Not all tires are made equal. Some of them are better for stability, performance, and traction while others excel when it comes to longevity, comfort, and efficiency. The very compounds from which tires are being constructed can be vastly different between two relatively similar-looking tires. If you add tire dimensions into the equation, you are expanding your options quite a bit.
Both the Firestone Destination AT2 and the Cooper Discoverer AT3 are all-terrain tires made for vehicles that can go anywhere at any time. Even though one could class these tires as identical when it comes to spec sheets, that is not exactly the case. If you want to find out why, be sure to read this article to find it.
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Firestone Destination AT2
The US-founded and based Firestone company has been in the business of making tires since the early 1900s. Since the inception of the brand, Firestone earned a decent reputation for making dependable, quality tires that are designed not to break your bank. Given the appeal Firestone was gathering back in the day, the tire giant Bridgestone bought Firestone which made the Firestone brand what it is today.
The Destination AT2 tire is a 3PMFT-rated all-season tire made for multi-purpose vehicles. The first iteration of the Destination model range offers better mild snow-driving characteristics, but the AT2 is an overall better performer in most instances. This is rather apparent the moment you compare these two in heavy snow conditions in which the 3PMFT-rated AT2s do outshine the AT1s.
The AT2s offer a slightly revised tread pattern, a more aggressive shoulder design, and wider grooves which should all increase traction in heavy snow and water. The AT2s are designed with great aquaplaning-deterring properties which means that digging into the ground is something the AT2s do admirably.
Cooper Discoverer AT3
The Cooper tire company was founded back in 1914. in Ohio USA. Throughout the years the Cooper company has been continuously offering well-designed all-purpose tires for all sorts of vehicles. Back in the 1960s., the company became publicly held and it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2021, Cooper was bought by Goodyear which only further reiterates the fact that Cooper makes impressive tires.
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 is an all-terrain tire available for a few different types of vehicles. The AT3 model range is primarily designed for on-road use, yet it can also be used off the beaten without any issues. The AT3s are winter rated which means that you should easily be able to tread through snowy and icy roads.
The AT3 is also a fairly impressive tire when it comes to dry conditions, especially since it is an all-terrain tire. The AT3s are what we can call a jack of all trades which means that they tend to perform well in most conditions. If you want to know the specifics, we will outline the pros of both tires in the following paragraphs.
What Are The Pros Of The Firestone Destination AT2 tire?
The Firestone Destination AT2 is a well-rounded tire which means that it offers quite a few benefits. First of all, they come with a 55,000-mile treadwear warranty which means that you should expect an impressive performance for quite a while.
We have already mentioned that the AT2s are 3PMSF rated which means that they are three-peak mountain snowflake tires that can be used in very deep snow. This ensures class-leading snow performance without sacrificing on-road comfort.
Speaking of on-road driving, the AT2s offer plenty of grip and traction in almost every instance. They are quiet and fairly comfortable thanks to thicker sidewalls. They offer excellent aquaplaning resistance and Firestone is eager to mention that quite a bit as this means that the AT2s are designed to dig into heavy snow, water, and slush without any issues.
Thanks to its robust design, the AT2s can tackle almost every terrain, especially when it comes to dirt roads, mud, and sand without being overbearing on the road. The AT2 is indeed a well-rounded tire, but before we square them with the Cooper Discoverer AT3s, we first need to outline the benefits of the Discoverer AT3s.
What Are The Pros Of The Cooper Discoverer AT3 Tire?
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 tire model range is designed to offer excellent on-road driving characteristics while also being comfortable and great for all types of tricky environments. The AT3s are also 3PMSF rated which means that they should also be more than enough for snow and ice.
The AT3s come with a 65,000-mile tread life warranty which ensures optimal performance for even longer. The Cooper AT3s come with the Cooper’s exclusive Advanced Traction Technology and Saw Tooth Technology which are both designed to increase traction in all types of scenarios, especially on snowy roads.
The tread design on the AT3s is designed with a zig-zag shape in mind in order to boost snow trapping which ultimately creates a better bond with the snow and thus increases traction significantly. The AT3s tend to exceed most expectations when it comes to snow and ice while also being more than adequate for on-road use.
It’s safe to say that the AT3s are also decently comfortable when compared to most all-terrain tires thanks to a double-ply polyester casing design which irons out road surface imperfection impressively. However, they do tend to be on the louder side.
What Are The Main Differences Between The Firestone Destination AT2 And The Cooper Discoverer AT3?
Now it’s time to put these two in a head-to-head battle to find out which one of these is the superior choice. We will see how they compare when it comes to treadwear, off-road performance, on-road performance, snow-driving, comfort, price, and warranty.
Anyway, both of these are impressive which means that you should be satisfied with either of them. Some people also compare these looks-wise, but it’s safe to say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Treadwear: Firestone Destination AT2 vs Cooper Discoverer AT3
No matter how well-performing a set of tires can be, all tires are useless if they wear out too quickly, especially if they also cost a lot of money. Thankfully, both the Firestone Destination AT2s and the Cooper Discoverer AT3s are not such tires because these are designed to cope with various driving environments which means that they should be able to do their job admirably.
Both Firestone and Cooper use their own proprietary treadwear technologies in order to make sure that the treadwear is consistent and predictable. The performance of both of these tires is likely going to diminish rapidly after you cross the 2/32-inch mark, but until then, they are identical.
Winner: It’s a draw
Off-road Performance: Firestone Destination AT2 vs Cooper Discoverer AT3
Both of these tires are off-road-capable, but they are not dedicated off-road tires. First of all, the Firestone Destination AT2 tires can tackle all sorts of terrain, but they are not as competent when it comes to more serious off-roading. It’s the very same case with the Cooper Discoverer AT3 because these are also not dedicated off-road tires.
This means that both of these are not the very best when it comes to serious off-roading, but in most instances, they should do the trick. However, when you put these head-to-head, the Firestone Destination AT2’s seem a tad bit better.
Winner: Firestone Destination AT2
On-road Performance: Firestone Destination AT2 vs Cooper Discoverer AT3
It is a known fact that hardly any manufacturer out there is able to make quality tires for all types of terrains. However, you’d be surprised as to how well the Firestone Destination AT2s do on the tarmac. They are comfortable, quiet, and very well controlled which makes them a perfect balance between off-road tires and road tires.
The Cooper Discoverer AT3s are also more than capable of delivering a stellar performance both on-road and off-road. They might not be as quiet as the Firestone Destination AT2’s, but they do hold better traction in a variety of different instances. Either way, both of these are great for a daily commute, yet if you had to pick one, go for the Cooper Discoverer AT3.
Winner: Cooper Discoverer AT3
Snow-driving Performance: Firestone Destination AT2 vs Cooper Discoverer AT3
Driving through snow represents an entirely different set of challenges which means that snow driving is one of those environments that can either make a tire or break a tire. Thankfully this is not the case as both the Firestone Destination AT2s and the Cooper Discoverer AT3s are 3PMSF-rated tires which means that they are more than capable when it comes to light snow and deep snow driving.
However, this is also a category in which the Cooper Discoverer AT3s have proved to be more capable because of the zig-zag tread pattern that tends to increase traction in the snow.
The Cooper Discoverer AT3s are also using a special silica compound which helps with softening the tire when the temperatures are extremely low. As such, the Cooper AT3s definitely exceeded most expectations when it comes to snow driving, so much so that it’s hard to believe that the AT3s are not dedicated snow tires. On the other hand, the Firestone AT2s are also great, but not as great as the AT3s.
Winner: Cooper Discoverer AT3
Comfort: Firestone Destination AT2 vs Cooper Discoverer AT3
We have already mentioned that these tires are not made for hardcore off-roading which means that both Firestone and Cooper expect you to use these tires on a daily basis. In this category, it is a bit more difficult to pick a clear winner because both of these excel in different areas. The Firestone AT2s are not as comfortable as the AT3s over harsh road imperfections while the AT3s are noticeably louder.
Both of these offer a relatively high sidewall which means that they are able to flex more over road undulations. However, the Cooper Discoverer AT3s seem to be a bit louder and a bit more prone to vibrations.
Winner: Firestone Destination AT2
Price: Firestone Destination AT2 vs Cooper Discoverer AT3
Money talks, so it’s easy to understand when a more expensive tire offers better overall performance. However, this is not the case here as both of these are more than capable of trading punches in a variety of different categories which indeed makes it challenging to pick a final winner. The final decision is even more difficult to make when you realize that you can get both of these for almost the same amount of money.
A Cooper Discoverer AT3 265/70/R17 tire can be had for $201.99 at Walmart at the time of writing this article while a Firestone Destination AT2 265/70R17 can also be found at Walmart for $195.88. This means that these two are almost identical, but a head-to-head battle requires us to pick a winner, which in this case is the AT2.
Winner: Firestone Destination AT2
Warranty: Firestone Destination AT2 vs Cooper Discoverer AT3
The Firestone Discoverer AT2 comes with a 55,000-mile tread warranty which is a 5,000-mile upgrade over the 1st gen AT2s. This is obviously because Firestone does believe that the AT2’s should indeed last more than its predecessors. On the other hand, the Cooper Discoverer AT3 comes with an even more impressive 65,000-mile tread warranty.
Winner: Cooper Discoverer AT3
Why Should I Pick Firestone AT2 Over Cooper Discoverer AT3?
- Slightly better off-road performance
- Slightly more comfortable
- Noticeably quieter
- Cheaper
Why Should I Pick Cooper Discoverer AT3 Over Firestone AT2?
- Better in snow
- Better in wet conditions
- Better in the snow
- Better warranty
Wrap Up
Both the Firestone Destination AT2 and the Cooper Discoverer AT3 are great all-terrain tires, but they are not the same. You ought to go for the Firestone Destination AT3s if you don’t spend all that much time in the snow and if you want the quietest driving experience possible. The price difference between these two is rather minimal, so that should not be an issue.
On the other hand, you should go for the Cooper Destination AT3s if you encounter snow often, especially deep snow and low temperatures. The Destination AT3s are also superior when it comes to wet conditions even though the AT2s are not far behind.
