Cooper Tires is a name that’s very familiar yet uncommon in Canada. Names like Bridgestone, Goodyear, Pirelli and Michelin fill our tire commercials and store signs, but there’s still some room for competition. That’s why Cooper Tires have been making a strong push to make an imprint on the Canadian marketplace. 

Cooper Tires are definitely not new, being founded in 1914. Their expertise has focused on the replacement tire market specializing in performance and passenger tires, light trucks, sport utility and crossover vehicles. In attempt to broaden their reach and appeal, Cooper Tires has recently focused their attention to the Great White North – Canada. Cooper Tires have been selling in Canada, unbeknownst to many, but they’re determined to customize their tires and promotional material specifically to Canadians. Considering that Windsor, Ontario is only 175 kilometres from Cooper Tires headquarters in Findlay, Ohio – it only makes sense for them to showcase their tires in Canada. 

Just recently, Cooper Tires got back into the OEM game and worked out an arrangement with Ford to add its ultra-high performance Zeon RS3-A tire (comes in 38 different sizes) to their all-new Ford Focus vehicles. The Focus falls in the same segment as my Mazda3, so it was a nice test to see how well the Zeon RS3-A’s perform on it through the streets of Toronto. 

They were fitted to my 2010 Mazda3 Sport replacing their OEMs, the Bridgestone Turanza EL400 that have seen better days through three summers and two snowy winters. When you’re not on a back-to-back test it could be hard at times to see the differences from one tire to the other, so it was going to be an interesting challenge to see what kind of change could be felt, if any.

This was not the first time I tested the Zeon RS3-A’s. Last spring I was invited to Pearsall, Texas to the Cooper Tires 1,000-acre test track facility to learn more about the company and their tire options. On a wet track, both these Zeon RS3-A’s and Toyo’s Proxes 4 Plus all-seasons were fitted onto Ford Mustang V-6s. That was a different test that highlighted the Zeon’s asymmetrical tread over the one-directional Toyos. 

The all-weather RS3-A’s can be used in snow or rain and were perfect for the wet track showing off its versatility. My laps were timed and the Mustang with the Zeon’s were two seconds quicker than its competition from Toyo. They battled through those slippery conditions while the Toyo’s had me skidding in corners and took longer to straighten out. 

This new test would be much different and more in-tune with the regular driving habits of the average Canadian. The Zeon RS3-A’s would be tested under normal driving conditions with an everyday car. There would be no race track, water track, or competitor in this test. Would they be quiet and smooth or fail under some of Toronto’s old crackly roads? Would they provide better grip and handling? 

Let’s start out with handling. With any performance tire you’re looking for handling control that allows you to be more confident and relaxed in your driving actions. We aren’t talking extreme racing here, but let’s be honest; you want your tires to give you that added friskiness even if it’s a Mazda3. 

Quickly I could sense a noticeable change in my vehicle. The Zeon’s responded quickly and confidently to my steering throughout the streets of Toronto and into Hamilton. They performed admirably and with ease around the twists and turns on my specially designed route. The grip they showed on those windy roads amazed me the most and they transitioned from straight to sideways and back in impressive fashion. And when taken on the highway – the Zeon’s handling increased with no tire roll while being quieter.

The Zeon RS3-A excels in the handling department as it’s made with 3-D micro-gauge siping that increases tread element stability allowing for more tire control. The 3-D dimple sipes are strategically placed in the center, intermediate and shoulder of the tire creating more road biting action. This simply translates to better grip allowing you to brake quicker if needed and turn those corners at higher speeds. So the best of both worlds – safety and fun. Is there anything more you can ask for in a tire?

Another thing that stands out with these Zeon RS3-A’s is the quiet ride it brings. This low amount of noise has a lot to do with its asymmetric design.  Asymmetrical tires have a design that mixes different tread patterns to offer better tire performance under differing conditions. Asymmetrical tires have many advantages including the increase of overall tread life and stable cornering (mentioned above), but it also helps decrease road noise and provides you a more peaceful and enjoyable ride.  

Beyond the Zeon RS3-A’s great dry performance, they’re also designed with tread patterns that are optimized for wet and light snow conditions. They possess two wide circumferential grooves that suck water away from the tire tread for hydroplane resistance. For the winter, traction performance is sustained by its sweeping elliptical grooves. I wouldn’t recommend using them as winter tires in some parts of Canada, but if you don’t see much snow they should do just fine. 

Heading into this test I wasn’t sure I would feel much of a change in my Mazda3. The changes weren’t drastic, but the Zeon RS3-A noticeably improved the stability and handling of my vehicle. Cooper Tires combination of asymmetrical tread design and rubber compound make the Zeon RS3-A a viable performance all-season tire choice. They deliver plenty of performance on dry days, and in different parts of Canada, they will be much needed as they provide added confidence when it’s wet or lightly snowing outside. 

Cooper Tires have a strong background in the replacement tire segment and their prices don’t reflect its performance. Prices vary based on size and store, but I found these tires online for the 205/55R16 size I needed selling for $135.99 per tire with a $70 mail-in rebate. In comparison to its ultra-high performance competitors, the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus and the Pirelli P Zero Nero all-season were found at a more expensive cost. I haven’t tested all of their competitors out, but I was happy with my Zeon RS3-A’s that provided me some top-quality features at a mid-market price and I will take that every time.