Cooper Tires is now an official OEM tire supplier for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE.

If you wanted further proof that the Mercedes-Benz GLE is more of an American product than people lend to believe it is, for the new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE, you only have to look at the tires. According to Modern Tire Dealer on their report on the big come up for Cooper Tires earlier last week (Apr. 2, 2019) it looks like the bean counters over at Mercedes were impressed with the performance of the Cooper Discoverer SRX tire so much so that now you’ll see them as standard equipment for at most two tire sizes of the new Mercedes GLE, 255/50R19XL, and 275/50R20.

The new GLE from Mercedes is a big deal for the German automaker and its presence in the United States. This is the third generation of the mid-sized luxury SUV that’s been mostly made in America for the better part of two decades. With big SUVs and crossovers, according to Mercedes latest sales numbers, making up roughly half of their American sales, this new generation has big shoes to fill.

Previous GLE’s OE equipment tires include Dunlop Grantrek Touring A/S, Pirelli Scorpion, and Continental CrossContact LX Sports. While all those tire offerings have American factories and are Tier 1 tire suppliers, partnering with Cooper Tires is an interesting choice to say the least.

It noteworthy that the Discoverer SRX’s going on 2020 Mercedes Benz GLE’s are not what you can currently buy off TireRack or other tire shops, these are made-to-order tire just for Mercedes dubbed the Discoverer SRXLE.

According to Cooper,

“The SRXLEW features advanced performance construction to deliver maximum steering response, stability in handling maneuvers and a smooth, comfortable ride.”

Glancing at the specs of a bog-standard SRX, with a UTQG rating of “740 A B,” perhaps Cooper tweaked the SRX tire compound formula more for grip and not so much longevity, just a guess. I’m curious to see how Cooper specs these new SRXLE’s out to be. I’m sure these are a fine tire and should handle anything GLE owners throw at it with aplomb.

Although Cooper has manufacturing facilities in Serbia, Mexico, and China, SRXLE’s will be made at one of their four American factories.

“We are excited to be producing these tires at our Tupelo, Miss. manufacturing facility, where the entire team is dedicated to the type of excellence it takes to be awarded OE production for vehicles of this caliber. Our selection for the Mercedes-Benz GLE speaks volumes about our product quality and ability to meet the needs of even the most discerning customers.”

So the next time you see a new Mercedes GLE rolling around on Cooper Tires, know that it’s not a mistake and the owner hasn’t recently got new tires and that Cooper Tires are coming up in the premium market.

What do you think about, admittedly, a not so premium sounding tire brand name on a supposedly premium mid-sized SUV offering? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Modern Tire Dealer