Cooper and Uniroyal are two of the most prominent brands in the US when it comes to making high-quality tires.
In this article, we’re going to make a side-by-side comparison between Cooper vs. Uniroyal Tires to see which of the two brands is superior in terms of overall performance, lifespan, and price.
| Cooper Tire | Uniroyal Tires | |
| Year Founded | 1914 | 1892 |
| Average Lifespan | 30,000 to 50,000 miles | 50,000 to 75,000 miles |
| Pricing | More expensive | Cheaper |
| Parent Company | Goodyear Tires | Michelin and Continental AG |
Table of Contents
Overview
Before we start, let’s first have a brief overview of the two brands.
1. Cooper
First off, we have Cooper, which is now a subsidiary of Goodyear Tires. It was originally founded back in 1914, and since then, it has managed to earn a reputation for manufacturing high-quality and innovative tires.
It was in 2021 when the company was bought by Goodyear Tires for roughly $2 billion. Up to this day, Cooper continues to provide drivers with quality tires known for their excellent performance on passenger cars, SUVs, and trucks.
Some of its most notable tires include the following:
- Discoverer H/T Plus
- Discoverer STT Pro
- CS5 Grand Touring
2. Uniroyal
Next, we have Uniroyal Tires, which has been in the industry far longer than Cooper. Founded back in 1892, the brand has been providing high-quality tires for a span of roughly 13 decades.
Throughout its decades’ worth of history, Uniroyal Tires has managed to build a solid reputation in the industry by manufacturing tires that are well-known for their excellent all-season performance, durability, and safety.
It’s now a subsidiary of Michelin and Continental AG ever since two acquisitions back in 1990 and 1979.
Here are some of its most notable tires:
- Tiger Paw Touring
- Tiger Paw Ice & Snow III
- Rallye 550
Differences
Now that we have a brief overview of the two brands, let’s now look at the key differences in the tires that they have to offer. Here, we’re going to tackle aspects like performance, durability, lifespan, and price.
1. Performance
For performance, we’re going to cover several different sets of tires from both brands. We’re going to divide them into dry, wet, and snow performance.
Dry Conditions
First, let’s look at the performance of both brands’ tires in dry conditions, particularly the Zeon RS3-G1 from Cooper and the Tiger Paw GTZ All Season 2 from Uniroyal.
Based on evaluations, the tires from Cooper outperformed the one from Uniroyal, but only by a tiny bit in braking ability and grip.
Wet Conditions
Now, for the wet performance, we’re going to compare the CS5 Ultra Touring from Cooper and the Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring A/S.
Based on consumer reports, the CS5 Ultra Touring outperformed the Tiger Paw Touring A/S tires in terms of overall performance in wet conditions. It has far better traction due to micro-gauge sipes, which make driving on wet roads much easier and safer.
While the Tiger Paw Touring A/S is by no means a substandard tire, it does focus more on comfort rather than performance.
Snowy Conditions
Lastly, for snowy conditions, we’re going for the Discoverer True North from Cooper and the Tiger Paw Ice & Snow 3 from Uniroyal.
In this aspect, the tire from Cooper still comes out the victor due to its superior ice braking and lower noise level. In fact, several Uniroyal tires reviews are somewhat disappointed by their overall performance in these areas.
However, Uniroyal Tiger Paw still displayed quality performance in snowy conditions.
To put that into perspective, here’s what one user has to say about Cooper tires:
“The Cooper tires I have owned all gave good value. And they were hands-down the best tires I have ever owned for wet conditions.” – Ok_Woodpecker_5222
Meanwhile, here’s a comment from a different user regarding a specific tire from Uniroyal:
“No complaints really. They wear very well. They don’t ride as smooth as a Michelin but they’re not bad. A little more noisy than a Michelin as well..” – MacQ
2. Lifespan
As far as lifespan goes, tires from both brands have displayed relatively long lifespans.
Models from Cooper Tire have displayed an average lifespan of around 30,000 to 50,000 miles. This is a bit shorter compared to tires from Uniroyal, which can last around 50,000 to 75,000 miles on average.
3. Price
Lastly, we have the pricing. Tires from both brands don’t come cheap, but they’re certainly well worth the price, considering the quality and performance that they offer.
The average price of a tire from Cooper is usually around $73-$585. On the other hand, the average price of a tire from Uniroyal is around $78 to $307.
From this, we can conclude that the tires from Cooper are much more expensive compared to the ones from Uniroyal. Even their most expensive products have a considerable difference in terms of pricing.
4. Pros and Cons
As with all things, there are pros and cons to each brand. Let’s start with Cooper first.
The company offers reliable products with good longevity. However, its selection is limited compared to other brands like Michelin, especially in terms of vehicle types.
As for Uniroyal, affordability and reliability for everyday drivers are its advantages, but Uniroyal’s fuel efficiency often falls short of expectations.
Conclusion
So, with all things considered, which one wins the Cooper vs. Uniroyal Tires comparison?
Considering overall performance and lifespan, the Cooper Tire brand clearly emerges as the victor. The only thing that Uniroyal Tires got going is its affordable price range, which is up to a few hundred dollars more affordable than Cooper.
While both provide excellent value and high-quality products, Cooper would be the far better option.
