Pros
- Shortest braking distance in its class
- Superb aquaplaning resistance
- Very quiet even at higher speeds
- Excellent handling on dry and wet
Cons
- It needs a bit more comfort refinement
- Off-road capabilities are not the best
In the world of trucks, finding a good set of tires is not that easy. Most truck owners’ biggest problem is finding a well-balanced tire that can perform well throughout the year.
It seems that Firestone continues the Destination lineup with the latest version, LE3. Based on the company, the tire should be improved over the previous generation. Could the Destination LE3 be the next tire for your truck or SUV?
What are the features of the Firestone Destination LE3?
When you visit the product page of the Destination LE3, you will notice that Firestone advertises it as a light and medium truck tire. While that is true, the tire can easily fit plenty of SUV models and even crossover ones.
Firestone claims that the tire is designed with a special rubber compound that should help it perform in all weather conditions.
In terms of drivability, the tread pattern is symmetric, designed to provide better driving dynamics. In other words, a more responsive driving characteristic. The combination of the design and rubber compound also serves another purpose – comfort.
As you drive, the tire wears down, and some lose their performance slightly. Firestone equipped the Destination LE3 with its TractionTech technology. Essentially, the 3D sipes go all the way down and have the full depth of the tread, resulting in a consistent performance.
For wet and snow performance, Firestone combined the power of the 3D sipes with its HydroGrip technology. The result should be excellent grip in the rain or on snow.
Treadwear Rating: 4/5
How does it behave on dry tarmac?
The Destination LE3 is surprisingly good on a dry road, much better than I thought it would be. It feels very stable and higher speeds and has no problem with any inputs.
It is pretty responsive, maybe not as much as a high-performance tire, but still pretty good. The Destination LE3 takes steering inputs without skipping a beat, and while the feedback is not the best, I can’t fault it too much.
In the corners, the levels of grip are superb, again, much better than what I was anticipating. Despite not being a tire that should be pushed hard, it won’t complain if you get a bit carried away.
Lighter cars sometimes struggle for traction, but that’s not the case with the Destination LE3. Even under a very light load, traction should not be a problem.
Dry Rating: 4.5/5
How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?
The surprise party continued, as I found that the Destination LE3 performed excellently on wet and slippery roads.
When cornering, the tire has more grip than what the average driver needs. There are some better performing options like the Michelin Defender LTX, but that’s above this class. You can push the tire pretty hard before the grip is lost, but it won’t spiral out of control even then.
Heavy rain is a problem for most tires, primarily for not evacuating the water from the tire’s blocks. The good news is that Destination LE3 has no problem with this. The aquaplaning resistance is excellent and, in my opinion, the best in class.
Wet Rating: 4.5/5
How is it over snow?
The Destination LE3 is showing to be a decent winter performer, better than the LE2. Firestone significantly improved the snow performance, which was another surprise.
All-season tires are not designed to be driven too much on snow, and the same goes for this one. Light snow conditions won’t be a problem, and you can drive win confidence knowing that you’re in control.
Ice also won’t be a problem because the rubber compound is designed to work in lower temperatures.
As I said, these kinds of tires should not be driven in heavy snow. You will never get the necessary winter performance out of a tire like the Destination LE3. If you live in an area with harsh winters, go for a dedicated winter tire.
Wet Rating: 3/5
Is it comfortable and refined?
I have to say that the Destination LE3 is comfortable and refined but not perfect.
In the comfort department, the tire is decently comfortable. Road imperfections are smoothed out, and there are hardly any vibrations even at higher speeds. Once you start driving on some terrible road, you will begin to notice the lack of refinement. It’s not bad in that regard and still manages to smooth out most of the holes, but I think that tires like the Defender LTX are a bit better at it.
Noise-wise, there is nothing to complain about, and I can only praise the Destination LE3. There is almost no noise from the tires at city speeds which is surprising considering the class. At higher speeds, there is some noise that can be eliminated as long as your vehicle has good insulation.
I have to give the Destination LE3 thumbs up in this category, as it proved to be an excellent touring tire.
Comfort Rating: 4/5
Is it good for off-roading?
I wouldn’t recommend the Destination LE3 for off-roading, as it’s not what it’s designed for. Firestone made this as an all-season touring tire, meaning that it should be driven on paved roads.
Unlike some of its rivals that have some beefed-up construction, the Destination LE3 doesn’t, meaning that you can damage it. Sharp rocks will be the biggest problem, which is why you should avoid them.
On the other hand, dirt roads or small mud patches shouldn’t be a big issue.
Is the Firestone Destination LE3 ideal for sporty driving?
Surprisingly, the Destination LE3 isn’t a bad tire for sporty driving. Considering the amount of grip it provides in the corners, it’s a tire that you can have some fun with.
Even though sporty driving isn’t in this tire’s DNA, you can take it down a twisty road and see how good it can be in the right hands. Combining the levels of grip with the decently sharp response, you won’t be disappointed with the tire’s sporty characteristics.
Noise Rating: 4.5/5
Firestone Destination LE3 Warranty
Looking at the price category the tire is in, seeing a warranty isn’t surprising; the duration of it is.
Firestone sells the Destination LE3 with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty. On top of that, you also get a 90-day buy and try guarantee. You have 90 days to decide if the tire is right for you.
Firestone Destination LE3 Pricing: Is it worth the money?
I cannot think of a better tire in this category and price range than the Destination LE3. The price starts from $136, which at first glance may not seem cheap. Well, all-season truck tires aren’t cheap, and Firestone’s model falls in the budget-friendly category.
Tires with the performance that the Destination LE3 offers are tough to find. The ones that you will find will be more expensive, which is why this one is among the best in its class.
Value Rating: 5/5
Should I buy the Firestone Destination LE3?
Yes, you should buy the Destination LE3 and don’t think twice. With this price to performance ratio, I doubt that you’ll find a better option.
Dry and wet performance is magnificent, and the tire provides excellent cornering grip. In some cases, I would say it offer more grip than any truck or SUV driver would ever need. The straight-line stability is spot on, and the tire doesn’t vibrate even when pushed to the upper speed limits. When it comes to braking, the Destination LE3 has one of the shortest braking distances in its class.
In terms of responsiveness, it reminds me a bit of performance tires, with its sharp reactions. It will take any input from the steering wheel perfectly, but don’t expect too much feedback.
The tread design and 3D sipes work together to provide you excellent performance in heavy rain. The result of that is excellent aquaplane resistance.
Snow performance is barely passable, and the Destination LE3 shouldn’t be considered a replacement for a winter tire. Another aspect of the tire that isn’t so good is off-roading. While you may be able to drive it in some light off-roading scenarios, for better performance, you will need to pay more for the Defender LTX.
Comfort is good, as long as you don’t drive over some horrible roads, at which point you will start to notice a drop in performance. As for noise, it’s almost nonexistent. At slower speeds, the tire is virtually silent, and, on the highway, you may hear a faint tire sound. Despite that, the noise won’t be intrusive.
Overall, the Destination LE3 is a tire that I cannot find too many faults with. There are a few areas where it won’t perform as its premiums competitors. Despite that, when you look at the price, you will see that it’s one of the best bargains on the market at the moment.
Value Rating: 4.5/5
What Vehicles Will the Firestone Destination LE3 Fit?
- Chevrolet Silverado, Blazer, Traverse
- Ford F series, Explorer
- GMC Sierra
- Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe,
- Jeep Compass, Cherokee, Wrangler
- Mitsubishi Outlander, L200
- Nissan Pathfinder, Rogue
- Ram Pickup
- Toyota Rav4, CH-R, Tacoma, Hilux
The list contains some SUVs and trucks, but with the Destination LE3, it can get quite extensive, considering the available tire sizes.
Tire Sizes for Firestone Destination LE3
15″
- 215/75R15
- 225/70R15
- 225/75R15
- 235/75R15
- 265/75R15
16″
- 205/70R16
- 215/65R16
- 215/70R16
- 225/70R16
- 225/75R16
- 235/65R16
- 235/70R16
- 235/75R16
- 245/70R16
- 245/75R16
- 255/65R16
- 255/70R16
- 265/70R16
17″
- 215/60R17
- 215/65R17
- 225/55R17
- 225/60R17
- 225/65R17
- 235/55R17
- 235/60R17
- 235/65R17
- 235/70R17
- 245/65R17
- 245/70R17
- 255/65R17
- 255/70R17
- 265/65R17
- 265/70R17
18″
- 225/55R18
- 225/60R18
- 235/50R18
- 235/55R18
- 235/60R18
- 235/65R18
- 245/60R18
- 255/55R18
- 255/65R18
- 255/70R18
- 265/60R18
- 265/65R18
- 265/70R18
- 275/65R18
19″
- 225/55R19
- 235/45R19
- 235/50R19
- 235/55R19
- 245/55R19
- 255/50R19
- 255/60R19
- 275/55R19
20″
- 235/55R20
- 245/50R20
- 245/60R20
- 255/50R20
- 255/55R20
- 265/50R20
- 275/45R20
- 275/55R20
- 275/60R20
22″
- 285/45R22
List of Firestone Tire Reviews
One Comment
I own a 2015 Silverado 2500
Had Firestone DestinationLE3 installed
size 265x70x18
My specs are 60psi front
70psi rear
On board computer tells to add air. (constantly).
Did I buy the wrong tire ?