Long Term Test Conclusion - Cooper ProControl Tires Go the Distance In Challenging New England Weather, Proving They Are an Outstanding Choice For Year-Round Use

In May of 2023, Torque News began a long-term test of Cooper’s ProControl tires. We opted to use a sporty Acura TSX sedan in our own personal fleet as the test vehicle. The test environment was Metro Boston in snowy New England. However, for the first year, the vehicle saw only sunny weather, having been used in Florida for part of its test cycle. This past winter of 2024-2025 was the tire’s first testing in winter here in the local area. Now that we have four-season test results along with two years and about 20,000 miles or wear, we can offer our firm opinions on the Cooper ProControl all-season tire. 

Here is our initial review report.

Here is our second review report.

Cooper ProControl - Handling and Braking
The ProControl tires immediately revived our seemingly sleepy Acura TSX. The prior tires were fine, but they lulled us into thinking the Acura was weary and its suspension worn. That proved untrue, as the new tires gave the TSX a new lease on life. As soon as the tires were mounted, the original crisp handling and confidence when braking returned. These Cooper tires were a reminder of just how big a difference a new set of quality tires can make in the overall driving pleasure a good car offers. The car seemed to wake from a slumber and want to play. 

Cooper ProControl - MPG Results - All Good
During our testing, the Acura TSX exceeded its EPA estimates for MPG, so we can confidently say that the Cooper tires didn’t have any negative effect on fuel economy. We ran the tires at the vehicle manufacturer’s suggested psi.

Cooper ProControl - Noise Reduction and Comfort
The two most noticeable changes from the prior tires this car had worn were that noise was decreased and comfort increased. This is always a subjective area of our reviews, but without any doubt, these are smooth quiet tires.

Cooper ProControl - Wet and Winter Weather
We drove over a mixture of snow and ice on many occasions during our last three months of testing. We found the Cooper ProControl tires to be predictable and confidence-inspiring in this mix of winter snow and ice. We would not opt for all-season tires if we planned to drive in deep snow, but for most commuters, these tires would fare well in winter on all but untreated roads or the worst of storms. Our wet weather summary from report two was, "During heavier rain when traveling on the highway, the Cooper ProControl tires seem to have reduced the feeling of hydroplaning we occasionally felt with the prior sets of tires." We also found the tires reduced nuisance spinning when starting off quickly from a stop in wet weather. 

Cooper ProControl - Durability Over Potholes and Train Crossings
During our testing, we crossed rail tracks almost daily. The beating they took was constant. Our area has a lot of deep, scary potholes. Our primary tester told us, “On one occasion, I thought for certain I had destroyed the two passenger side tires after hitting a monster pothole, but they were perfect when I stopped and looked them over.” All four of the tires remain undamaged despite repeated impacts with broken pavement and constant rail crossings. 

Cooper ProControl - Prices
It’s been two years since we did this analysis, but when new, the Cooper tires were meaningfully less expensive than some other similar choices from other brands. Here is a recap of our prior price analysis:

• Cooper ProControl $164
• Continental Purecontact LS $181
• Pirelli P7 A/S Plus 3 $189
• Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 $190

Cooper ProControl - Wear and Life Expectancy
For the Cooper ProControl, the treadwear warranty is a generous 70,000 miles. Based on our visual inspection of the tires, they are barely worn. Our tread depth tool showed less than 1.5 mm of treadwear. We would expect that these tires could easily go the distance, and we’d likely end up changing them based on time in service rather than treadwear. We rotated the tires just twice in the two years we observed them in service, yet they are worn evenly with no cupping or feathering. The alignment of the TSX must be spot on.

Cooper ProControl - Final Impressions and Conclusion
The ProControl all-season tires are ideal for those who value quiet comfort when driving. Based on our observations, the tires also offer crisp handling and no reduction in fuel economy. In our approximately 20,000 miles of use, the Cooper ProControl tires showed minimal wear, and we would predict they could easily last 70,000 miles. We would recommend these tires for any driver who has a sedan, minivan, hatchback, or crossover SUV. 

Test Notes: The tires used in this long-term test were provided by Cooper. The author paid out of pocket to have them mounted, balanced, and rotated.
 

John Goreham is a credentialed New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on Linkedin and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools.