Cooper vs Goodyear Tires: Which is a Better Tire?

Picking the right tires needs careful research. You want the best choice for your needs. There are many models, making it hard to choose, especially without a favorite brand.

Many start by picking a brand. Premium brands offer top quality, while mid-range ones balance performance and price. Some say splurging on premium brands isn’t always necessary. However, there are times when it’s worth it. The ongoing brand debate leads to comparisons. Today, we’ll compare a mid-range favorite, Cooper, with a premium leader, Goodyear.

Cooper is known for its good performance and fair prices. Meanwhile, Goodyear is famous for its top-tier tires. What makes this comparison interesting is that Goodyear owns Cooper. It’s interesting to see how the two companies, parent and subsidiary, compare.

Cooper Tire history

Year	Milestone
1914	John F. Schaefer and Claude E. Hart purchase M & M Manufacturing Co. in Akron. Producing tire patches, tire cement, and tire repair kits.
1915	Schaefer and Hart purchase Giant Tire & Rubber Co. of Akron, relocating it to Findlay, Ohio two years later.
1920	I.J. Cooper forms Cooper Corp. in Findlay to manufacture new tires.
1930	Cooper Corp., M & M Manufacturing, and Falls Rubber Co. merge to form Master Tire & Rubber Co.
1946	The company changes its name to Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.
1960	Becomes a publicly held corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
1983	Joins the ranks of Fortune 500 companies.
1991	Net sales reach $1 billion.
1997	Acquires Avon Tyres Ltd., based in Melksham, England.
2003	Acquires Mickey Thompson Performance & Wheels.
2003	Partners with Taiwan’s Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. for the construction of a plant outside Shanghai, China.
2004	Sells its non-tire automotive business, Cooper-Standard Automotive, for $1.17 billion.
2005	Obtains majority ownership of China’s third-largest tire manufacturer, Chengshan Group.
2007	Enters into a 50-50 joint venture with Mexican tire manufacturer Corporación de Occidente SA de CV, forming Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. de Mexico S.A. de V.C.
2012	Acquires the tire manufacturing assets of Trayal Corp.’s plant in Krusevac, Serbia.
2013	Apollo Tyres offers to buy Cooper; deal later terminated without resolution.
2014	Sells ownership stake in Cooper-Chengshan Tire back to Chengshan Group.
2016	Purchases majority ownership of China-based Qingdao Ge Rui Da Rubber Co. (GRT) for the production of truck/bus radial tires.
2019	Opens A.C.T.R. Co. Ltd. truck tire plant in Vietnam, a joint venture with China’s Sailun Group Co. Ltd.
2019	Makes Cooper Tire Mexico a wholly-owned subsidiary.

Goodyear Tire history

Year	Milestone
1898	Frank Seiberling founds Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio.
1900	Trademarks the Wingfoot logo.
1903	Paul Litchfield patents the first tubeless automobile tire.
1907	Sells 1,200 sets of tires to Henry Ford for the Model T.
1916	Becomes the world’s largest tire company.
1917	Constructs its first blimp.
1927	Goes public and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
1935	Acquires Kelly-Springfield Tire Co.
1938	Builds and tests the first American-made synthetic rubber tire.
1944	Establishes a joint-venture subsidiary in Mexico, Goodyear-Oxo.
1951	Reaches $1 billion in sales.
1956	Markets a full line of stock car racing tires.
1963	Produces its 1 billionth tire.
1966	Acquires Gummiwerke Fulda in Fulda, Germany.
1970	Provides tires for the Lunar Roving Vehicle on Apollo 14 mission, becoming the first tires on the moon.
1977	Introduces the Tiempo, the first all-season tire, and the fuel-saving elliptic tire.
1986	Fends off a hostile takeover attempt.
1994	Obtains approval for the Goodyear-Dalian joint venture in China.
1997	Becomes the exclusive tire supplier for NASCAR. Acquires majority ownership of Sava Tyres.
1999	Forms a $1 billion global alliance with Sumitomo Rubber Industries.
2006	Sells its farm tire business in the Americas to Titan International.
2013	Opens new global headquarters in Akron, Ohio.
2015	Dissolves partnership with Sumitomo, retains Dunlop manufacturing assets in Europe, sells U.S. plant to Sumitomo.
2018	Forms TireHub, a joint wholesale distribution network with Bridgestone Americas.
2021	Announces plans to acquire Cooper Tire for $2.5 billion.

Differences

Here are the key distinctions between Cooper and Goodyear products:

1. Tire Variety:

Goodyear makes tires for many vehicles, from construction to cars. Their popular line, the Goodyear Wrangler, is for CUVs and light trucks.

Meanwhile, Cooper focuses on cars, trucks, and SUVs. They offer the Cooper Discover line for cars. These tires work well in all seasons and winter.

2. Warranty Coverage:

Cooper’s warranty beats Goodyear’s, despite possible price differences. Cooper tires offer 70,000 to 80,000-mile warranties, while Goodyear’s are only around 24,000 miles.

3. Steering Response:

Steering response is how fast a tire turns. Both Cooper and Goodyear make responsive tires. Yet, Goodyear offers more models to boost steering.

4. Costs

Here’s the information presented in a clearer format:

Cooper Tires	Price Range
Cooper Trendsetter SE	$75 to $85 per wheel
Other Cooper tire series	$65 to $475

Goodyear Tires	Price Range
Goodyear Assurance All-Season	$92 to $217
Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate	$160 to $376

Popular Tires of Each Brand

Cooper’s

Tire Family	Description	Available Models	Recommended Use	Featured Models
Endeavor	Touring tires known for longevity, comfort, and decent performance.	Regular, Tour, Plus	Passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, trucks	Regular Endeavor, Tour, Plus
CS	Touring tires emphasizing refinement and durability.	CS1, CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5 Grand Touring, CS5 Ultra Touring, CS7	Compact hatchbacks, SUVs, trucks	CS1, CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5 Grand Touring, CS5 Ultra Touring, CS7
Zeon	Performance tires offering maximum grip and traction, with some models suitable for all-terrain use.	RS3-S, RS3-A, RS3-G1, LTZ	Passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, trucks	RS3-S, RS3-A, RS3-G1, LTZ
WM	Winter tires designed for enhanced performance in cold conditions.	SA2+	Passenger cars, SUVs, light trucks	SA2+
WeatherMaster	Winter tires tailored for larger vehicles like SUVs and light trucks.	WSC, WSC 4×4	SUVs, light trucks	WSC, WSC 4×4
Discoverer	Wide range of tires including performance, touring, winter, all-terrain, and mud-terrain options for various vehicles.	All-Season, Winter, AT3 LT, XLT, ATT, AT3 Sport, S/T MAXX, STT PRO	Passenger cars, SUVs, light trucks	All-Season, Winter, AT3 LT, XLT, ATT, AT3 Sport, S/T MAXX, STT PRO
Evolution	Offers diverse weather and vehicle applications, including highway and mud-terrain options for SUVs, light trucks, and more.	Tour, Winter, H/T, M/T	Passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, minivans	Tour, Winter, H/T, M/T
Cobra Radial G/T	All-season tire designed specifically for muscle cars, combining authenticity with modern technologies.	N/A	Muscle cars	N/A
Trendsetter SE	Designed for older cars, providing well-performing tires at an affordable price with a wide range of sizes.	N/A	Older cars	N/A

Goodyear’s

Tire Family	Description	Available Models	Recommended Use	Featured Models
Assurance	Touring tires known for longevity, comfort, and some performance attributes.	WeatherReady, Fuel Max, CS Fuel Max, ComfortDrive, Finesse	Passenger cars, all-season driving	WeatherReady, Fuel Max, CS Fuel Max, ComfortDrive, Finesse
Eagle	High-performance tires designed for improved grip and traction, suitable for sportier vehicles.	Touring, Sport, NCT, RS, F1, Exhilarate, GT	Sporty cars, enhanced performance driving	Touring, Sport, NCT, RS, F1, Exhilarate, GT
Ultra Grip	Winter tires offering enhanced traction and grip in cold and snowy conditions.	Winter, Ice WRT, 8 Performance, GW2, GW3	Driving in winter conditions, improved performance on ice	Winter, Ice WRT, 8 Performance, GW2, GW3
WinterCommand	Winter tires designed for maximum traction on ice, with some models featuring stud compatibility.	Various models	Enhanced performance on ice, driving in severe winter conditions	Various models
Wrangler	All-terrain tires designed for SUVs, light trucks, and off-road driving.	Various models	Off-road driving, all-terrain performance	Various models
EfficientGrip	Tires offering a balance between touring and performance, with decent grip and traction.	Regular, Performance	Enhanced performance, good grip	Regular, Performance
Excellence	Tires similar to EfficientGrip, offering improved grip and traction while retaining refinement.	Various models	Higher levels of grip and traction, touring performance	Various models
Fierce	All-terrain tires for larger vehicles, providing a balance between off-road capability and on-road performance.	Various models	Off-road driving, all-terrain performance, driving in winter conditions	Various models
Frontera	Touring tires designed for SUVs, light trucks, and some CUVs, offering a blend of comfort and performance.	SL, HL	All-season driving, comfort-oriented driving	SL, HL
Integrity	Affordable touring tires designed for passenger cars, offering a balance of price and performance.	N/A	Affordable option, suitable for older cars	N/A

Which is Better? 

Goodyear and Cooper are top tire brands with rich histories. Your choice depends on your needs and preferences.

Goodyear, a large company, offers a wide range of tires and services. It makes premium tires for high-performance vehicles and trucks. It also produces specialized tires for aircraft and industrial use. Known for its innovation and motorsports, Goodyear is linked to quality and performance. But its tires are usually pricier than Cooper’s.

Cooper, on the other hand, focuses on various tires for cars, trucks, and SUVs. It’s known for its reliable and affordable tires. Cooper offers longer warranties on treadwear than Goodyear, ensuring peace of mind.

In the end, choose based on your vehicle, driving, and budget. This will help you pick the best tire brand.

Choose the Right Brand for You

Struggling to decide between Goodyear and Cooper for your vehicle? Consider these factors to help you make a confident choice.

Your driving habits and preferences: Assess the type of driving you do most often, whether it’s city commutes, highway journeys, or off-road adventures. Also, factor in the prevailing weather conditions in your area, such as snow or rain. Both Goodyear and Cooper offer tires tailored for various driving conditions, so opt for the brand that offers models aligned with your driving needs.

Budget considerations: Determine your budget for new tires. Goodyear tires typically come with a higher price tag compared to Cooper tires. If budget is a primary concern for you, Cooper may offer a more cost-effective solution.

Tire warranty coverage: Longer treadwear warranties provide added value and peace of mind. Cooper tires often boast longer treadwear warranties compared to Goodyear tires. If durability and longevity are important factors for you, Cooper might be the preferable option.

Seek expert advice: If you’re still uncertain about which brand to choose, consult with a tire specialist or reputable tire dealer. They can offer personalized recommendations based on your driving habits, vehicle type, and budget constraints.

By considering these factors and seeking expert guidance, you can make an informed decision and select the brand that best meets your needs.

FAQs

Conclusion

Cooper and Goodyear offer similar tire quality, durability, and performance.

Cooper tires are great for regular drivers seeking affordable replacements. Meanwhile, Goodyear’s tires target professional drivers and industrial manufacturers. They aim for top performance.