FJ Cruiser fitted with Cooper AT3 LT tyres

My beloved FJ Cruiser is about to reach 100,000km.

Previous Covid lockdowns stalled any travel, and now I’ve got itchy feet, so I’m considering packing the swag and hitting the road for a long-overdue Aussie road trip. I have no shortage of enthusiastic partners in crime.

The FJ has been running on BFGoodrich tyres for the best part of 80,000km, and they have served me well. I’ve driven from Melbourne to Birdsville and back via the Gammon and Flinders Ranges. My service records show that they were at 30 percent tread during the last service.

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It was time to get a new set of tyres, and as there are so many options on the market, I went to my colleagues at 4X4 Australia for advice, and they recommended Cooper AT3 LTs as a good option.

The AT3 LT is classified as an All-Terrain Light Truck tyre, carrying a high load rating with excellent off-road traction and strength.

Realistically, as an automotive photographer, I mostly drive on blacktop roads when travelling to and from photo locations. About 80 percent of my driving is on bitumen, with the remaining 20 percent being off-road driving on predominantly gravel roads and occasionally shorter rocky trails and tracks during weekend trips.

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Enter the Cooper AT3 LT. Ray and his team at Tyre Power Reservoir said the AT3 LT is an excellent all-terrain tyre that offers good durability and reliability. It comes with an 80,000km warranty and in the size to suit my FJ Cruiser it has a recommended retail price of $440 including GST.

Upon visual inspection, the new tyres have vastly different treads compared to what I was used to. Ray stated that I’d notice they’ll be quieter on the bitumen due to the straighter tread pattern, which will likely also result in better fuel economy.

Ray assured me that the deep tread will ensure the tyres still offer decent off-road traction and resist tread damage, without compromising on-road performance. The scalloped shoulders are designed for maximum off-road traction. The FJ can feel a bit unstable on gravel at high speeds, so it’s important to adjust driving to the conditions on dirt roads. I’m keen to see how well the AT3s will perform on loose gravel.

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The Cooper AT3 LT features a silica compound to improve cut and chip resistance, and deep aqua-vac channels to enhance water evacuation. Full-depth micro-gauge sipes are present to provide better grip and handling throughout the tyre’s lifespan, and it will be interesting to see how they perform as they age.

The team fitted the new tyres on the FJ’s standard rims. Each 265/70R17 tyre was inflated to 36psi and checked for both static and dynamic balance. One tyre needed to be spun on the rim to best match the high point of the tyre with the low point of the rim, but the balancing ensured there would be no vibrations once the tyres were installed back on the vehicle.

The team conducted a simple road test and then proceeded with the alignment, which required only minimal adjustment to the toe setting.

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My initial impression is that there is a significant reduction in road noise on the blacktop, with the cabin now very quiet. I’m eager to see how the tread wears over time. I will ensure that the tyre rotation is done properly so I can effectively measure the longevity of the tyres.

I have some off-roading planned before my next report at 10,000km, so let the adventures begin.

RRP: $440 each