ppl like to talk crap about e rated tires when they don't know what it even means anymore. not all e rated tires are created equal. the st is lighter because they don't have as much rubber in the sidewalls sure, but this means they are not as tough also. i run the coopers on my reg cab f150 and just ordered some 255/85/16's for my 2015 2dr jk. i want a tire that i'm not worried about getting popped by a stick when im on a trail. yes they are a sitffer tire but they can be run with less air in them to balance the ride out and you still have a tough tire. the ride and wear on these things is great! i have never bought the same tire 2x in a row until these. don't let the weight scare you off, you might get a slight bit less mph in the same size from tire to tire but there's a reason why cooper has put these out there and this is to replace the st. if you want the maxx go for it!

 

There's a large review thread @ Overland Journal re: the ST Maxx:

Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx - Expedition Portal

 

Thanks guys!
Bjeepz - would airing down the tires to improve the ride cause them to wear improperly or excessively?

I think I have now narrowed it down to the Coopers and Duratracs, but the Duratracs are a bit pricey!

 

Speaking from having recently purchased the the ST/Maxx tire:

1.) Make sure to check Cooper Tire's website for available sizes and load ratings. If necessary, browse all of the sizes. If you call around and can't find a dealer with the right size tire and load rating, call up Cooper Tire's Customer Service in Findlay, Ohio to check the availability of a specific size. (Earlier this year, I needed to do that. At that point in time,I was informed that the factory was starting another production run of the size I wanted.) And yes, the ST/Maxx does come in a "C" load rating in some sizes.

2.) They don't signficantly impact mpg ratings at all. I've observed maybe a +/-2 mpg variance at most. This factors in off-road, city, and highway driving conditions. The variance I've observed is likely due to human behavior and not the tire.

3.) With the ST/Maxx, there really isn't a need to go with an "E" load rating on the tire. The "C" load rated tire should be plenty tough for most off-roaders. Once you see them in person, you'll understand.

4.) My experience on varying road surfaces (now including water crossings), has been that the tires really do live up to 50% off-road/50% on-road tire description.

 

Thanks for your input! Unfortunately, they don't come in a C load in the size I was looking for (285/70 17).

 

i run the 285/70/17 on my full size f150. i just posted up in the thread on expedition portal also, with a link to my 21000+km trip from this summer. jeeps are quite bit lighter than my ford was on this trip. the lower pressure should be chalk tested for proper tread wear. i have nothing bad to say about them. in the past i have always ran mud terrain tires, for example i ran 2 different interco swamper tires, the older cooper mud terrains, dick cepek mud countries.. while these do not perform as well in really mucky situations they are better everywhere else i ran them.

 

I just put a set of the S/T Maxx on my JKURX and so far I'm in love. The ride is better than the OEM BFG KM's (even though these are load range E). Plus they are super quiet. Haven't been off road with them yet, but most of my off road is at the beach in sand. These S/T Maxx's will be better in sand than the KM's.
Went with the 295 70 R17.

 

It's true that the ST Maxx is HEAVY. And it's also true that weight will hurt fuel economy, braking distance, etc. But if you need a really tough tire for rocks and stumps on the trail this is a great tire because it has the 3-ply sidewall and commercial grade rubber compound.

A 285/75-16 ST Maxx on a 16x8.5" alloy wheel goes almost 90 lbs!! If you go from the stock wheel/tire combo (62 lbs.) to something like this you ARE going to notice it! But, again, some people would rather have all that extra weight on their rig than change a flat on the trail. So it's a tradeoff.

 

The ST is more of a classic AT (albeit a mild one) where as the Maxx is a new generation AT/MT hybrid. The MT part of the Maxx includes tougher sidewalls and more aggressive tread on the shoulders. This equates to more weight and slightly more noise.The Maxx will provide more traction off road but only you can decide if you need the more aggressive tread.

The reason you see so much discrepancy in reviews is that this the first Jeep for a noticeable percentage of current owners as indicated by the explosion of Jeep sales. If you are used to driving Jeeps or pickups then your expectation of ride quality and fuel economy are much different than if you are accustomed to driving a car with a soft, quite ride and better fuel economy.