The Off-Road Championship (TORC) series drivers and teams sponsored by Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. have used – and even achieved pole status – with Cooper’s Discoverer STT tire. So when the tiremaker introduced the STT Pro to media, the question was, “Why mess with something that’s not broken?”
The tiremaker believes it has improved the STT’s performance, offering drivers much more in terms of performance. The high void light truck tire boasts “exceptional traction and performance in some of the harshest terrains on Earth,” the company said.
Harsh terrain includes mud, which the STT Pro handles better than its predecessor. The mud-slinging Discoverer STT Pro’s aggressive off-road tread pattern contains mud release dimples along the shoulder tread block walls that help prevent mud from sticking and aiding in self cleaning.
The tire also features a full three-ply carcass construction, Armor-Tek3, in the tread and sidewall. The third ply overlays the two normal radial plies at a “unique optimal angle to maximize carcass protection in extreme off-road conditions,” the tiremaker stated.
In addition to these features, the STT Pro features side-biter cleats for increased traction and grip in muddy or soft terrains and in rock crawling situations. Anti-stone retention features in the tread design help resist stone drilling and impact damage. Variable depth siping helps reduce cutting and chipping at the ends of the sipes by minimizing stress concentrations, the company stated.
“As part of Cooper’s leading Discoverer tire line, the STT Pro delivers exceptional traction and performance in some of the harshest terrains on Earth,” said Scott Jamieson, Cooper’s Director of Product Management. “The STT Pro is an aggressive, high-performance tire that will thrill off-road adventurers with its impressive traction in the thickest mud, across rocky terrain and in all types of challenging conditions. Yet, it delivers a smooth, reliable ride on the street, making this tire an outstanding solution for the growing number of outdoor enthusiasts that will spend at least part of this summer exploring camp grounds, lakes and trails and must get to and from these destinations on the same tire they use for these heavy-duty outdoor adventures.”
Currently, Cooper is offering the STT Pro in 41 sizes for dealers to order. First shipments should hit retailers in mid-June, a Cooper representative said. STT Pro is available in Q and R speed ratings, load range C, D and E, and wheel diameters 15 through 22 inches. The tire’s overall diameter runs up to 37 inches, and its width up to 13.5 inches.
