August 31, 2021
Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tires are the do-it-all tire option in the world of the taller, heavier vehicles from which the category gets its name. They’re the proverbial jack of all trades, and much like their passenger car-focused counterparts, tires in the category feature a range of capabilities, performance targets, and price ranges. Sometimes drivers are looking for an entry-level tire, but that doesn’t mean they want entry-level performance. Luckily, Tire Rack’s test program is designed to help find out what each tire provides for drivers’ hard-earned dollars.
For the 2021 test season, Cooper introduced their Endeavor Plus, the replacement product for their highly successful Evolution H/T. There were also two additional, untested Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tires in the same segment, the Kumho Crugen HP71 and the Uniroyal Laredo Cross Country Tour. To see how these three entries compare, we decided to evaluate them using our 2019 Audi Q5 2.0T SUVs fitted with new, full tread depth 235/60R18 tires mounted on 18x8.0" wheels.
Our 6.0-mile loop of expressway, state highway and county roads provides a great variety of road conditions that include city and highway speeds, smooth and coarse concrete, as well as new and patched asphalt. This route allows our team to experience noise comfort, ride quality and everyday handling, just as you would during your drive to school or work.
On the road, the three tires in our test group all had generally satisfying characteristics and presented themselves well, though to varying degrees. The Endeavor Plus was our team’s top choice in all categories on the road. The ride quality was simultaneously the most cushioned and the most controlled, damping out small impacts to the point they were sometimes imperceptible and isolating from large hits a touch better than the other tires in the test. Noise comfort was satisfying overall, with some varied tones on most surfaces and an ever-present, light growl that was noticeable at around-town speeds but mostly faded into the background on the highway. The handling was very nice for the category. While the steering wasn’t what we would consider sporty, it was crisp and precise and responded in a satisfying way. The Crugen HP71 was a slight step back in ride quality, handling large impacts nearly as well, though small bumps could be felt a bit more in the steering wheel, and they brought with them a bassy resonance that could be felt in the vehicle’s structure. Noise was very close to the Cooper at low speeds, but on the highway there was a somewhat distinct drone that slightly stood out above other ambient sounds. The steering was more urgent than the Cooper, but not as crisp or direct, so once again it was just a touch behind the test leader. The Laredo Cross Country Tour was an acceptable, balanced performer that didn’t have any glaring faults, but also wasn’t quite as refined as the other two tires in the test. Bumps were slightly more noticeable in the Uniroyal, not because they hit significantly "harder" than the other tires, but because they tended to unsettle the vehicle, which felt a little coarse. Noise characteristics were generally good, with slightly more volume over all surfaces and an audible interaction between the tread and the road on turns or when taking an on-ramp or off-ramp. The handling was acceptable for the category, if slightly vague compared to the other tires in the test.
Our 1/3-mile per lap test track course includes 90-degree street corners, a five-cone slalom and simulated expressway ramps. Run in both dry and wet conditions, the test track allows our team to experience the traction, responsiveness, handling, and drivability normally only encountered during abrupt emergency avoidance maneuvers or competition events.
While quick lap times are not the primary function of a Crossover/Touring All-Season tire, pushing the tires to their limits allowed our team to assess their overall performance characteristics, in addition to simulating how they would react in an emergency situation. Here the Crugen HP71 was our team’s favorite, thanks primarily to responsive steering that made the vehicle feel more alert. It also set the fastest average lap and had the shortest 50-0mph stopping distance. The Endeavor Plus was locked down and secure and felt like it had slightly higher levels of traction than the other two. It didn’t feel as eager or athletic as the Kumho, and was slightly slower around our track, though it set the highest lateral Gs around the skid pad. It trailed the group by a small but noticeable amount in braking. The Uniroyal was also very capable of responding appropriately when pushed to the limit. It was predictable and balanced, and it was in the middle of the pack objectively in both 50-0mph braking and lateral Gs.
In the wet, the Endeavor Plus stood out considerably compared to the other two. It swept every objective measurement and felt very confident to our drivers. Undoubtedly the AWD platform helped with acceleration, but the Cooper still put the power down very well, with no perceptible wheel spin under power. AWD doesn’t help with braking or turning, and here the Cooper excelled as well, slowing the vehicle with authority and allowing our drivers to carry decent speed through turns. Some understeer was present through select sectors of the track, but overall our team was impressed with how well that vehicle characteristic was kept at bay. The Crugen HP71 delivered lateral grip and braking distances that would likely be acceptable for use on the street. However, when pushed on the track, it wasn’t quite as willing a partner. It required our drivers to adopt a point-and-shoot driving style where all braking was completed in a straight line, then complete the turn, then accelerate away once the nose was pointed in the proper direction. Objectively, the Laredo Cross Country Tour was only 6 feet behind the Kumho in braking and tied its performance on the skid pad. When it came time to combine multiple skills on the track, however, the Laredo Cross Country Tour fell behind considerably. Under power, understeer was the dominant trait, which required a distinct separation between inputs. Any attempt to blend braking or acceleration with steering would result in asking too much of the available traction and the front end pushing wide. Interestingly, the rear axle was very free under braking and would easily rotate a small amount, but the nose-heavy nature of our test vehicle meant it wasn’t useful because it would dissolve into understeer before achieving enough rotation to assist with the turn.
In our light snow evaluation, we found varying capabilities among the three tires. One observation that stood out was that, while they were varying degrees of "acceptable" in the snow, all three fell short of the capabilities regularly provided by the more premium tires in the category.
The Endeavor Plus stood out above the other tires, sweeping every objective metric in the test. The AWD system of our test vehicle helped to mask some of the traction disparity under acceleration, with only 1.3 feet separating the entire group in the run from 0-12 mph. 25-0 mph braking revealed a greater difference. The Endeavor Plus’s 62.6-foot stop led the way, with the Kumho and Uniroyal in a virtual tie at the back, requiring 69.1 and 69.2 feet, respectively. Around the handling track, the Cooper did the best job combining its skills into a reasonable, 66.9-second lap. Subjectively, our drivers found it drove nicely within its relatively small window of grip, but once that was exceeded it took a long time to recover. The Laredo Cross Country Tour featured steering that was initially responsive, but it easily overwhelmed the available traction at the front axle and would dissolve into understeer. Throttle-induced rotation was a possibility, but it required considerable space and commitment from the driver and wasn’t particularly useful. In general, the tire didn’t feel cohesive or adept at what it was being asked to do. The Crugen HP71 was consistent and predictable, but our drivers felt they were managing understeer for the entire lap. In very specific situations, some minor rotation was possible, but the handling dynamics were mostly limited to understeer through all elements of the track.
The three tires were close to one another and delivered acceptable results in our 12-0 mph braking on the ice. The Endeavor Plus again led the way, requiring 46.4 feet to bring our Audi Q5 test vehicle to a halt. The Crugen HP71 took 47.7 feet, while the Laredo Cross Country Tour needed 48.9 feet to come to a rest.
Our testing reveals the Cooper Endeavor Plus has a lot to offer drivers who want a balanced, dependable tire. It’s very nice to drive on the road, with a well-damped and composed ride combined with acceptable noise quality. The steering feel is stands out among this group, as is the test-leading wet traction. It’s the best in this test in the snow, too. The Kumho Crugen HP71 also delivers satisfying on-road refinement. The ride is comfortable, and sound quality is good for the category. The steering is quick, if a touch vague. Wet traction is acceptable and mid-pack in this competitive set, and we would like to see an improvement in light snow traction. The Uniroyal Laredo Cross Country Tour trails the other tires by a small margin, with a ride that is a bit softer and less controlled, plus some additional tread noise that could potentially stand out to some drivers. The wet traction and light snow traction could both use a large improvement if the intent is to match some of the stronger performers in this segment of Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tires.
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