Cooper Evolution Winter Review: The Ultimate Tire for Extreme Winter Weather Performance

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I really hope that most drivers are aware that winter driving is significantly riskier than other seasons, as this is something that should have been learnt by now by everyone who drives. The inability of drivers to maintain control of their vehicles when driving on slick surfaces such as snow, ice, and slush makes it impossible for them to travel in a straight line. In addition, the unfortunate reality is that more people lose their lives in car accidents that take place during the winter.

The installation of winter tires affords us the fortunate opportunity to reduce the severity of these collisions. The extremely low temperatures and slippery conditions, such as snow, ice, and slush, are precisely what prompted the development of these specialized tires for automobile use. Because of this, winter tires have significantly shorter stopping distances than all-season tires do when used on snowy terrain. In other tests, the stopping distance of winter tires is three times shorter.

Some tire manufacturers provide studded winter tires, which provide an even higher level of traction on snow and ice. This indicates that it is possible to install small metal studs onto the tires in order to significantly improve traction on snow and, more importantly, ice. One example of this kind of tire is the Cooper Evolution Winter, which is a product that is designed for motorists who reside in hilly or arctic locations, as well as anyone else who is subjected to extremely harsh winter weather.

However, in order for a winter tire to be practical for drivers, it must also be able to perform effectively on other types of terrain. The majority of the time, the Cooper Evolution Winter will be utilized on surfaces that are dry as well as wet, which is where the majority of winter tires struggle. As one would expect from a company of Cooper’s caliber, they paid a great deal of attention to that particular component of the tire as well.

The popular Weather-Master S/T2 tire can be replaced with its direct equivalent, the Evolution Winter tire. According to Cooper, the new tire offers increased performance across the board, especially in severe conditions brought on by winter weather. In addition to that, the engineers concentrated their efforts on enhancing the ride quality while concurrently working to improve the noise attributes of the tire.

The Evolution Winter is available from Cooper in a total of 48 distinct sizes, ranging from a wheel diameter of 14 inches all the way up to a wheel diameter of 20 inches. Cooper’s portfolio of sizes accommodates a significant proportion of the passenger cars that are currently in use on the world’s roadways.

Minivans, coupes, compact crossovers, mid-size sedans, compact crossovers with seven seats, crossovers with two rows of seats, and even certain SUVs are included in this category. Therefore, if you live anywhere in North America and you own a vehicle, there is a good possibility that you will be able to locate a set of Evolution Winter’s that will fit your car like a glove.

Which begs the question: do they have any redeeming qualities? That is not a question that can be answered simply and quickly. When you stop and think about it, tires have to perform well in a wide range of settings, and there is hardly any tire that is exceptional in every environment. As a result of this, you will be able to learn how the tire performs on a variety of surfaces by reading my comprehensive evaluation of the Cooper Evolution Winter.

However, before we jump to any conclusions and form any first impressions based on our experiences in the real world, let’s have a look at the features that Cooper Tire incorporated into the tire in order to make it suitable for drivers in North America.

What are the features of the Cooper Evolution Winter?

According to Cooper Tire, the Evolution Winter was developed to provide drivers with stability and confidence even while they are maneuvering through deep snow. According to the manufacturer, the tire is capable of plowing through snow, which is a sign of its ability to withstand severe weather. Another indicator that this tire is designed to perform well in the winter is the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake insignia, which is abbreviated as 3PMSF.

In addition, Cooper made this tire capable of being studded in order to improve its performance on icy and snowy roads. The engineers meticulously positioned the stud pin holes in order to achieve the maximum amount of traction possible on the ice. Studs with a number 12 are compatible with the Evolution Winter tire, and their installation requires the expertise of a qualified tire technician. It is important that you are aware that driving with studded tires is illegal in some states. In certain places, you are only permitted to use studs while the roads are covered in snow or ice.

On the Evolution Winter, Cooper used a tread compound designed specifically for use in the winter to get the best possible traction in the snow. In order to give the driver improved traction for accelerating and shorter stopping distances when driving on snow and ice, the rubber is molded into a directed tread pattern. This pattern has the goal of providing better traction.

The central rib features a tread pattern that is comprised of wide stiff tread blocks. It is anticipated that the steering responsiveness, stability, and straight-line tracking will all improve as a result of this. In addition, the powerful outboard shoulders boost lateral grip, which ought to assist the driver in attaining higher cornering speeds.

Cooper utilized the SawTooth Circumferential Center Rib in conjunction with open notches in the shoulder areas to achieve improved grip in slushy and wet conditions. Because of these, the tire should have an outstanding ability to channel water and prevent hydroplaning as a result.

The Snow-Groove technology, which incorporates high-density, multi-angle siping, provides coverage for snow and ice traction. Driving on unpacked and packed snow, ice, and slush is made more difficult as a result of these additional biting edges. In addition to this, the Snow-Groove technology is designed to collect snow within the tread, which results in greater snow-to-snow traction.

What are the maintenance indicators?

The treadwear indicators that are considered the standard in the industry are incorporated into all of Cooper’s tires, including the Evolution Winter. Because they indicate to the driver how much tread is still available for safe driving in snow and wet conditions, TWIs are a vitally important component of vehicle safety.

On the Evolution Tour, you can see the TWIs sitting between the circumferential SawTooth grooves. These TWIs are narrow rubber bars that sit between the tread blocks of the tire. Rubber bars are heavily recessed within the tire, but as the tread wears down, they become more visible. The tread is heavily sunken into the tire.

When the tread wear indicators (TWIs) are completely flush with the surface of the tread, the minimum tread depth for the Evolution Winter is 2/32 of an inch, which is equivalent to 1.6 millimeters. When this happens, the tire will no longer be able to offer the driver a high level of resistance to hydroplaning, and its grip in the snow will be significantly reduced.

But if you want to drive safely, you should really consider replacing the tires much sooner. This is especially true for winter tires, which need to have sufficient tread depth in order to ensure safe steering and braking performance on icy and snowy surfaces.

Sadly, winter tires do not have a reputation for having a very long treadlife. Because the Evolution Winter tire is still quite new, I am unable to determine whether or not it will affect that. In addition, there is no warranty on treadwear provided by Cooper, but this is typical for winter tires in general.

How does it behave on a dry tarmac?

On dry roads, the Cooper Evolution Winter is a reasonably excellent driver overall, and this is especially true when the temperature is subzero. The handling is predictable, there is ample traction, and the stopping distances are not excessively long.

In terms of dry handling, premium competitors such as Michelin, Bridgestone, and Nokian continue to hold the advantage. On public roadways, the change isn’t easy to spot, and most people won’t be able to detect the difference even if they try.

Nevertheless, it can be found. And the only reason I bring this up is because the Evolution Winter isn’t as reasonably priced as one might anticipate from a Cooper product.

How is it over wet and slippery roads?

When the surface is wet, things get better. When driving in wet conditions, the Evolution Winter is an extremely reliable choice of tire. The extraordinary resistance to hydroplaning is mostly attributable to the huge and deep grooves that are present on the tire.

In addition, I discovered that the tire operates exceptionally well on roads that are only slightly damp. The grip and traction are both excellent, and the stopping distances are quite similar to what can be achieved with premium tires.

When it comes to the overall experience, using the Evolution Winter during wet weather won’t let you down at all.

With that being said, how is it on snowy roads?

The Evolution Winter is now one of the most capable tires on the market for use throughout the winter months. The performance of the tire in comparison to that of other winter tires is significantly improved when the studs are removed. It’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it comes pretty darn close.

The tire performs exceptionally well in icy terrain in all respects. The handling is fairly secure and predictable, the stopping distances are very short, and the traction is adequate even in deeper snow. The performance of Slush is also good; there is nothing negative to mention in this regard.

Even without studs, the tire has extremely good ice performance; nonetheless, it is not quite on par with the performance of the very best winter tires, such as the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90.

The Evolution Tour, on the other hand, has the capability of being studded, which dramatically increases its ice traction. This tire, when equipped with the studs, is among the most secure options for use on snowy and icy terrain, and it is unquestionably an improvement over the WS90.

Is it suitable for off-road driving?

The Cooper Evolution Winter is not intended for use when traveling on unpaved surfaces. It’s possible that it will provide you with higher traction than other tires do because of the deep tread pattern. However, the soft tread on winter tires is readily damaged if driven on abrasive terrain such as gravel and dirt. This is because winter tires are designed to perform better in colder temperatures. Therefore, if you want to maintain control of your tire, I recommend that you stick to paved routes only.

Is it comfortable and refined?

Cooper’s primary focus was on reducing the tire’s noise and improving its overall comfort. They were successful in the former endeavor; despite being a winter tire, the Evolution Winter is surprisingly quiet. Although the ride quality isn’t terrible, there are some routes where the tires make the car seem jittery, especially when traveling at higher speeds. There is nothing life-threatening, but it is important to point this out.

More of the Cooper Evolution Winter Review may be found at the following link: Michael is the creator of the video.

Should I buy the Cooper Evolution Winter?