Mastercraft vs Cooper Tires

Mastercraft and Cooper stand at opposite ends of the tire industry. On the top end is Cooper, the 14^th largest tire manufacturer globally, with annual sales of over $2 billion. On the other end sits Mastercraft, targeting budget-minded drivers with its affordable prices.

However, the fact that Cooper targets well-heeled buyers doesn’t mean that its paths never cross with Mastercraft. Or that both these tire brands don’t try to steal each other’s customers. There are various areas in which Mastercraft and Cooper tires go head-to-head.

Need proof? Take the example of Mastercraft SRT and any of Cooper’s all-season touring tires. Both are aimed at drivers who use their passenger cars or SUVs for everyday driving. Their road manners, dry and wet performances, and tread lives are also remarkably similar.

All in all, choosing between Mastercraft and Cooper tires isn’t as easy as some drivers make it to be. For this reason, we’ve developed this guide comparing these tires on various key metrics, including performance, availability of options, price, and tread warranties.

Mastercraft Tires History

Mastercraft Tires have been around since 1909. During the first few years of its existence, the company produced replacement wooden tires (yes, such tires did exist). Mastercraft was also among the pioneers of tires for bicycles and motorcycles.

A monumental change in the company’s fortunes took place in 1930, the year in which it was acquired by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. The change in ownership saw Mastercraft focus its energies on producing tires for cars, trucks, and other vehicles.

Another change in ownership followed 91 years later. In June 2021, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced that it had completed its acquisition of Copper Tires. The transaction saw Cooper and Mastercraft becoming Goodyear’s subsidiaries.

Despite the changes in ownership over the decades, one thing has stayed the same for Mastercraft. That is the tire manufacturer’s mission to supply affordable, high-quality tires. This goal distinguishes Mastercraft from premium as well as cheap tire brands.

Mastercraft’s Tire Families

Four main families complete Mastercraft’s tire lineup. These include Courser, Glacier, Stratus, Avenger and SRT. While some of these families are incredibly diverse, such as the Courser lineup, which comprises all-season, all-terrain, and performance tires. Others are less so.

Courser

Multiple tires populate the Courser lineup, including:

• All-Season: The Courser Quest and Quest Plus use their enhanced silica tread compound and optimized tread profile for increased grip in wet and snowy conditions and enhanced handling on dry roads.
• All-Terrain: After the addition of Courser Trail and Trail HD, the Courser’s all-terrain lineup contains four A/T tires. You can rely on these models for highway driving as well as for journeys beyond the asphalt.
• Highway: Thanks to its excellent dry and wet performance, long-lasting wear, and 50,000-mile treadwear guarantee, the Courser HXT can give competition to rival highway tires costing twice as much.
• Mud-Terrain: If your guide on the best cheap mud tires didn’t convince you that quality M/T tires need not to blow a hole in your pocket, the Courser MTX should be enough to persuade you in favor of the same.

Glacier

Dedicated winter tires populate Mastercraft’s Glacier series.

The first of which is the Glacier Trex, a stud-capable model that can enhance your car’s snow performance. However, if you drive a truck or SUV in harsh conditions, the Glacier MSR might prove to be a better pick. Bear in mind, though, that both tires don’t come with a treadwear warranty.

Stratus

Two tires complete the Mastercraft Stratus lineup.

These include the Stratus HT, a dependable highway tire for SUVs and pickup trucks. This tire enhances its reputation with excellent dry and wet performance and a 50,000-mile tread warranty. It is joined by Stratus AP, an all-season tire with a similar warranty.

Avenger

The Avenger series consists of relatively affordable, high-performance tires.

Both tires belonging to this family won’t just make your car incredibly competent on the road, helping it make quick passes on the highway. In addition, their stylish design and bold lettering will also make the Avenger G/T and Avenger M8 the envy of fellow drivers.

Cooper Tires History

Many people don’t know that Cooper is younger than Mastercraft. The US tire giant was founded in 1914, exactly five years after the founders of Mastercraft laid the company’s roots. Another thing you may not be aware of is that this company’s original name was M & M Manufacturing.

It was only after its founders bought Giant Tire and Rubber Company that the name Cooper Tire & Rubber Company was adopted. The name change was followed by shifting the company’s headquarters from Akron to Findlay. It was also then that Cooper started producing tires.

The upheaval of the initial years didn’t have any impact on the company’s finances though. Had that been the case, Cooper wouldn’t have been able to complete the Mastercraft acquisition, which it did in 1934 to expand its portfolio of vehicle tires.

At the time of writing, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is worth over $3 billion. It sells its products in over 100 countries worldwide and has major tire brands as its subsidiaries.

Cooper’s Tire Families

Seven families complete Cooper’s tire lineup. They range from all-season touring and ultra-touring (Endeavor, CS) to performance tires (Zeon and Discoverer), and from winter (WeatherMaster and WM) to summer models (Evolution). Let’s discuss all Cooper tire families in detail.

Endeavor

Three all-season touring and ultra-touring tires populate the Endeavor series. These include the Cooper Endeavor, Endeavor Tour, and Endeavor Plus. The first two tires can go on passenger cars, while the Endeavor Plus can cater to the demands of SUVs and CUVs.

That is where their differences end. All three tires offer excellent road manners, dry and wet performances, and long treadwear warranties. Plus, you can count on them to safely carry you from point A to point B in light wintry conditions. 

CS

The CS family is perhaps the most famous of Cooper’s tire lineups, mainly due to the qualities of the CS5 Ultra Touring and CS5 Grand Touring.

Both these grand touring tires come with class-leading treadwear warranties, meaning you won’t need to replace them anytime soon. Another thing that distinguishes them from rivals is their ride quality, which is so plush it can put your fellow passengers to sleep.

Zeon

Looking for high-performance tires on a budget? Cooper’s Zeon series may have just the kind of models you’re looking for.

Take, for instance, the Zeon RS3-G1. This ultra-high-performance summer tire costs much less than rival tires from Goodyear and Bridgestone. But its features – 45,000-mile treadwear warranty, superb dry grip, excellent cornering performance – won’t let you guess its actual asking price. 

WM and Weather Master

Super-flexible tread compounds? Check. Optimized tread pattern for superior snow grip? Present. Aggressive biting edges to help you plow through snow and ice? Yup. All these qualities make the Cooper WM and Weather Master tires reliable for winter driving.

However, as good as these tires are, they cannot compete with the Bridgestone Blizzak or Michelin X-Ice series, considered the gold standard for winter tires. So, if money is no object, the WM and WeatherMaster tires shouldn’t be your first pick for winter driving.

Evolution

The Cooper Evolution series comprise all-season, all-weather, touring, summer, winter, and off-road tires. Models belonging to this family can go on cars, SUVs, and light trucks. Such an extensive collection of models makes it the most diverse of Cooper’s tire families.

Mastercraft Vs Cooper Tires: Differences

Here are the major differences between Mastercraft and Cooper tires:

Performance

Cooper tires fare better in the performance department.

Their unique tread patterns and aggressive shoulder blocks help them offer enhanced grip, steering response, and cornering performance.

Sure, these models aren’t as sports-car friendly as their counterparts from Bridgestone or Goodyear. But compared with Mastercraft tires, Cooper’s high-performance models will help you win more races.

Availability of Options

There’s a tie when it comes to the availability of options.

Both Cooper and Mastercraft offer dedicated models for all-season, winter, high-performance, and off-road driving. The range of tires is complemented by size – both these brands’ tires can cover passenger cars, SUVs, light trucks, and CUVs.

Price and Warranty

Mastercraft tires will weigh less heavily on your pocket.

At the same time, their treadwear warranties can compete with those of Cooper’s. For instance, the Mastercraft LSR Grand Touring is backed to last up to 80,000 miles, the same tread coverage that Cooper offers on the CS5 Grand Touring.

Advantages of Mastercraft Tires

• Wide size range
• Extended treadwear warranties
• Excellent all-season touring tires

Advantages of Cooper

• Better high-performance tires
• Easier tire availability
• Durable and long-lasting treads

Mastercraft Vs Cooper Tires: Which Brand to Choose?

Cooper and Mastercraft are both well-known tire brands.

Cooper tires offer excellent road manners, dry and wet performances, and tread life warranties. They also come in an extensive range of sizes and can fit most cars, CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks. As such, if easy tire availability is your main concern, opt for Cooper.

Mastercraft tires are worth a shot if you want excellent value for money. That is especially the case with this brand’s touring and grand touring tires, which double down on their affordable asking price with market-leading treadwear warranties.