Tires in this category are made for rock-crawling, and the Evolution M/T also delivers on that front. Thanks to the internal construction, you can drop the pressure and go over rocks relatively easily. The sidewall climbers help a lot, especially in more extreme situations.
Cooper Evolution M/T for Sporty Driving
As a mud-terrain tire, the Evolution M/T shouldn’t be your first choice for sporty driving. The tire doesn’t possess the performance or the handling characteristics to be driven in this manner.
Does the Cooper Evolution M/T Ride Comfortably?
The refinement is an area where you’ll need to make some compromises.
Despite being a mud-terrain tire, I have to say that the Evolution M/T offers decent comfort levels. It can absorb some road imperfections and soften potholes decently well. There are some vibrations, but they’re not terrible.
On the other hand, you have the noise levels, which aren’t too impressive. The Evolution M/T is not a quiet tire. Most mud-terrain ones aren’t, but this one is not near the top of its class. It’s especially noticeable when you’re driving on the highway.
Cooper Evolution M/T Warranty
Like most of its rivals, the Evolution M/T doesn’t come with a treadwear warranty, just the uniformity and workmanship & materials one, so it’s not really a drawback.
Cooper Evolution M/T Pricing: Is It Worth the Price?
The thing that makes the Evolution M/T most attractive to many people is that it’s advertised as an affordable model. Take a 16-inch model, for example. The price of the tire is slightly lower when compared with the Road Venture MT71. With that said, it’s noticeably more affordable than the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3.
Should I Buy the Cooper Evolution M/T?
There aren’t too many tires that can balance price and performance, as well as the Evolution M/T. Sure, there are some slight drawbacks, but that doesn’t mean this is a poor choice for people looking for a great mud-terrain tire.
The best part about the Evolution M/T is that it doesn’t sacrifice off-road performance. In most conditions, including some of the more extreme ones, the tire will do an excellent job. Even on paved surfaces, the tire will offer satisfactory performance, especially on dry roads, while offering an acceptably comfortable tire.
Wet performance isn’t the best, which isn’t surprising considering the type of tire we’re talking about. The Evolution M/T is safe enough, but not a tire that will impress anyone. Another thing worth mentioning is the noise levels. Even though mud-terrain tires aren’t quiet, this one isn’t the quietest, even compared to some mid-range models.
Overall, I have to say that the Evolution M/T is an excellent tire for what it is. Acceptable road performance, combined with excellent off-road capabilities, all of which come at a relatively affordable price.
What Vehicles Will the Cooper Evolution M/T Fit?
Here’s a sample list of cars that the Cooper Evolution M/T will fit:
- Ford F150, Bronco
- Honda Pilot, Passport
- Jeep Wrangler
- Land Rover Defender
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Toyota Hilux, 4Runner
Tire Sizes of the Cooper Evolution M/T
15″
- LT 31X10.50R15 109Q
- LT 33X12.50R15 108Q
- LT 35X12.50R15 113Q
16″
- LT 265/75R16 123/120Q
- LT 285/75R16 126/123Q
17″
- LT 265/70R17 121/118Q
- LT 285/70R17 121/118Q
- LT 295/70R17 121/118Q
- LT 35X12.50R17 121Q
18″
- LT 275/70R18 125/122Q
- LT 295/70R18 129/126Q
20″
- LT 35X12.50R20 121Q