Firestone Destination LE3 Review: The Ultimate Highway All-Season Tire for Light Trucks, Crossovers, and SUVs with Exceptional Performance
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Pros
- On dry roads, exceptional control and stopping ability
- Excellent control and stopping ability even on rainy roadways.
- Comfortable to a reasonable degree and quiet even at motorway speeds
- Outstanding treadlife and a lengthy warranty against treadwear (70,000 km).
- Reasonable cost, especially considering the product’s performance.
- In situations with only a small coating of snow, both control and traction are adequate.
Cons
- When traveling over really rough terrain, the ride quality deteriorates.
- There are no LT-metric sizes available for larger trucks, transporting, or towing.
- Lacking the necessary sturdiness for driving off-road.
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Trucking in North America is more successful than it has ever been, despite efforts to curb the use of vehicles that are harmful to the environment. People just can’t get enough of the versatility and versatility of these vehicles, which allows them to go just about anywhere. In addition, possessing a large automobile is something that appeals strongly to the American psyche for some reason. However, you’ll need tires that are up to the task if you want to get the most out of your truck.
There are currently quite a few alternatives available on the market. And I’m not just going to list the various brands that are available here. There are various subtypes of truck tires, the most common of which being touring tires, highway tires, all-terrain tires, and off-road tires. And despite the fact that each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, truck drivers have generally agreed that highway tires designed for all seasons offer the best overall balance.
The Firestone Destination LE3 is the company’s most recent entry into the category of highway all-season tires. The new model is the replacement to the widely used Destination LE2, and it features significant enhancements over its predecessor. To be more specific, Firestone advertises better safety in wet weather as well as optimized snow performance, both of which are most welcome.
The highway all-season tire category, on the other hand, already has quite a few superb tires in its lineup. The Michelin Defender LTX is our top pick, but other models, including the Continental TerrainContact H/T, the Cooper Discoverer HT3, and the Goodyear Wrangler HT, also deliver a strong showing in terms of how well they function.
In order for the Destination LE3 to be competitive with these models, it will need to demonstrate strong performance over a wide range of environments, including dry and wet pavement, snow, and hardpacked surfaces. In addition, truck drivers want their tires to be comfortable, which is why the ride quality, quietness, and smoothness are all crucial characteristics. Naturally, the price is a significant factor as well, particularly considering the fact that tires for huge trucks are not exactly inexpensive.
But how does it fare in comparison to the other options that are available? In our comprehensive analysis of Firestone Destination LE3, we are going to focus specifically on this topic and discuss it at length. I will discuss every facet of the tire, including its performance on dry and wet pavement, its grip in the winter, its off-road capabilities, its durability, and its level of comfort. In the end, I will show you the benefits and drawbacks of the tire, as well as my conclusion.
But before we get into that, let’s have a look at what the Destination LE3 has to offer in terms of its features.
What are the features of the Firestone Destination LE3?
According to Firestone, the Destination LE3 is a tire designed for light and medium trucks that was developed using the most cutting-edge technologies available for all four seasons. To be more specific, the tire was created by the engineers to provide a ride that is both comfortable and quiet, while also retaining its stability and consistency when cornering in the majority of situations.
Firestone made use of a sophisticated rubber compound, which was then shaped into a symmetric tread pattern. The design prioritizes the delivery of a comfortable ride while also giving the driver precise control over the steering and handling of the vehicle. In addition, the company utilized the TractionTech package, which is distinguished by its full-depth 3D tread features. These elements assist the tire in maintaining its performance even as the tread wears down.
In addition, there is a technique known as Hydro-Grip, which makes use of open shoulder slots and an optimized tread pattern in order to improve performance in wet weather and reduce the likelihood of the vehicle hydroplaning. On the other hand, the full-depth 3D sipes increase the number of biting edges, which is beneficial when driving on roads covered in snow.
What are the maintenance indicators?
Tread wear indicators (also known as TWIs) are the industry standard, and the Destination LE3 is equipped with these. You may measure the tread depth using these slim rubber bars, which are recessed into the grooves of the tire and sit in the grooves themselves.
To be more specific, the tread wear indicators (TWIs) become increasingly obvious as the tread wears down. They will be totally flush with the surface when the tread depth reaches 2/32 of an inch. After that, you should immediately get new tires installed on your vehicle. This is due to the fact that if the tread depth is insufficient, the tire will not be able to drain water away from the treads, which will result in less traction. In addition to this, the snow’s traction will be significantly reduced. In the end, it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle with tires that have a tread depth of less than 2/32 of an inch.
To our relief, we anticipate that the Destination LE3 will have an outstanding treadlife. In this respect, the earlier model was already satisfactory, but this one improves upon those qualities even further. In addition, Firestone offers an exceptional treadwear warranty that is valid for 70,000 miles, in addition to a 90-day buy and try guarantee that provides further piece of mind.
How does it behave on a dry tarmac?
Even in the first few miles of your drive, the Destination LE3’s handling will quickly astonish you and leave you speechless. In contrast to the highway tires of yesteryear, the steering has a positive and snappy feel. Actually, the fact that a low-cost alternative like the LE3 can offer such a nice experience from the road was something that caught me by surprise.
Fortunately, the tire continues to impress with its levels of grip thanks to the innovative tread composition that was used in this version. Now, it is true that it is not superior to the premium products that are also available, but it is pretty close. You can count on great cornering grip even when you apply significant force.
Even if your truck is not loaded, its tires will not look for traction during sudden acceleration because they are not required to do so. Additionally, the stopping distances are satisfyingly low, and they are on par with those of the premium competition.
Overall, the Firestone Destination LE3 demonstrates itself to be a worthy contender for the role of a car driven daily. It offers an enjoyable experience behind the wheel in addition to exceptional grip and traction for the driver.
How is it over wet and slippery roads?
If you have Destination LE3 tires on your vehicle, driving in the rain won’t be much of a problem for you. Without any understeer or oversteer, the tires give the car a feeling of confidence as it navigates the curves. The automobile has a very good resistance to hydroplaning, which enables it to maintain its stability at greater speeds, even when driving through really heavy rain.
When we investigate further, we find that the stopping distances are superior to those of other “budget” highway all-season tires. When compared to tires of a similar price, the Destination LE3 offers the highest cornering speeds even when the road surface is wet.
In spite of this, tires such as the Continental TerrainContact H/T and the Michelin Defender LTX perform even better in the handling and braking tests, respectively. Nevertheless, they are around 10% more expensive, which is not an insignificant difference in this category.
Despite this, the vast majority of truck drivers will find that the Firestone performs quite well in wet situations.
With that being said, how is it on snowy roads?
There is no question that Firestone has tried to enhance the snow traction of their all-season highway tire. The Destination LE3 exudes an air of much greater assurance on snow than its predecessor did, and the difference is not even close to being comparable.
To be more specific, the tire now has significantly improved acceleration traction, which means that the likelihood of you becoming stranded anywhere is significantly reduced. Additionally, the tire has a more comfortable feel when turning curves and stops significantly sooner.
On the other hand, and this is an essential point, Destination LE3 is not yet a dependable option for use in severe snowy conditions. Snowfall that is not too heavy should not be a problem, but conditions that include extremely low temperatures, deep snow, and ice should be avoided.
It is impossible for me to emphasize this point enough: investing in quality winter tires will provide you with much improved performance in every respect. The Destination LE3 is certainly of high quality, but it cannot compare to the performance of a true winter tire. It is highly recommended that you change your tires to ones that are designed to perform in snow and ice before the winter months arrive.
Is it suitable for off-road driving?
It is not possible to purchase the Destination LE3 in LT-metric sizes like you can with the Michelin Defender LTX or the Continental TerrainContact H/T. This not only implies that you won’t be able to move very heavy freight or tow very huge trailers, but it also means that the tire won’t be capable of off-roading.
And, I am not referring to traction in this context. When seen through these lenses, the Firestone ought to be comparable to LT-metric tires. However, the construction of the tire is just not robust enough for driving on rough ground, particularly if the pressure needs to be lowered. This is especially true if the tire is inflated to a lower level. Additionally, the tread compound is not resistant to being cut or chipped in any way.
You should never use it for extended off-roading journeys; stick to shorter bursts instead.
Is it comfortable and refined?
The Destination LE3 has a ride quality that is, for the most part, smooth over bumps. On smooth roads, the ride quality was actually rather good, and I found that the tire does not have an overly bouncy or soft feel about it. In addition to this, it performs admirably when a more significant bump or a pothole is encountered. The fact that there are not many vibrations that are able to penetrate the cabin contributes to the smoothness.
On the other hand, the tire begins to suffer when traveling on roads that are broken and have numerous potholes. It’s not terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but compared to the luxury brands out there, it lacks the polish that sets them apart. When it comes to noise, the Destination LE3 fortunately more than makes up for its previous shortcomings. When traveling at normal speeds, the treads on your tires produce almost no audible grumble, and this is especially true if the noise insulation in your truck is effective.
Overall, the new Firestone highway all-season tire is a strong performer for daily driving, especially on longer distances. On the highway, it does not get noisy and keeps you well insulated from the bumps and potholes that you may encounter.
Should I buy the Firestone Destination LE3?
The Destination LE3 is a very intriguing possibility to consider if you drive a truck, SUV, or crossover vehicle and are looking for a tire that is easy to work with and dependable in the majority of conditions. When compared to other tires available at a lower price point, this one performs better throughout the majority of circumstances, and it even comes close to matching the premium alternatives.
There are still problems with it, the most significant of which is that Firestone does not provide LT-metric sizes for the larger trucks. On the other hand, if you’re not familiar with that type of car, you shouldn’t have any problems. I highly suggest the Destination LE3 to owners of trucks, SUVs, and crossovers due to the exceptional performance it provides on dry and wet roads, the comfortable ride it provides, and the long treadlife it offers. It’s a terrific tire, no doubt about it.