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Firestone and Cooper are two very old tire manufacturers born in the USA and both of them have roots in Ohio. While Firestone was founded in 1900 in Akron, Ohio, Cooper was conceptualized in 1914 in Akron, Ohio, and in 1960, it became a publicly held corporation. What’s more interesting is that both of these tire brands later got acquired by the other two world-class tire giants. Firestone is owned by Bridgestone and Cooper is a subsidiary of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
The Destination and Discoverer tires are the two most popular mud-terrain tires offered by Firestone and Cooper respectively. Both of these manufacturers have put plenty of effort, research, and time into making their range of tires globally-inspiring. New-gen technologies, innovative tread patterns, higher strength levels, exceptional traction performance, and superior quality of materials make the tires from these brands stand out. The ‘Destination M/T2’ and the ‘Cooper Discoverer STT Pro’ are the two most dependable and highly aggressive mud-terrain tires that are engineered to let you hit challenging terrains in any off-road environment. Rock, mud, dirt, or anything else, these tires can let you experience the adrenaline rush and experience the adventures fully.
There’s no doubt both of these tires are exceptionally great but there has to be one of these that’s better in some or the other way. Therefore, we present to you this Firestone Destination M/T2 vs Cooper Discoverer STT Pro comparison to give you an unbiased analysis based on SimpleScore ratings. So, find out where each tire excels!
Firestone Destination M/T2 tires
Launched in 2017, the Firestone Destination M/T2 is a mud-terrain tire made for use on light trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs. It sports an aggressive-looking symmetrical tread pattern that’s engineered to explore challenging terrains in off-road conditions and even keeps you grounded on the road. The tire is optimized for superior strength and durability and provides the much-required traction in adventure-worthy terrains, including wet and snowy conditions.
Overall, the Destination M/T2 tires score an admirable 8.3 SimpleScore rating, kudos to its increased traction performance, solid durability, and outstanding longevity.
Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires
The Cooper Discoverer STT Pro was released in 2015 and can be used on light trucks and SUVs. With year-round usability, this mud-terrain tire offers the ability to successfully conquer the toughest of terrains. It boasts advanced technology, a solid rubber compound, and robust construction to let the drivers dominate off-road terrains confidently. Whether you want to explore rocky surfaces, dirt conditions, or muddy terrains, it has abilities to let you drive with greater confidence in all such conditions.
Overall, the Discoverer STT Pro tires score a great 8.2 out of 10 SimpleScore, which is because of its remarkable durability, superior traction performance, and long-lasting usability.
Firestone Destination M/T2 vs Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires on traction
When it comes to mud-terrain tires, traction plays an important role. As these tires are required to run on muddy, soft, or loose surfaces, they need that extra traction to apply that extra force to sail the vehicle through such rugged conditions. Mud tires also typically feature deep lugs and aggressive tread design which further boosts their ability to bite the terrain and provide the needed traction that propels the vehicle forward. So, if you’ve to drive on mud, dirt, sand, gravel, and rocks, mud-terrains get abundant traction to let you enjoy the best off-roading experience.
The Firestone Destination M/T2 sports an admirable 8.4 out of 10 SimpleScore rating in traction and comes with similar capabilities discussed above. This mud-terrain tire features an aggressive tread pattern with ‘attack angles’ to maintain surefootedness even on the harshest terrains. The Mud and Stone Rejector Technology, optimized sidewalls with 3-ply construction, and aggressive upper sidewall lugs improve traction performance. Moreover, the additional biting edges across the profile also increase traction on slick, wet, and snowy surfaces. For better traction in conditions like snow and ice, the tire can also be pinned with optional studs. The manufacturer claims that the addition of these optional studs can boost traction in aforementioned conditions by up to 20%.
On the other hand, the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro secures an 8.3 SimpleScore on the traction front. This tire features patented Mud Slingers 2.0 that offer deep and wide trenches with additional notches so that thick mud is continuously cleared and better traction and grip are provided. To tackle tricky terrain, Cooper has featured the tire with Earth Diggers Technology, which allows the tire to dig deeper into mud, dirt, or sand with its large shoulder scoops and lugs for enhanced traction performance. Additionally, the Rock Climber Sidewall Technology is another great highlight of the tire that contributes to excellent traction performance in situations like climbing rocks. With this technology, the tire gets “climber cleats” and flex grooves that firmly grip jagged rock and supply enough force in conditions like mud so that optimum traction is gained.
When we analyzed these two mud-terrain tires, we found that the Destination M/T2 is slightly better on the traction front.
ADVANTAGE: Destination M/T2
Firestone Destination M/T2 vs Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires on durability
While traction lets you cross the most challenging environments, durability is more related to letting your tire run damage-free with higher resistance to cuts, chips, and unwanted harm. An ideal mud-terrain tire must have that strength to combat rugged conditions, avoid damages, and run with greater dominance with additional guarding on the tread.
With an 8.3 SimpleScore in durability, the Destination M/T2 assures solid durability and features a durable tread compound that shields the profile and prevents damage from cuts and chips. The tire gets mud and stone rejector technology and also gets a 3-ply sidewall construction for adequate prevention from damage and increased robustness. The Debris Shield is another great highlight of this tire contributing to the durability factor. It defends the area between the tire rim from pesky trail debris, ensuring better protection when the tire is used roughly in off-road conditions. Moreover, aggressive upper lugs also enhance durability and boost the tire’s ability to withstand off-roading pressures and impacts.
Contrarily, the Discover STT Pro is slightly better than the competitor with an impressive durability score of 8.4. The tire is designed and engineered for ultimate durability and sports the patented Armor Tek3 Technology that offers incredible sidewall as well as tread durability on tough terrains. With this technology in use, the tire can roll over the sharpest of objects and most rugged conditions without causing any unwanted damage to the tread. Additionally, the use of Rock Climber Sidewall Technology also provides the required robustness to the tire’s sidewalls and ensures that the tire can effectively resist impacts and pressures to provide that extra shielding.
While both the tires are great when it comes to durability, it is the Discoverer STT Pro that holds the extra strength and surpasses the Destination M/T2.
ADVANTAGE: Discoverer STT Pro
Firestone Destination M/T2 vs Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires on longevity
Long-lasting is another important area for mud-terrain tire buyers to consider as it relates to how long a tire can serve when used in rugged environments. Mud-terrains are made for rough use and its ability or inability to offer a longer service life can make or break the purchase decision. Interestingly, on the longevity front too, we found that there was a slight twist!
Commencing with the Destination M/T2, the tire scores an 8.2 SimpleScore in the longevity area. The tire features mud and stone ejectors to keep the debris and dirt away so that unwanted tread damages can be avoided and the tread is protected for even and longer wear. This provides increased off-roading opportunities to the drivers. Moreover, the tread compound of this Firestone mud-terrain tire is also sturdy and contributes to extended use. The 3-ply sidewall construction and similarly durable tread profile construction also help in promoting longevity. The wider and flat footprint of the Destination M/T2 tires is optimized for longer use and restricts the chances of premature wear and tear. Likewise, the tough tread blocks of the tire also reduce the wear rate, further contributing to the longevity factor.
Conversely, the Discoverer STT Pro boasts a great 8.3 SimpleScore on the longevity front, which is slightly more than its competitor’s score for the same. The Stone Armor Technology used in this tire also contributes to longer tread life by preventing the tire from damage caused by sharp rocks and debris. Additionally, the Armor Tek3 Technology also provides the tire with the required robustness to slow down the wear rate. The wider and flat footprint of the Discover STT Pro tires ensures that the off-road driving pressures are distributed across the profile and the tread wears evenly, and at a slow rate. Similarly, the deeper and solid tread blocks further control the wear rate and help in achieving long-lasting performance.
When both tires are compared for longevity check, the Discoverer STT Pro is slightly better than the Destination M/T2.
ADVANTAGE: Discoverer STT Pro
When to use each
It makes sense to use both the Destination M/T2 and the Discoverer STT Pro if you’re particularly looking for a set of tires for aggressive off-roading purposes and want to use them in the rugged-most conditions like mud, sand, gravel, dirt, and rocks. While the Firestone tires are most active in wet and snowy conditions, the Cooper tires are marketed as year-round performers in challenging environments by the manufacturer. However, none of these tires is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, and therefore, in freezing conditions, on thick ice and snow, they aren’t considered the best performers. That being said, the Destination M/T2 tires from Firestone having the feature of being pinned with studs can do some off-road jobs in mild snow- and ice-covered terrains.
The Destination mud-terrain tires are offered in 15- to 22-inch rims and can be used on light trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs. Similarly, the Discoverer mud-terrain tires are also available in 15- to 22-inch rim size options and can be paired with pickups, Jeeps, and SUVs. It is recommended to check your vehicle’s tire size before you consider buying either of these mud-terrain tires.
Which one should you choose?
So, which one of these two mud-terrain tires should you buy for your pickup, Jeep, or SUV? When comparing the overall SimpleScores, we found that the Firestone Destination M/T2 was slightly better than Discoverer STT Pro with an overall score of 8.3 versus 8.2. As both of these tires are different in one or the other way, you must consider looking at their SimpleScore in all the mentioned criteria and matching them with your driving requirements.
As far as the pricing is concerned, the Destination M/T2 comes at a starting price of at least $233.99 per tire, whereas the Discoverer STT Pro is offered at a starting price of at least $204.97 per tire. So, a set of four Destination tires will cost you at least $935.96, while a set of four Discoverer tires will cost you at least $819.88.
Looking at the SimpleScore analysis, you should choose the Destination M/T2 if you:
- Drive a heavy-duty pickup like the Ford F-150, a light-duty pickup truck like the GMC Sierra 1500, an off-roader like the Jeep Wrangler, or an SUV like the Toyota 4Runner.
- Need a tire that’s better in traction (8.4 vs 8.3 in traction).
- Need a tire that’s overall a great buy (8.3 vs 8.2 overall SimpleScore)
- Are willing to pay higher
Contrarily, you should pick the Discoverer STT Pro if you:
- Drive a full-size pickup truck like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, a mid-size truck like the Toyota Tacoma, an off-road mid-size truck like the Jeep Gladiator, or a heavy-duty truck like the RAM 2500.
- Need a more durable tire (8.4 vs 8.3 in durability).
- Need a long-lasting tire (8.3 vs 8.2 in longevity).
- Need a value-for-money tire at a relatively lower price.
At first look, the Destination vs Discoverer tires might not look like the head-to-head competitors, but when you delve into the details and analyze the SimpleScores, they appear to be the two ideal mud-terrain category rivals. But, it is your vehicle type, budget, brand choice, and driving preferences in one or more areas like traction, longevity, and durability that can help you make a better purchase decision.
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.
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