Tests – · none yet Owners 82 · 800 reviews
“New shoes this week, Cooper Discoverer At3 XLT. I’m really impressed so far.”
Head-to-head
Updated
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT vs Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 0 + 0 road tests and 800 + 326 owner reviews. How we score
Discoverer AT3 XLT is ahead, 78–67
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Tests – · none yet Owners 67 · 326 reviews
“Personally a huge fan of the Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx great on and offroad. Quite on road.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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79
Dry
Discoverer AT3 XLT +871Why this score
Source Discoverer AT3 XLT Discoverer S/T Maxx Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 75 (est.) ≈ 70 (est.) Reviews found online 85 73 Discoverer AT3 XLT: 60% × 75.1 (est.) + 40% × 85.3 = 79
Discoverer S/T Maxx: 60% × 70.2 (est.) + 40% × 73.4 = 71
No road tests of dry for Discoverer AT3 XLT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
No road tests of dry for Discoverer S/T Maxx. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
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83
Wet
Discoverer AT3 XLT +1172Why this score
Source Discoverer AT3 XLT Discoverer S/T Maxx Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 80 (est.) ≈ 72 (est.) Reviews found online 87 73 Discoverer AT3 XLT: 60% × 79.7 (est.) + 40% × 87.2 = 83
Discoverer S/T Maxx: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 72.8 = 72
No road tests of wet for Discoverer AT3 XLT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
No road tests of wet for Discoverer S/T Maxx. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
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71
Snow
Discoverer AT3 XLT +269Why this score
Source Discoverer AT3 XLT Discoverer S/T Maxx Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 71 (est.) ≈ 70 (est.) Reviews found online 72 67 Discoverer AT3 XLT: 60% × 70.9 (est.) + 40% × 71.7 = 71
Discoverer S/T Maxx: 60% × 69.5 (est.) + 40% × 67.4 = 69
No road tests of snow for Discoverer AT3 XLT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
No road tests of snow for Discoverer S/T Maxx. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
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77
Comfort
Discoverer AT3 XLT +1859Why this score
Source Discoverer AT3 XLT Discoverer S/T Maxx Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 71 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 80 55 Discoverer AT3 XLT: 40% × 71 (est.) + 60% × 80.3 = 77
Discoverer S/T Maxx: 40% × 65.8 (est.) + 60% × 54.7 = 59
No road tests of comfort for Discoverer AT3 XLT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
No road tests of comfort for Discoverer S/T Maxx. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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73
Noise
Discoverer AT3 XLT +1459Why this score
Source Discoverer AT3 XLT Discoverer S/T Maxx Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 82 48 Discoverer AT3 XLT: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 82.4 = 73
Discoverer S/T Maxx: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 47.5 = 59
No road tests of noise for Discoverer AT3 XLT or Discoverer S/T Maxx. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
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74
Treadwear
Discoverer AT3 XLT +866Why this score
Source Discoverer AT3 XLT Discoverer S/T Maxx Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 71 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 79 66 Discoverer AT3 XLT: 60% × 71.2 (est.) + 40% × 79.4 = 74
Discoverer S/T Maxx: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 66.2 = 66
No road tests of treadwear for Discoverer AT3 XLT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for Discoverer S/T Maxx. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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78
Handling (owners)
Discoverer AT3 XLT +2652Why this score
Source Discoverer AT3 XLT Discoverer S/T Maxx Reviews found online 78 52
Scores at a glance
| Category | Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT | Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 78 | 67 |
| Dry | 79 | 71 |
| Wet | 83 | 72 |
| Snow | 71 | 69 |
| Comfort | 77 | 59 |
| Noise | 73 | 59 |
| Treadwear | 74 | 66 |
| Handling (owners) | 78 | 52 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
78
/ 100
Discoverer AT3 XLT
67
/ 100
Discoverer S/T Maxx
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Discoverer AT3 XLT
Pros
- Significantly lower road noise than comparable aggressive all-terrain tires
- Excellent wet weather, snow, and slush traction
- Sturdy sidewalls and stable performance when towing heavy loads
Cons
- Some users report difficulty with balancing, leading to vibrations or a rough ride
- Tread life occasionally falls short of expectations for certain drivers
- Can struggle or get gummed up in deep mud
Tire B Discoverer S/T Maxx
Pros
- Aggressive all-terrain tread pattern that excels in dirt, gravel, sand, and moderate mud
- Surprisingly quiet and smooth ride on the highway for such a rugged tire
- Exceptional sidewall strength and puncture resistance against sharp rocks and debris
Cons
- Faster-than-expected tread wear for some users, particularly on heavier duty or lighter vehicles
- Subpar wet pavement traction, specifically in cold or greasy conditions
- Stiff ride quality and potential handling vagueness or steering pull if pressures are not meticulously tuned
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Positive
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT
Community members report high satisfaction with the Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT, highlighting its quiet ride, long tread life, and strong winter performance. Several owners praise its smooth ride quality and durability under towing conditions compared to rival all-terrain tires. Discussion also commonly centers around sizing, fitment, and snow ratings.
r/Offroad
·1 upvote ·2025-10-02
“I’ve run Hankook dynapro’s, BFG ko2, Nokian outpost nat, and fallen wild peaks. Currently running Cooper discoverer AT3 XLT - they are definitely the quietest all terrains I’ve had. I would recommend them if they are available in your size - many places like simpletire or priority tire carry them.”
r/ram_trucks
·22 upvotes ·2021-11-19
“New Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT 275/75R20 these ride way better than my old Open Country A/T II”
r/f150
·51 upvotes ·2021-12-30
“New shoes this week, Cooper Discoverer At3 XLT. I’m really impressed so far.”
Top themes
#low road noise#tread longevity and wear#snow and winter traction#tire sizing and fitment#ride quality and comfort#towing performance
Based on 13 community posts
Tire B
Positive
Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx
The community generally praises the Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx for its exceptional dual-purpose performance, offering low road noise and strong traction across various off-road conditions like mud, rocks, and sand. Users note good handling while towing heavy loads, though some mention a slight softness or different feel during cornering that does not negatively impact overall safety. While initial purchase costs can be high, overall satisfaction is very high with many loyal repeat customers.
bobistheoilguy.com
·2019-06-30
“Interesting, I'm considering a Cooper Discoverer A/T3 Sport or Discoverer S/T Maxx in 245/70r16 for my Nissan. All of the reviews are excellent and have been recommended from friends using both types, one on little Suzuki Jimny and one on GC 2.7 diesel. According to them they are great both on pavement and off road, with GC driver being long time off roader.”
r/ToyotaTundra
·2 upvotes ·2026-10-10
“Personally a huge fan of the Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx great on and offroad. Quite on road.”
duramaxforum.com
·2012-09-10
“I have 285/75-r16 on my f-150 and love them. I've put them through hell (rocks, mud, sand, rim breaking in half and truck skidding down the road on it) and the have held up amazing. My old set of cooper st's last around 60k and still had a little life left. Ill never run any thing but coopers now. and for the record i had that tire checked out by 3 different tire shops and they all said it was fine.”
Top themes
#on and off road traction#low road noise#heavy towing performance#durability and toughness#cornering feel#aggressive appearance
Based on 11 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT | B · Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All-Terrain tire | All Season |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 4 | 30 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 16″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 16 - 18/32″ | 19/32″ |
| Treadwear warranty | 60,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall - Raised White Lettering | Black Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering |
| Max pressure | 35 - 80 psi | 35 - 80 psi |
| Sizes in common | 3 | 3 |
Which one should you actually buy?
78
/ 100
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT
67
/ 100
Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx
Winner: Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT — better handling, comfort and noise. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT scores 78 vs 52 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT scores 77 vs 59 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT scores 73 vs 59 on noise.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT scores 83 vs 72 on wet.
Tire A · Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT
Tire B · Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx
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Discoverer AT3 XLT or Discoverer S/T Maxx?
Which is better in the wet, Discoverer AT3 XLT or Discoverer S/T Maxx?
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT, 83 vs 72 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Discoverer AT3 XLT or Discoverer S/T Maxx?
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT, 79 vs 71 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Discoverer AT3 XLT or Discoverer S/T Maxx?
Neither, by our numbers: 71 vs 69 on the snow score, within 3 points.
Which is quieter, Discoverer AT3 XLT or Discoverer S/T Maxx?
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT, 73 vs 59 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Discoverer AT3 XLT or Discoverer S/T Maxx?
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT, 77 vs 59 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Discoverer AT3 XLT or Discoverer S/T Maxx?
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT, 74 vs 66 on our treadwear score.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology