The new Discoverer EnduraMax by Cooper is an All-Season Touring tire for SUVs and Crossovers, to take on rugged streets. For this reason, the manufacturer built this tire with an off-road mentality, using their Armor Belt technology to handle ugly highways and city potholes better.
Review Highlights: The Cooper Discoverer EnduraMax provides excellent durability and traction on highway and streets, with first-rate response and handling. One of the downsides is minor tread noise at lower speeds.
Let’s dig into the fundamentals of what makes this tire worthy of our attention.
Highway And Dry Road Performance
Being that the EnduraMax is a touring tire, you can expect to get a comfortable ride on most highways.
However, we found that the real beauty of this tire is how well it does on local streets as it can be very forgiving for curb prone drivers.
Stability was continuous, even when hitting divots on a road that had not been repaired for some time.
There was some road noise, which is to expected with how this tire was built.
In fact, the noise is probably the least noticeable factor, and should not be a deterrent for purchasing this tire.
Gravel And Rocky Terrain Driving
While this may be a rugged tire, it wasn’t built for heavy off-roads.
The Discoverer performs well on gravel, and gives you that feeling of having a high level of control.
The strong sidewall is great for resisting against chips and abrasion from rocks and dirt.
Rain And Wet Surface Traction
The Discoverer was decent on wet surfaces with maneuverability and handling.
Driving in the rain was satisfactory, and we found no major issues with stability when turning or changing lanes.
However, this tire feels somewhat lacking in short distance braking ability.
This is by no means an under-performing tire, but compared to other strengths, we believe wet traction is the least favorable.
Winter And Snow Performance
Driving in moderate snow is quite comfortable with its three peak mountain snowflake rating.
Surprisingly, the EnduraMax exceeded our expectations for being a touring tire.
Maneuverability even in packed snow was decent. We attribute that to the saw-tooth grooves on the outer edge of the tire.
Overall the EnduraMax is quite capable in light snow, and can be used almost all year around if conditions remain light.
Treadwear Warranty
The warranty on this tire is good for up to 60,000 miles on the front, and 30,000 for the rear.
There is no date deadline on both treadlife or workmanship warranties.
Additionally, there is a 45 day test guarantee.
Ratings And Scoring
The Cooper Discoverer EnduraMax scored a total of 87% out of 100 based on price, treadwear, dry traction, comfort and wet surface traction.
You can view the chart below outlining the ratings and breakdown by category.
What Are The Pros?
- Solid performance in light snow for the type of tire.
- Very comfortable ride on long distance drives.
- Price is reasonable for overall performance.
- Handling is exceptional in dry and snowy conditions.
What Are The Cons?
- Slight noise at various speeds of 20-40 miles per hour.
- Wet braking distance could be better.
Additional Spec Information
Unform Tire Grade Quality: 640 AA
Max PSI Inflation Range: 44-50
Max Tread Depth: 10.5/32″
Country of Origin: All sizes are manufactured in the USA.
Popular Vehicles Using This Tire
- Jeep Cherokee
- Toyota Rav4
- Ford Escape
- Nissan Rogue
- Honda CR-V
- Subaru Legacy Outback
- GMC Terrain
- Chevy Equinox
- Buick Envision
Cooper Discoverer EnduraMax Sizes
| Size | Model |
|---|---|
| 16" | 215/65/R16 225/60/R16 205/70/R16 235/60/R16 235/65/R16 215/70/R16 225/70/R16 235/70/R16 |
| 17" | 215/60/R17 215/65/R17 215/55/R17 225/50/R17 225/60/R17 225/65/R17 225/55/R17 235/55/R17 235/60/R17 235/65/R17 245/65/R17 |
| 18" | 215/55/R18 225/45/R18 225/55/R18 225/60/R18 235/50/R18 235/55/R18 235/60/R18 245/60/R18 |
| 19" | 225/55/R19 235/40/R19 235/50/R19 235/55/R19 |
| 20" | 235/55/R20 245/50/R20 |
Should You Buy The Cooper Discoverer EnduraMax?
The following rhetorical questions will help you come to a better conclusion.
- Do you plan on driving in an area that frequently has heavy rainfall? Then this may not be the best All-Season tire.
- Does it snow lightly where you live in the winter? Then this tire is a decent option.
- Are you looking for something that can handle bumps, rocks and divots in daily driving? Then this would be a great choice.
- Are you wanting a safe tire you can take on road trips without worrying about punctures? Then this is a top choice tire you will want to consider.
Final Thoughts
The EnduraMax is very capable for long distance drivers and daily drivers with its modestly quiet ride and comfortable flex on rough roads. Wet traction is decent, but the light handling on uneven surfaces makes up for that deficiency. Additionally, the price point makes this a value tire that any SUV and CUV owner should consider.
Versus a tire like the Firestone Affinity, or even the Michelin Latitude HP, the Cooper Discoverer EnduraMax is definitely a huge upgrade.