Audiworld Product Review: Cooper Tires Cooper Zeon RS3-G1

Do Yourself a Favor and Make Your Next Set of Tires the Cooper Tires Cooper Zeon RS3-G1.

Cooper Tires reached out to us about their latest offering: the Cooper Zeon RS3-G1. These ultra-high performance all-season rubber derive their name from the fact that they can sustain 1G of cornering force around the skidpad. Impressive on paper, but what is the real world verdict? They were so confident that we would like the tires that they sent us a set to test out.

Impressive on paper, impressive in the real world. I have tested a number of tires on road and track, and as such, my performance standards can be considered out of touch with most consumer-grade rubber. However, the Cooper Zeon RS3-G1 inspire confidence in a way that is truly impressive for an all-season tire. Having driven all of the prominent direct competitors to this tire, from the likes of Michelin, Yokohama and Continental, it is clear that the RS3-G1 easily matches and exceeds the competition in many areas. The steering response feels sharper with the Cooper tire, and that likely has to do with the broad shoulder design of the tire. The RS3-G1 feels sure-footed in the canyon roads outside of Los Angeles. Wet weather performance is equally competitive with the tread pattern full of siping that is effective at wicking away standing water and preventing hydroplaning. Siping is a series of small slit-like channels cut into the tire that allow the tire to dispel water from the face of the tread more efficiently. The tires have performed admirably throughout California’s very wet winter season. No amount of standing water, including flooded city streets, was able to deter my confidence in the Cooper tires. This level of all-weather performance is a match made in heaven for Audi and it’s quattro equipped vehicles.

[See what forum members are saying about their tire choices in the AudiWorld forums.]

I was initially dubious that a tire with a 500-treadwear rating could be anything other than a rock hard ride, with compromised performance, but I’ve happily been proven wrong. Cooper Tire is serious about the performance driving aspect of this tire, and it shows. That a tire with this level of performance can be expected to last 50,000 miles is a truly impressive feat.  As an all-rounder, consider us sold on the latest offering from Cooper Tire.

Not convinced? Cooper Tire sent us this video showcasing some of the torture testing that they put the Cooper Zeon RS3-G1 through. My back road burning and canyon runs suddenly seem a bit less impressive.

Want to know more about Cooper Tire and the Cooper Zeon RS3-G1? See here for details. Video via Cooper Tire.