Cooper WeatherMaster SA2+ review
Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners
Better than 15% of the winter tires we score.
Owners 63 · 6 reviews analysed Road tests 57 · 6 tests
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Cooper WeatherMaster SA2+ has a Relative Score of 59 out of 100 among winter tires. In 10 road tests with an overall ranking it finished first 0 times and in the top three 0 times. Testers rate it best for wet (81) and weakest for snow (44). 6 owner reviews rate it 63 out of 100. 60% would buy it again.
Projected tread life in 1 wear test: about 30,000 km (19,000 miles), newest 2020.
- Weak point: Treadwear 51 — 20th of 20 (2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter tire Test)
- Weak point: Dry 50 — 10th of 10 (2017 Sport Auto Winter tire Test), 10th of 10 (2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter tire Test)
- Weak point: Snow 44 — 10th of 10 (2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter tire Test), 20th of 20 (2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter tire Test)
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews found online; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
How scores work
- Relative score
- 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
- Road tests
- 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
- Owner reviews
- 0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.
By owner reviews
63/100From 6 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.
By road tests
57/100Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 6 owner reviews found online.
Reviewers generally regard the Cooper Weather Master SA2+ as a good-value cold-weather tire that is comfortable and stable in wet and light winter conditions, with long wear. Opinions split on severe snow and ice and on handling, with some praising winter capability and others calling it average or reporting vague, unsettling cornering feedback.
Pros
- Strong value for the price, with several reviewers saying it is hard to beat and would buy again
- Good wet-weather grip and stability, with a comfortable, soft ride
- Capable in cold conditions and light or easy snow, and usable across mixed wet, dry, snow and ice on a long trip
- Long distance coverage with minimal wear reported
Cons
- Snow and ice performance is only average in heavy snow or on ice, with one reviewer moving to a Nordic-compound tire for extra grip
- Handling and road feedback criticized, with one reviewer describing fast cornering as scary despite good grip
- Dry performance is limited, as the tire reportedly overheats quickly and loses grip when driven spiritedly
- Only an OK all-rounder, best suited to cold months rather than warm-weather use
Worth knowing
- A Subaru Legacy 3.0R owner reported the tire handled severe winter conditions (the 'beast from the east') without problems
- One reviewer notes that the SA2+ name covers two different tires: 13-16 inch sizes (T speed rating) are reportedly made in Serbia, and 17 inch and larger sizes with higher speed ratings are made in the UK. Reportedly these have different compounds and tread designs, so experiences may differ by size
- Most reviews do not give vehicle or size details, which limits size-specific conclusions
10 published test appearances (6 in the score)
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2021 Winter tire Market Overview · 205/55 R16
22nd of 49
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 15th of 49 | |
| Snow Braking | 30th of 49 |
Source: Auto Bild
2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter tire Test · 245/45 R18
20th of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 12th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 15th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 18th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 20th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 20th of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 19th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 20th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 19th of 20 | |
| Straight Aquaplaning | 2nd of 20 | |
| Noise | 16th of 20 | |
| Value | 5th of 20 | |
| Wear | 20th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 16th of 20 |
Source: Auto Bild
2020 Winter tire Market Overview - 52 tire Braking Test · 245/45 R18
16th of 48
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 13th of 48 | |
| Snow Braking | 25th of 48 |
Source: Auto Bild
2019 Winter tire Test Market Overview · 225/45 R17
26th of 47
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 10th of 47 | |
| Snow Braking | 28th of 47 |
Source: Auto Bild
2018 51 Winter tire Shootout · 195/65 R15
25th of 52
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2017 Sport Auto Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18
8th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 6th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 10th of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 7th of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 9th of 10 |
Source: Sport Auto
2017 50 Winter tire Shoot Out · 225/50 R17
24th of 45
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2017 235/55 R17 SUV Winter tire Test · 235/55 R17
8th of 8
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18
10th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 7th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 10th of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 10th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 9th of 10 | |
| Straight Aquaplaning | 3rd of 10 | |
| Noise | 7th of 10 |
Source: Auto Motor und Sport
2016 AutoBild Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16
16th of 20
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
Reviews from our readers
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