Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring: the best Cooper SUV tire for pavement use
The Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring is the flagship all-season tire for pavement-focused SUV and crossover drivers. The 70,000-mile tread warranty is one of the strongest in the all-season SUV category. Dry handling is responsive and confident on the highway, and wet performance is solid with good hydroplaning resistance at highway speeds.
Check price on Amazon →We evaluated the complete Cooper SUV tire lineup to find the best options for comfort, handling, off-road capability, and tread life across the most popular SUV platforms.
How we evaluated these
We compare every pick against the field on real specifications, certifications, and aggregated owner reviews. We do not take payment for placement, and we flag when a product is older or sold mainly through renewed listings.
The shortlist
| Pick | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring: the best Cooper SUV tire for pavement use | Check price | ||
| Cooper AT3 4S: best for SUVs with winter or light off-road needs | Check price |
Each pick, examined
Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring: the best Cooper SUV tire for pavement use
The Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring is the flagship all-season tire for pavement-focused SUV and crossover drivers. The 70,000-mile tread warranty is one of the strongest in the all-season SUV category. Dry handling is responsive and confident on the highway, and wet performance is solid with good hydroplaning resistance at highway speeds.
Cooper AT3 4S: best for SUVs with winter or light off-road needs
The Cooper AT3 4S in its passenger and crossover sizes is the right tire for SUV owners who occasionally use forest service roads, gravel roads, or ski resort approaches, and who also need serious winter capability. The 3PMSF rating means it exceeds standard all-season snow performance, and the all-terrain tread provides the grip on loose surfaces that all-season highway tires cannot match.
Buying considerations
Use case match
Pavement-primary driving favors the CS5 Ultra Touring's tread life and highway refinement. Off-road and winter use favors the AT3 4S's all-terrain capability and 3PMSF rating. Do not buy all-terrain tires for a pavement-only driving lifestyle, as you pay with highway noise and fuel economy penalties.
Load rating
SUVs require higher load ratings than passenger cars. Verify the tire's load rating (single and dual ratings for larger vehicles) meets or exceeds your vehicle's requirement on the door jamb or owner's manual.
Size accuracy
Never estimate tire size. Verify the exact size (width, aspect ratio, and diameter) required for your specific vehicle trim before purchasing. Incorrect sizing affects speedometer accuracy, handling, clearance, and potentially safety.
Rotation and maintenance
All-season SUV tires benefit from rotation every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Proper rotation is especially important for AWD vehicles where uneven wear between axles can damage drivetrain components.
Alignment and inflation
No tire performs to its potential on an out-of-alignment vehicle or at improper inflation. Check alignment when installing new tires and verify inflation monthly with a quality gauge.
Installation quality
All-terrain tires require proper balancing to avoid vibration. Request Road Force balancing from your installer for the smoothest result, particularly on larger diameter and wider tires.
Questions answered
Yes. Cooper's SUV tire lineup, including the CS5 Ultra Touring for pavement use and the AT3 series for all-terrain and winter capability, offers solid performance and value. They compete favorably with comparable offerings from Goodyear and Hankook at similar price points.
The Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring carries a 70,000-mile tread warranty, the highest in Cooper's SUV lineup. The AT3 4S follows at 65,000 miles. Actual tread life depends on inflation maintenance, alignment, rotation frequency, and driving habits.
The CS5 Ultra Touring and AT3 4S both perform well in rain, with good hydroplaning resistance and wet braking distances that compare reasonably to competitive alternatives. They are not at the very top of their respective categories for wet performance (that tier is occupied by Michelin and Continental), but are significantly above average.
No. SUVs require tires rated for their specific load requirements, which are higher than standard passenger car tires. Always use tires with the load rating specified in your vehicle owner's manual or on the driver's door jamb label.
