[Pete Munroe]

When Cooper is picked up by the Indian company I would guess based on their brands manufactured in India things would not change much...for example, they bought Austrian brand Vredstein (sp?) and it is still with them...do not know if the design is the same, but the kept the European brand name.

On the S/R vs S/T discussion I can only suggest read what I posted a little way back on this thread.

About the only way to compare I am aware of, short of an expensive controlled test, is to look at easy to find, published info.

SPEED RATINGS...vs. price points...not many hi-po tires, H rated or better cost LESS than the run of the mill, S and T rated street radials.

DOT UTOG tire wear numbers. The highest numbers are for long tread life vs low numbers and short life.

Low numbers, 200 or less, seem to go to hi-po tires, high numbers, 300 and up go to long lived radials for general use.

Price...all the entry level 15" 60 series tires are pretty close...then for about 100% more you are into the S/R's, and 200% more AVONS.

If the data is too sketchy, include 17" versions and relative price, speed ratings, DOT ratings...

You COULD buy another set of wheels and tires and run skid pad tests...I can't affort that so I just look at the best available data.

Pete