Having run 4-5 sets of BFG AT's over different rigs the last 15-20 years, I recently decided to try the new Cooper AT3's, and have ZERO regrets.
The AT3 is a brand new tread design for 2011 2012. A ton of technology went into the tire. Lots of testing footage on YouTube if you search on Cooper AT3's.
I love mine in wet rain they hook up with little or no wheel spin due to Silica and carbon componds
Snows a couple weeks away, we'll see how they do then. Quiet highway ride, haven't had it on logging roads yet.
Flashback history - I Bought my bone stock 2004 Rodeo with the rocketship 3.5 direct injection engine 2 years ago and it looked like this in stock tire size and suspension.
![Image]()
It came home to replace the tired 180,000 mile old Honda Passport running a 3.2L, and 245/75/16 BFG A/T's
the 2004 had stock sized 245/70/16's on it with bare bones highway tread tires.
![Image]()
Flash forward a couple years, and added a slightly lifted full suspension kit installation:
Sway-a-way H/D Torsion bars up front. I think they're 27mm dia verse 24mm stock.
Old Man Emu OME 913 springs in back. actual 2" lift measured. (all fenderwells tops measured at 35" off pavement, front T-bars ride height set same)
Old Man Emu OME Nitrocharger shocks all 4 corners. SWEETNESS!!! Firm but not jarring ride. Wife Approved
SS braided steel brake lines.
Ceramic Brake pads everywhere.
Greasable Poly Sway Bar mounts.
Here is the stock 245/70/16 tire with the Above listed 2" lift. Note the white letters out.
![Image]()
265/70/16's wouldn't quite clear even with my Sway-a-way torsion bars raising the front up over 1-1.5 inches. As I said, the top of the fender well is 35" off the ground which gives it a nice aggressive but not obnoxious stance.
Todays rig with new t-bar ride height settings and new 255/70/16 tires. Note Black Wall tires, I like..............!!!!!!
![Image]()
![Image]()
I just didn't want to do any trimming or hacking, yeah I could of taken the mud flap off and done some hammer pounding, but I'm not a rock crawler and don't need gobs of wheel travel.
255/70/16's seemed to be the best fit with this photo showing wheel at full lock and mud flap clearance of maybe 1/4" Putting more T-bar lift just isn't going to gain anything, and I'm on level concrete, not rock crawling which I never do anyways.
![Image]()
At the tire shop I tried 265's mounted twice over 2 days, lifting the front wheel wells with more 5 more turns on the t-bar nuts after day one, but it just wouldn't clear on day 2 so went with the 255/70/16's.
I definatley wanted the wider 70's tires tire, and 255's/16's were the biggest that would fit.
I can tell on acceleration and braking, that there is more tire drag/resistance there due to the bigger diameter tire, but with the 3.5 DI engine, it still reves to the moon with gobs of power.
If you're in the market for daily driver all terrain tires, I highly recommend looking at the Cooper AT3's.
Thought people would like to see what a well set-up daily driver Rodeo, with minor suspension mods would look like for occassional weekend Logging Road / Trail travels.
cheers.
Dirt Digger Dave.
The AT3 is a brand new tread design for 2011 2012. A ton of technology went into the tire. Lots of testing footage on YouTube if you search on Cooper AT3's.
I love mine in wet rain they hook up with little or no wheel spin due to Silica and carbon componds
Snows a couple weeks away, we'll see how they do then. Quiet highway ride, haven't had it on logging roads yet.
Flashback history - I Bought my bone stock 2004 Rodeo with the rocketship 3.5 direct injection engine 2 years ago and it looked like this in stock tire size and suspension.
It came home to replace the tired 180,000 mile old Honda Passport running a 3.2L, and 245/75/16 BFG A/T's
the 2004 had stock sized 245/70/16's on it with bare bones highway tread tires.
Flash forward a couple years, and added a slightly lifted full suspension kit installation:
Sway-a-way H/D Torsion bars up front. I think they're 27mm dia verse 24mm stock.
Old Man Emu OME 913 springs in back. actual 2" lift measured. (all fenderwells tops measured at 35" off pavement, front T-bars ride height set same)
Old Man Emu OME Nitrocharger shocks all 4 corners. SWEETNESS!!! Firm but not jarring ride. Wife Approved
SS braided steel brake lines.
Ceramic Brake pads everywhere.
Greasable Poly Sway Bar mounts.
Here is the stock 245/70/16 tire with the Above listed 2" lift. Note the white letters out.
265/70/16's wouldn't quite clear even with my Sway-a-way torsion bars raising the front up over 1-1.5 inches. As I said, the top of the fender well is 35" off the ground which gives it a nice aggressive but not obnoxious stance.
Todays rig with new t-bar ride height settings and new 255/70/16 tires. Note Black Wall tires, I like..............!!!!!!
I just didn't want to do any trimming or hacking, yeah I could of taken the mud flap off and done some hammer pounding, but I'm not a rock crawler and don't need gobs of wheel travel.
255/70/16's seemed to be the best fit with this photo showing wheel at full lock and mud flap clearance of maybe 1/4" Putting more T-bar lift just isn't going to gain anything, and I'm on level concrete, not rock crawling which I never do anyways.
At the tire shop I tried 265's mounted twice over 2 days, lifting the front wheel wells with more 5 more turns on the t-bar nuts after day one, but it just wouldn't clear on day 2 so went with the 255/70/16's.
I definatley wanted the wider 70's tires tire, and 255's/16's were the biggest that would fit.
I can tell on acceleration and braking, that there is more tire drag/resistance there due to the bigger diameter tire, but with the 3.5 DI engine, it still reves to the moon with gobs of power.
If you're in the market for daily driver all terrain tires, I highly recommend looking at the Cooper AT3's.
Thought people would like to see what a well set-up daily driver Rodeo, with minor suspension mods would look like for occassional weekend Logging Road / Trail travels.
cheers.
Dirt Digger Dave.
