Hello and welcome to my Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus review.
SUVs and pickup trucks were once considered cumbersome to drive on the road. Owners of these vehicles weren’t even thinking about driving fast through a corner, let alone attacking it as a racing driver. However, things have changed in the past decade. Today, we have SUVs that drive almost like regular cars, and full-size pickups that offer good driving experience in the corners.
Tire manufacturers have also changed their portfolios to go with the modern SUVs and pickup trucks. Instead of all-terrain tires with very big sidewalls, today we see sporty tires with smaller sidewalls on almost every modern SUV. The reasoning is simple – people are using these vehicles mostly on the street, and sporty tires give much better handling here.
One of those tires is the Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus. While this is not a high-performance tire, it is still designed to offer better handling than regular touring tires in this category, especially for SUVs and pickup trucks with more powerful engines. This is a tire that you will mostly, if not exclusively, use on the road. But, apart from the fact that it can’t be used in off-road conditions, how does it compare to its competitors? Let’s find out in the detailed review down below.
Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus Overview
Cooper Tire advertises the Discoverer H/T Plus as street/sport all-season light-truck tire developed for drivers of performance pickups, SUVs and crossovers who want a sporty look combined with a confident performance. In other words, this tire is a crossover between a touring tire and a high-performance tire. In my opinion, this is the best tire type for SUVs and pickup trucks, because it gives better handling while also offering its passengers high levels of comfort.
Apart from the handling, the Discoverer H/T Plus is made of an all-season compound, that should give it good traction in both warm and cold weather. The pattern is symmetric, designed for resistance to uneven wear and easy rotation. Good for those who make long road trips, the tread design has an optimized pitch sequence that quietens the tire. The alternating tread block geometry provides stability and responsive handling at higher speeds, while the wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches help in wet conditions. The in-block sipes create additional biting edges for better traction in wintry conditions, giving this tire the all-season moniker.
The internal construction of the Discoverer H/T Plus consists of a two-ply polyester casing for better durability, which is very important for SUV and pickup owners. The two wide steel belts, on the other hand, aided by a single nylon cap, aid handling, and high-speed stability.
Overall, it seems like the focus of Cooper Tire was to deliver excellent performance in the corners in dry and wet weather. Nonetheless, I haven’t seen anything about load rating in their information, which means that this is not the tire for you if you plan on towing with your vehicle.
Pros:
- Tight handling
- High levels of grip and traction in dry conditions
- Quiet and comfortable for a sporty tire
- Reasonable price
Cons:
- Somewhat worse traction in light rain
- Treadlife is not very impressive
Detailed Review of Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus
Treadwear and Durability
The H/T Plus is not the most durable tire on the market, nor it has the longest-lasting treadlife. This shouldn’t be a surprise – it is a sporty tire. Cooper also doesn’t give any warranty. If you want longer-lasting treadlife, I suggest going for the Discoverer H/T or even better, the Discoverer HTP.
Dry Traction and Grip
On the road, grip and traction are as good as anything in this class. I liked the handling of this tire very much – it is almost as responsive as a high-performance tire. Grip levels are very high too, giving a lot of confidence in the corners. Traction is excellent, even of pickup trucks with powerful engines and lighter rear ends. To add to the overall fun factor of this tire, I was pleasantly surprised by the high-speed stability and by the short braking distances. Overall, you can really push this tire if you’re into that sort of driving.
Wet Traction and Grip
I may have used a lot of superlatives for the Discoverer H/T Plus in the dry section, and rightfully so. However, even though it is not bad, I can’t speak enthusiastically about the wet performance. The problem is in light rain, where the compound shows its limitations, losing traction on some occasions where other tires have succeeded. Hydroplaning is well-suppressed though, even in very heavy rain. Overall, while I can’t praise this tire for its wet performance, I will still say that it is adequate for most drivers and most importantly, safe in the rain.
Snow Traction and Braking Performance
Cooper may suggest that this tire can be used in snowy conditions, but I would say that it should only be used if you’re surprised by the snow. Traction is very limited, especially in very deep snow, while braking distances can be longer than usual. With that said, most tires in this category are bad in snow, and this should not come as a surprise. Given the fact that the driver at least gets the possibility to use a set of these tires on snow, I think that this is not a bad showing. And if you’re living in an area with very heavy snow, you’re reading the wrong review – go find a proper winter tire!
Comfort & Noise
Cooper Tire has really exceeded expectations in this department, specifically when you take into account the fact that this is primarily a sporty tire. Ride comfort is very good, even on bumpy roads, despite the smaller sidewalls. To my surprise, even the optimized pitch sequence helps for quiet operation at higher speeds. Okay, touring or highway tires may be even quieter, but they won’t give you the same handling abilities.
Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus Review: Conclusion
With its excellent handling characteristics in dry conditions and its smooth and quiet operation, the Discoverer H/T Plus is one of the best tires for owners of sporty or high-performance SUVs and light pickup trucks. While I would still like better wet traction, especially in light rain, for the price you cannot complain too much – the Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus is a great buy.
Thanks for reading and I hope you found this Cooper Discoverer H/T plus review helpful. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them in the comments section below.