Upgrade Your Driving Experience with Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring: A Comprehensive Tire Review
This post includes affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, I will receive a commission for the sale.

Pros
- Super responsive and direct
- Excellent traction and grip on dry tarmac
- Very good wet performance
- Strong braking on dry and wet surfaces
- Excellent treadlife and treadwear warranty
- Fair price
Cons
- Worse snow traction than the premium competition
Check Price at Amazon.com at TireAmerica.com at TireRack.com at DiscountTire.com at TireBuyer.com at PriorityTire.com at SimpleTire.com
Not very long ago, automobile owners who desired to equip their vehicles with tires of a higher grade were had to shell out a significant amount of cash. Premium tires from a reputable manufacturer are typically quite expensive, particularly if you drive a vehicle with larger wheels. Thankfully, businesses such as Cooper Tire came into being and thrived by providing superior goods at far lower prices than the premium competition.
Their grand-touring vehicle, which is now over five years old and is dubbed the CS5 Ultra Touring, is the perfect illustration of that point. When it comes to pricing, this product is competitive with a large number of high-end tires as well as some of the newest budget-friendly tires. Even on certain sportier cars, many people who have purchased these tires have said that they are pleased with both the performance and the durability of the tires, despite the low price point.
However, this does not imply that those who already own sports cars should rush out and get the CS5 Ultra Touring. After all, this is a grand-touring tire, which means that it is intended to provide a combination of good performance on dry and wet pavement, a quiet and pleasant ride, and a long-lasting treadlife. In other words, it is a well-rounded touring tire. Of instance, if you already drive a coupe and place a higher priority on comfort than on performance, the CS5 Ultra Touring could be a fantastic choice for you.
Even though it’s called the Grand Touring, the CS5 Ultra Touring is still a touring tire and occupies a higher position in Cooper’s lineup of tires than its predecessor. The Ultra Touring variant features increased dimensions and top speeds, in addition to a number of cutting-edge technology that collectively contribute to the vehicle’s enhanced overall performance.
Because of this, we believe that this tire would be a better choice for more powerful mid-size sedans, such as the V6 or turbo versions of the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord, as well as for sports sedans, such as the Lexus IS, BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes C Class. These tires might also be a good option for drivers of compact crossovers and SUVs who are looking for more responsive handling than what is provided by a standard touring tire.
But how does this tire perform in comparison to others when it comes to situations that actually occur? In order to provide you with an answer to that question, we have developed a comprehensive evaluation of the Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring. You are going to learn in this review about the performance of this tire when it is dry and when it is wet, as well as the comfort levels, durability, and snow traction.
However, before we get into our perspectives, let’s have a look at what Cooper Tire has to say about the CS5 Ultra Touring.
What are the features of the Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring?
According to Cooper Tire, the CS5 Ultra Touring is purpose-built to provide great grip in any and all weather conditions, superior handling, cornering, and stability, as well as an exceptionally quiet and smooth ride overall. This tire has the M+S classification for light-snow traction, which indicates that it is an all-season grand-touring tire. In spite of this, the M+S rating does not qualify it for use in extremely icy and wintry conditions, in contrast to tires that have the 3PMSF grade.
This variant, in contrast to the more affordable CS5 Grand Touring, comes standard with Cooper’s Stabiledge Performance technology, which enhances the vehicle’s performance when cornering and maintains its stability on dry roads. Interlocking the tread elements allows for improved responsiveness as well as cornering stability thanks to this technology, which also helps eliminate the flex that is inherent to separate tread blocks.
In addition, the tread compound used to make the tire is up to date, which results in an even wear and a longer treadlife for the tire. The CS5 Ultra Touring, just like the majority of other Cooper products, has full-depth 3D Micro-Gauge siping across the whole tread depth to generate biting edges, which improves the tire’s grip and traction on low-friction conditions such as light snow.
Both wet traction and braking are taken care of thanks to the broad outboard shoulder blocks, which have less void area for improved lateral traction, as well as the center ribs and inboard shoulders, which have a higher sipe density. In addition, the CS5 Ultra Touring features three circumferential grooves, which are designed to reduce the likelihood of the tire hydroplaning.
The internal architecture of this tire is similar to that of the vast majority of grand-touring tires; it comprises of a high-turnup, single-ply polyester casing that is supplemented by two steel belts that provide additional strength. The spirally coiled nylon reinforcement provides not only an additional boost to the firmness but also contributes to the manageability and stability of the structure.
The Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring is offered in a comprehensive selection of sizes, beginning at 15 inches and going all the way up to 20 inches. This includes a wide range of automobiles, such as sub-compact and compact cars, compact and mid-size sedans, sports sedans and sports coupes, crossovers, minivans, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
What are the maintenance indicators?
When it came to producing products with a focus on value, Cooper was one of the first companies to begin including maintenance signs on their tires. These indicators are a natural inclusion on the CS5 Ultra Touring, as they are constructed directly into the tread itself.
Not only are these indicators incredibly vital for ensuring the owner knows how many miles are remaining on their tires, but they are also very important for ensuring the owner’s safety. If the tires do not have an adequate amount of tread depth, the wet traction and snow traction will be significantly reduced. This tire, much like most others, has a minimum tread depth of 2/32 of an inch.
Wear Square Indicators is what Cooper refers to as their technology. In their most basic form, they are just little inserts made of rubber that are placed in the circumferential grooves of the tread pattern. When the tire is brand new, these signs are just barely visible, but over time they will become recessed.
On the other hand, their presence will grow increasingly obvious over time. That is quite normal; it only demonstrates that the tread has worn down due to the vehicle’s mileage. Having said that, the tires ought to be changed out as soon as the tread is worn down to the point where it is level with the wear square indicators. Naturally, we advise doing that a little bit earlier, and you should never wait until the tread is completely worn out to get it done.
To our relief, the CS5 Ultra Touring has an exceptionally long treadlife, especially considering how affordable it is. Comparable to the treadwear warranties offered by other premium tire manufacturers, this one covers V- and H-Speed Rated models for an infinite period of time and 70,000 miles of driving. The W-Speed rated versions, on the other hand, only come with a treadwear warranty that is good for 40,000 miles, which is less than the best in the category.
People who have already purchased this tire report that, apart from the warranty, they have not experienced any concerns with fast tread wear. This is especially true when the tires are rotated every 10,000 miles.
How does it behave on dry tarmac?

Because of the high cost of the tire, we weren’t expecting the Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring to have particularly sporty handling when we tested it. Despite this, the device still managed to catch us off guard with its exceptional handling, which remained consistent even when subjected to extreme cornering force.
The CS5 Ultra Touring is a tire that is known for its excellent responsiveness, particularly in larger sizes with narrower sidewalls. There is no way to improve upon this level of responsiveness in a grand-touring tire; this is the best that can be achieved.
In addition to that, the tire has an excellent grip on the pavement. Even when driven to its absolute limit, high-speed cornering still has a natural feel to the tire. Additionally, the traction is outstanding, especially on some of the more potent automobiles equipped with V6 engines or turbochargers.
In contrast to certain comfort-focused budget grand-touring cars, the tires provide a responsive and pleasurable driving experience behind the wheel.
The CS5 Ultra Touring also performs extremely well in the braking department; the distances traveled before coming to a complete stop are very small. In addition to this, the CS5 Ultra Touring drives quite well on the highway, and the steadiness is exceptional in every manner.
Because of this, however, we do not recommend that you take the CS5 Ultra Touring with you to any track days. Everything that we discussed is relevant just when driving on public roads. This is not a high-performance tire, and as such, it should not be used in the same manner as one.
Because of this, if you possess a high-performance sports car, you should avoid giving serious consideration to purchasing these tires. Even with all of its advantages, the CS5 Ultra Touring won’t be able to compete with really powerful automobiles.
However, when compared to other products of a similar price point, the tire’s handling capabilities stand out as very impressive. It is inevitable that some premium competitors may provide you with superior performance, but you should be prepared for this outcome.
How is it over wet and slippery roads?
The time and effort that Cooper put into enhancing its performance in the rain compared to earlier generations has truly paid off here. In our assessment of the Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring, we discovered that it performs exceptionally well on tarmac that is moist, wet, and very wet.
Because of the innovative tread compound, the tire is able to keep its superb handling abilities even when the track is wet, providing the driver with a great deal of traction and grip.
Even on wet pavement, the CS5 Ultra Touring continues to deliver an impressive performance, accelerating and stopping without any problems. Last but not least, the hydroplaning resistance in extremely heavy rain is great, which is particularly impressive considering the cost.
With that being said, how is it on snowy roads?

The CS5 Ultra Touring is an all-season tire, which, in principle, ought to mean that it may be used throughout the winter as well. However, in practice, this is not the case. On the other hand, it really is dependent on the winter we have here. If you live in a location that receives very little or no snow during the winter months, then the CS5 Ultra Touring could be an excellent option for you.
On the other hand, if you reside in a location that has severe winter weather, you should consider moving elsewhere. This tire does not provide adequate grip even in light snow, and its use on ice is nearly impossible. In addition, driving over really deep snow should be absolutely avoided because this causes the tire to completely lose its traction and grip. Additionally, braking on snow and ice is not the smartest thing to do.
When the weather forecast calls for significant snow and ice, our team always suggests investing in a good pair of winter tires.
Is it comfortable and refined?
Even while the CS5 Ultra Touring isn’t the most comfy or silent grand-touring tires available, it’s still a really excellent deal for what you get. The ride quality is satisfactory even over rough terrain, and there is very little road noise when driving on the freeway.
You may read more about tires by clicking here: Alex on Autos is the creator of this video.
Should I buy the Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring?
If you are looking for an affordable set of grand-touring tires, the Continental CS5 Ultra Touring should at the very least be on your shortlist of potential purchases. When compared to similar products on the market, Cooper’s offering performs admirably in terms of both its handling and its traction in wet conditions, with the exception of snow. In addition to this, the treadwear warranty on the tire is outstanding, and the tire itself has a very high level of durability.