Cooper WeatherMaster SA2+ review
The Cooper Weather Master SA2+ is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that excels in snow and slush, offering impressive traction at a competitive price point. While most users praise its winter capabilities and comfort, some report concerns regarding handling feedback and noise levels, particularly after extended use or rotation.
Owners rate it 13.8 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
By owner reviews
85%By road tests
71.2%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 36 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Cooper Weather Master SA2+ is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that excels in snow and slush, offering impressive traction at a competitive price point. While most users praise its winter capabilities and comfort, some report concerns regarding handling feedback and noise levels, particularly after extended use or rotation.
Pros
- Excellent traction in deep snow and slush
- High value-for-money proposition compared to premium brands
- Comfortable and smooth ride quality
- Reliable performance on icy surfaces, especially when studded
Cons
- Increased road noise reported by some users
- Vague steering feedback and handling characteristics
- Potential for vibration or balancing issues
- Inconsistent performance in extreme ice conditions compared to dedicated Nordic-compound tires
Worth knowing
- Users noted that the tire's performance and construction can vary significantly based on manufacturing origin, with 13-16 inch sizes and 17+ inch sizes utilizing different compounds and designs.
- Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., Mustang) reported that switching to a narrower tire profile significantly improved winter safety and confidence.
5 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2021 Winter tire Market Overview · 205/55 R16
22nd of 49
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 15th of 49 | |
| Snow Braking | 30th of 49 |
2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter tire Test · 245/45 R18
20th of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 12th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 15th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 18th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 20th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 20th of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 19th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 20th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 19th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 20 | |
| Noise | 16th of 20 | |
| Value | 5th of 20 | |
| Wear | 20th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 16th of 20 |
2020 Winter tire Market Overview - 52 tire Braking Test · 245/45 R18
16th of 48
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 13th of 48 | |
| Snow Braking | 25th of 48 |
2019 Winter tire Test Market Overview · 225/45 R17
26th of 45
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 10th of 45 | |
| Snow Braking | 28th of 45 |
2018 51 Winter tire Shootout · 195/65 R15
25th of 51
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|