Firestone Destination M/T (Pics & Review)

Hey all,

I just got Firestone Destination M/T in 265/75/16 size, Load Range D.

Here is more info: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=297713#post297713

Pics:

More...you can see the tiny holes to pin the studs (for snow travel)

Pic

Pics

Pics from rear

By chance, there was a damaged Firestone Destination M/T in the garage. Apparently, it came from a large diesel truck that slide into a curb at high speed.

Here is a pic of the Firestone's thick sidewall (3-ply):

Ok...the review:

Comparison is to my old tire: BFG AT KO, 265/70/16 (31"), Load Range D

My new tire (as pictured above): Firestone Destination M/T, 265/75/16 (32"), Load Range D

I have been researching M/T tires for a little over a month. Here was my review of all of them (based on other people's review over the net):

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22027

Ride comfort: I would say that the new tires ride better than BFG AT KO...it is more comfy. (I don't think that i am bias here nor suffering from trying to justify my decision.) I think that the lugs are softer than BFG and there is more cushion between road and rim. The tread depth is 19/32" while BFG is 16/32". The new tires feel softer overall...therefore, it absorbs small bumps much better. Sidewall maybe more flexible.

Handling: This is where BFG is better. The new tires feel "tall" and soft. You can wiggle the steering wheel and see the lag in response. BFG seemed to provide more ride control, but Firestone provides better ride comfort. Leaning is probably a bit more with the Firestones.

Weight of tire: According to Tirerack, BFG AT KO weighs 51 lbs. According to Firestone website, my new tire weighs 53 lbs. Tirerack quotes that my new tire weighs only 48 lbs. I trust Firestone website...and i am not even sure if my old BFG weighed 51 lbs because Tirerack is apparently wrong with my new tires. So, who knows?! Both tires probably weigh within a few pounds of each other.

NOISE level: (this is my most important criteria) The new MTs do make significantly more noise than my old BFG. On normal pavement, it is noticeable (slight hum), but not bothersome (remember, i am really anal about this). I don't think that an outsider will notice much difference. However, over coarse pavement, the new MTs do make much more noise (some droning with humming). It's tolerable and can easily be drowned out by music.

Acceleration/Braking: I did not test emergency braking yet. Braking seem normal for daily driving. Acceleration does suffer a bit, esp. when getting up to highway speed. You just have to press the gas pedal a bit deeper to get the same push. This is the least of my worries...and expected.

Appearance: It just looks sooooo cool. The overall look has just the right amount of aggressiveness without being too "redneckish" or gaudy/overdone. The tread design looks mean and ready for off-roading. I like it a lot. I would rank them just behind the Goodyear MT/R in looks, but better than BFG MT (too plain jane) and Cooper (too redneckish for me).


Overall, i am happy with the new tires. Most of the things above are expected when you go to an aggressive high-void MT tire. I am still a bit on the fence about the road noise over coarse pavement. In the end, i am keeping these tires due to the expected great off-roading capability of these tires, great looks (just right for my G), and durability.

Will keep you guys inform down the road on how these tires perform off-road and durability.

yeah they look sweet. Two guys I went with to Tellico NC off road park both had these tires.. one set 285/75 and the other 305/70 and they got the open diffs 4runner up some crazy crap I really did doubt he could get up.. the other guy had the elocker and was just crusing through the trail like nothing.

You will be impressed. I will switch to these in a 305/70 most likely once my goodyears are no longer in tread depth.

Great tires, I have a good friend that ownes a landscaping co. and has 20 trucks and this is the only tire he buys. He says that over the years he has tried many tires and this is the best tire for what he needs. He did mention to me that in winter it's the only tire his fleet has found that will make it up this long steep hill when plowing snow. And he gets long life out of them in the field.

Thanks guys for the positive reports...i am looking forward to testing them in the field.

Oh yeah, best of all, my stability control is tolerant of the new tires!!

General Sam's!!:girl:

JB. said:

General Sam's!!:girl:

Click to expand...

Exactly!!:biggrin2:

Today, i asked my colleague to testdrive my G with me sitting in the back. On the highway at 70 mph, you can hear the tires if you pay attention to it. It's not bad at all...and music easily drowns it out. In fact, my colleague (who is not into off-roading and drives an Impala to work daily) complimented the tires on the noise level despite it's aggressive tread. Sitting in the back, the noise level was the same...most it came from the cargo area (where the wheel wells are). This was over smooth highway.

I am going to check again over coarse roads later today.

Those look tough. I would have siped the center blocks, both for wet/ice traction and noise reduction. They look good, although personally I don't think I could ever put a set of Firestone/Bridgestones on any of my vehicles after the whole Explorer episode.

Not to repeat what i said above, but there is some droning over coarse pavement. You do have to keep both hands on the steering wheel when windy (G has the worst aerodynamics). Ride control is definitely less than when i had the BFG AT KO.

Despite these shortcomings, i like them.

mikestang said:

Those look tough. I would have siped the center blocks, both for wet/ice traction and noise reduction. They look good, although personally I don't think I could ever put a set of Firestone/Bridgestones on any of my vehicles after the whole Explorer episode.

Click to expand...

According to reviews, the Firestone M/T is excellent in wet weather. I think that this has something to do with the tire compound. It may not do as well over ice (which you just don't see much of in TX).

I do a lot of rock crawling...therefore, siping may weaken the lugs and cause chunking. I know that siping supposedly does not weaken a lug, but i hear stories.

As for Firestones, i hear that they are really making an effort on their premium tires to regain public trust. In addition, i will always pick a tire from a big company over a small company...thus, i chose Firestone over other companies like Cooper, Nittos, etc.

BTW, i did test emergency braking...and my ABS engaged quickly and stopped the vehicle promptly.

Mikestang, you should write a short review (w/ pics) of your Kumho MTs.

It's one of those things I need to do, but just need the right motivation, heh heh.

RE: siping and rock - We hit this one rocky trail on Mojave Rd. last weekend (see picts in the gallery). Well, I couldn't quite make it up one portion due to lack of lift, and was spinning my tires a bit trying to get ATRAC to kick in. One of my rear tires sustained a little rock chunkage, but it was only on the outside tread blocks that are NOT siped...

The problem of blowouts on the Explorer was not the tires it was the truck.

Koz

Just an update...the Firestones are pretty nice. As strange as it may sound, these new tires seem to be smoother (rounder?) on the road than my old BFG AT KO. Both were roadforced & balanced, but it just seems the Firestones have slightly less vibration in them despite it's aggressive tread. Noise level is good (for an M/T)...it is noticeable, but easily tolerable.

In conclusion, i am keeping it for the long haul.

7000 mile report: Ok...this sounds strange, but my MT's seem to have gotten quieter since i first bought it. I could be more used to it now...so, that may be the reason. But i really believe that it is a bit quieter than when i first bought it.

As for noise on the highway, the noise is present if you pay attention to it. It is definitely louder than my BFG AT KO. But it is quieter than Goodyear MT/R's and BFG MTs. You will hear tire hum, esp. above 40-50 mph. Over coarse pavement, you will hear it louder, but you can easily drown it out with music or conversation. It is easily tolerable. My wife doesn't even notice that i changed tires (from BFG AT KO to Firestones)...so that should tell you that it is not a big difference (and, no, she is not deaf!).

Handling is OK (it's a MT afterall)...and rain traction is good.

Hopefully, i will have more off-roading experience on these tires soon (this weekend).

Thai , They look great on there. Glad you like them , pretty different animal than the BFG AT's.