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Cooper Discoverer HT3 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 99 + 326 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: Discoverer HT3 68, Discoverer S/T Maxx 67.

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Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx
Tire BCooper

Discoverer S/T Maxx

All Season

± 7

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.

  1. 68

    Dry

    Discoverer S/T Maxx +3
    71
    Why this score
    SourceDiscoverer HT3Discoverer S/T Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 68 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online6973

    Discoverer HT3: 60% × 68.2 (est.) + 40% × 68.6 = 68

    Discoverer S/T Maxx: 60% × 70.2 (est.) + 40% × 73.4 = 71

    No road tests of dry for Discoverer HT3. 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).

  2. 74

    Wet

    Discoverer HT3 +2
    72
    Why this score
    SourceDiscoverer HT3Discoverer S/T Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 74 (est.)≈ 72 (est.)
    Reviews found online7673

    Discoverer HT3: 60% × 73.5 (est.) + 40% × 75.9 = 74

    Discoverer S/T Maxx: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 72.8 = 72

    No road tests of wet for Discoverer HT3. 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).

  3. 64

    Snow

    Discoverer S/T Maxx +5
    69
    Why this score
    SourceDiscoverer HT3Discoverer S/T Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online5967

    Discoverer HT3: 60% × 66.9 (est.) + 40% × 59.1 = 64

    Discoverer S/T Maxx: 60% × 69.5 (est.) + 40% × 67.4 = 69

    No road tests of snow for Discoverer HT3. 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).

  4. 60

    Comfort

    Discoverer HT3 +1
    59
    Why this score
    SourceDiscoverer HT3Discoverer S/T Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online5655

    Discoverer HT3: 40% × 66.1 (est.) + 60% × 56.2 = 60

    Discoverer S/T Maxx: 40% × 65.8 (est.) + 60% × 54.7 = 59

    No road tests of comfort for Discoverer HT3. 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).

  5. 67

    Noise

    Discoverer HT3 +8
    59
    Why this score
    SourceDiscoverer HT3Discoverer S/T Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online6848

    Discoverer HT3: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 67.9 = 67

    Discoverer S/T Maxx: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 47.5 = 59

    No road tests of noise for Discoverer HT3 or Discoverer S/T Maxx. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 68

    Treadwear

    Discoverer HT3 +2
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDiscoverer HT3Discoverer S/T Maxx
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online6966

    Discoverer HT3: 60% × 67.4 (est.) + 40% × 69 = 68

    Discoverer S/T Maxx: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 66.2 = 66

    No road tests of treadwear for Discoverer HT3. 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).

  7. 66

    Handling (owners)

    Discoverer HT3 +14
    52
    Why this score
    SourceDiscoverer HT3Discoverer S/T Maxx
    Reviews found online6652
Scores at a glance
CategoryCooper Discoverer HT3Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx
Relative Score 68 67
Dry 68 71
Wet 74 72
Snow 64 69
Comfort 60 59
Noise 67 59
Treadwear 68 66
Handling (owners) 66 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.

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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Discoverer HT3

± 7

Discoverer S/T Maxx

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Discoverer HT3

Pros

  • Smooth and comfortable ride quality
  • Excellent performance and stability when towing heavy loads or fifth wheels
  • Good traction in rain and winter conditions

Cons

  • Some users report higher-than-expected road noise on certain vehicles
  • Treadwear may fall short of advertised or expected mileage milestones for some drivers
  • Isolated reports of structural failures or blowouts
All owner themes in the Discoverer HT3 review

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
All owner themes in the Discoverer S/T Maxx review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Cooper Discoverer HT3

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx

Positive

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 HT3 B · Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx
CategoryAll-Season tireAll Season
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available1730
Rim diameters15″ – 20″16″ – 20″
Tread depth14 - 15/32″19/32″
Treadwear warranty50,000 mi—
SidewallBlack Side WallBlack Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering
Max pressure50 - 83 psi35 - 80 psi
Sizes in common1313

Which one should you actually buy?

Cooper Discoverer HT3

Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx

Too close to call: Cooper Discoverer HT3 and Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx are within 2 points overall. Cooper Discoverer HT3 is stronger on handling and noise. Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx is stronger on snow and dry.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Cooper Discoverer HT3 scores 66 vs 52 on handling.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Cooper Discoverer HT3 scores 67 vs 59 on noise.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx scores 69 vs 64 on snow.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx scores 71 vs 68 on dry.

Tire A · Cooper Discoverer HT3
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx
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Discoverer HT3 or Discoverer S/T Maxx?

Which is better in the wet, Discoverer HT3 or Discoverer S/T Maxx?

Neither, by our numbers: 74 vs 72 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Discoverer HT3 or Discoverer S/T Maxx?

Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx, 71 vs 68 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Discoverer HT3 or Discoverer S/T Maxx?

Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx, 69 vs 64 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Discoverer HT3 or Discoverer S/T Maxx?

Cooper Discoverer HT3, 67 vs 59 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Discoverer HT3 or Discoverer S/T Maxx?

Neither, by our numbers: 60 vs 59 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Discoverer HT3 or Discoverer S/T Maxx?

Neither, by our numbers: 68 vs 66 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

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