Cooper's reintroduced SUV tyre 'no different' to US version

While Cooper's announcement on Monday that it is to "reintroduce" the Discoverer CTS 4×4 tyre to European markets as part of its product strategy makes sense given the recent development of this segment towards high performance tyres designed for 100 per cent road use. It also posed a few questions about the tyre's history, and whether European drivers should expect different characteristics from markets around the world in which the tyre has been continuously available. Tyrepress.com asked Cooper for a few more details on the newly reintroduced CTS.

Going back into the history of the CTS in Europe, Cooper’s representatives told Tyrepress.com that they “believe the CTS tyre previously available [in Europe] between 2009 and 2011,” though the tyre was subsequently “withdrawn as part of a streamlining of Cooper’s 4×4 range, ahead of the introduction of tyre labelling legislation.” 

This begs the question of whether the tyre coming to Europe varies from the version of the CTS that has been continuously available in the USA for example. Tyre labelling there looks likely to replace the European pass-by noise rating with a durability score, though the details have yet to be finalised. Having said this, Cooper confirmed to Tyrepress.com that “[t]here are no differences between the CTS tyre which will be available on the European market and the CTS tyres available on other markets,” including the US. This could indicate Cooper’s confidence in the product’s ability to cope with the parameters of both labels; on the other hand, it could also show Cooper’s confidence in the continued delay of legislative action for US labelling to come into practice. In any case, the time is clearly ripe for this type of tyre in European markets.

As there has been a well-documented trend within the European SUV sector for higher performance road-going tyres, there is good reason for the timing of this reintroduction. Cooper said that it “is now keen to expand its 4×4 range as it looks to further strengthen its position as a 4×4 tyre manufacturer.”

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Cooper introduces new Discoverer sizes, relaunches CTS