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geostrategist



Member Since: 25 Apr 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 60

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Tonga Green
Cooper v BFG
I'm looking to replace 4 x 235/85/16 on a 110 CSW. Mostly road driving

I've read all over the forum regrading these two tyres which are my final 2 short listed options, but still can't decide between the two:

Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx 120Q
BFGOODRICH ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2

My concern with the BFG is that despite having a B rated wet rating, reviews claim its not that good in the wet. The Cooper is exempt from the EU rating, so the only comparison is via reviews, amd it appears to be a less common tyre.

Any experience or suggestions of either?
Post #770826 30th Apr 2019 9:10am
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Tdi4



Member Since: 24 Oct 2014
Location: Houten
Posts: 513

Netherlands 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Stornoway Grey
I would Go for the General grabber at2 tyre. Is quieter than the bf’s. Not a popular tyre in the uk but more in Holland. a defender from 1984 pretending to be a puma with a touch of Range Rover
Post #770834 30th Apr 2019 9:59am
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DuncanS



Member Since: 06 Dec 2013
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 299

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
I must say I do love the BFGs. Very reliable tyres and I've had them on both vehicles I've owned, and every other defender my folks have had over the last 25 years.

The KO2 does skip a bit in damp conditions if you have a lead foot when accelerating out of roundabouts or similar, but nothing a quick bit of Traction Control sorts on the puma. Its fine in heavy rain as I don't tonk it about. I've never really felt it slide at all. North Cumbria Search and Rescue - Team Leader
Post #770838 30th Apr 2019 10:26am
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Tdi4



Member Since: 24 Oct 2014
Location: Houten
Posts: 513

Netherlands 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Stornoway Grey
Just an after thought.

I don’t know if you ever drive in ie germany in the winter but a snowflake is required there. At the time the bf’s didn’t have the snowflake. a defender from 1984 pretending to be a puma with a touch of Range Rover
Post #770840 30th Apr 2019 10:31am
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jaygti



Member Since: 04 Nov 2012
Location: essex
Posts: 377

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Epsom Green
I’ve got the st maxx in a wider size.

It’s very aggressive for a road tyre. I would say it’s half way between a mud and an a/t.
I’ve had them for about 4 years and can’t really fault them, on or off road.




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 2002 td5 90 county hardtop
Post #770841 30th Apr 2019 10:32am
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DuncanS



Member Since: 06 Dec 2013
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 299

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
The KO2's do have the full snow tyre rating on them, and they perform accordingly as well! North Cumbria Search and Rescue - Team Leader
Post #770842 30th Apr 2019 10:38am
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Joe the Plumber



Member Since: 18 Dec 2013
Location: Midlands
Posts: 907

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 HT Fuji White
If it's of interest, I've had Michelin Latitude Cross 7.50R16s on my 110 from new and although I never go off tarmac, they've been great in all weather conditions on the road.
Post #770844 30th Apr 2019 10:41am
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7903

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
I run both 265 KO2's and 235 St Maxx, both good tyres, neither can be heard over the wind noise. Coopers are cheaper to buy but I understand probably won't last as long. KO2's do carry the snowflake.

If I had to choose one I would go for the KO2's, but probably just for looks alone Embarassed Shocked They are good in the snow and I've never had an issue with them in the wet.

If you are mostly road use you might consider the Cooper AT3's? Which I understand are very good on the road and surprisingly good off-road. The St Maxx is an agressive lookign tyre.


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Click image to enlarge
 James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #770851 30th Apr 2019 11:09am
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Gilloverland



Member Since: 12 Nov 2017
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 61

United Kingdom 
I've had both and would choose the BFGs everytime - they outlast the coopers by big margin. As for grip in the wet - its a Defender, drive it like one...
Post #770897 30th Apr 2019 3:50pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20275

United Kingdom 
BFG here as well, and as above if grip is an issue then most of the time the speed is to excessive.
A Defender by nature isn't a sports car, it shouldn't be driven like one.

Each to their own but even on road I actually prefer my KM2's to the General Grabber TR's I once had once upon a time.
I would seriously consider other tyre types from the same brand.

I am however annoyed and dissapointed as of yet the options for sizes they have decided to have.
But many manufacturers are just the same.
Post #770905 30th Apr 2019 4:37pm
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Devon-Rover



Member Since: 22 Jan 2015
Location: South Devon
Posts: 913

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Aintree Green
Just over a year since fitment and done about 10K miles and I would say wear is about just under a mm to 1 and this is from mainly tarmac miles.
Cooper states a 14.7 mm tread depth when new for the 235/85R16 so given I'll replace them with about 5mm left. so I've got 9mm of tread to play with and say about 10K a mill then 90K miles isn't what I'll call bad.

This is assuming the compound is liner throughout Or I deceide one day to change size as...

Whilst they might no longer be as silent as new they still have very little road noise and enough to be drowned out by the windnoise when underway

Snow performance I would rate as good and no worse then an older set of BFG AT's

Wet road performance is good they handle standing water well and IMHO this is what pushed me to them. Look at the tread and imagine when the water goes when driving is along or diagonal across the tread blocks.
The BFG with it's C style interlocking tread might give it some sand traction advantage but water IMHO would be trapped into the blocks rather than dispersed and leading to aquaplaing as the tyre rotates.

Offroad the ST - Maxx is great for a tyre with road manners. drop it to about 14psi and it handles well enough that I reckon it outdoes the wranger MTR. Deffo not full MT tyre but handles well enough.

My verdict is of an impressive AT that matches the BFG but doesn't cost as much £122 to the BFG £167 each (source 4x4 tyres) so If I was to buy again I would go Cooper. Also can be found on Fb, Ytube, Insta & Twitter @4WDSouthwest
Post #770937 30th Apr 2019 5:59pm
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Sulisuli



Member Since: 30 Oct 2016
Location: South west
Posts: 4795

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
I favor the BFG myself, having had them on 4 of my Defenders I have just put new 265/16 on at £125.00 each fitted Thumbs Up I don’t find then noisy, mileage returns are very very good circa 100k on two sets I had fitted. 2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90
2000 XS TD5 90
Post #770967 30th Apr 2019 7:58pm
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geostrategist



Member Since: 25 Apr 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 60

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Tonga Green
Thanks guys.

After much deliberation I went with the BFGs.
Post #770985 30th Apr 2019 9:15pm
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Scotm



Member Since: 28 Feb 2014
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 666

Scotland 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Orkney Grey
I have BFG and after about 30k on them I find they regularly lock up in the cold and wet under surprisingly light braking, particularly with a trailer (braked) on. No issues cornering.

I previously had grabber TR which were the opposite. Good braking but poor cornering.

I will be trying something different next time, either Cooper AT3 or maybe Nokian Rotiiva AT.
Post #770986 30th Apr 2019 9:16pm
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geostrategist



Member Since: 25 Apr 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 60

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Tonga Green

Click image to enlarge

I also sent ‘white out’, but that’s for a different debate
Post #771523 4th May 2019 3:56pm
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