Firestone Destination A/T2 Tire Review and Rating

 

 

A growing number of SUVs and trucks are coming to market, making off-roading more popular. While some people hate them, the fact that these cars are capable of going places your plain old sedan cannot is a clear advantage.

Off-road driving requires the right tires. The regular road-going tires you use won’t perform as well as you need. Furthermore, they aren’t as durable, so they are easily damaged. A good tire is essential if you want to go off-roading with your truck or SUV.

Today I will focus on Firestone, one of several US-based tire brands. For many years, the brand was the go-to manufacturer for affordable, high-performance tires. Firestone shined even more under the Bridgestone umbrella after it was acquired by the company near the end of the 1980s. The Destination A/T2 is one of the company’s off-road tires that can do some off-roading.

If you have followed the manufacturer’s history, you may be familiar with Destination. First, there was the A/T, and then there was the A/T2. According to Firestone, the first version has been improved in some ways.

Firestone Destination A/T2 features:

The tread design of Destination A/T is the most noticeable difference between the previous and second versions. Despite not being a huge change, it is noticeable. While the first version may seem more aggressive and better suited to snow, the A/T2 should actually perform better. All-season tires with a 3PMSF rating should perform better than regular tires.

In all-season tires, the rubber compound is slightly improved, which is why the tire has a 3PMSF rating. This version should perform better in heavier snow conditions than the previous version, which struggled in heavy snow.

Several purposes are served by the tread pattern both on and off the road. The shoulder pattern was designed a bit more aggressively than the previous version. As well as improving grip and traction on snow, this part of the tire should help in off-road conditions. In addition, the pattern should enable the tire to bite into snow even in more extreme winter conditions.

Based on some improvements, the Destination A/T2 is designed to be better in rainy conditions, especially in terms of aquaplaning resistance. By having wider grooves, the tire can channel more water and help the blocks maintain constant traction.

As a result of the full-depth 3D speed technology, Firestone was able to increase the warranty on this tire. It should result in consistent performance as the tire wears down and ensure that the tire wears evenly over its lifetime.

What is its behavior on dry tarmac?

On a dry road, the Destination A/T2 performed exceptionally well.

The main reason why all-terrain tires are not very good on paved roads is that no manufacturer can make a tire that is excellent for all surfaces. For more powerful trucks and SUVs and more aggressive drivers, the Destination A/T2 has plenty of traction.

The tire can hold a corner much faster than you think, to the point where you may wonder, “Is this an off-road tire? ”.

 While the tire will still lose traction, it will do so very gradually and won’t surprise you.

Even though the tire will lose traction, it will do so very gradually, and you won’t be surprised by it.

What is its behavior on wet or slippery roads?

Additionally, the Destination A/T2 performed exceptionally well on wet and slippery roads.

The tire feels slightly better in this department than its predecessor, but the difference isn’t as pronounced. It provides excellent grip and traction in the wet and provides a very safe driving experience. You can still push the tire quite a bit more than most of its competitors despite non-ideal driving conditions.

Thanks to Firestone’s improved biting edges, the Destination A/T2 has very short braking distances thanks to its updated tread design.

Aquaplaning resistance is the best feature of the tire. When driving on water, the tire remains remarkably stable due to the wider grooves.

What is its behavior on snow?

When compared to the previous versions, the Destination A/T2 is in a class of its own. As a result of the combination of rubber compound and tread design, the tire remains perfectly drivable in winter conditions. With the 3PMSF rating, you can drive the tire even in deeper sand.

This is still an all-season tire, so in harsher winter conditions a proper winter tire will be needed.

Does it feel comfortable and refined?

A very comfortable and decently refined tire, the Destination A/T2.

As a result of a higher sidewall, the tire can flex slightly more, absorbing some of the road imperfections. Additionally, hitting a larger hole won’t be a problem since the tire will absorb most of the vibration.

I wouldn’t classify the tire as particularly quiet, but the noise levels are good. In terms of noise, it is not as loud as some of the other off-road tires.

What is its behavior of off-road?

Destination A/T2 tires are designed for off-roading, and they perform well in that regard.

There will be no problem driving on hard surfaces like dirt roads, and the tire will provide plenty of drivability. The Destination A/T2 will also perform well in mud or sand.

We now turn our attention to the slightly negative side of things. Although the tire is off-road ready and offers improved off-roading performance over its predecessor, it is lacking in some areas. Off-road, it performs better than the Destination X/T.

Does the Firestone Destination A/T2 suit sporty drivers?

You shouldn’t expect sporty driving from the Destination A/T2.

In the corners, you will have plenty of grip, and the tire has pretty predictable handling, but at the end of the day, it is an all-terrain tire. It has a slightly stiffer sidewall and doesn’t flex as much as other tires in this category. There’s only one sporty thing I can say about it

The tire doesn’t have the sharpest response, and while there is some road feedback, it’s a bit muted.

Warranty for Firestone Destination A/T2

I mentioned in the introduction that Firestone increased the warranty on the Destination A/T2. Compared to the previous generation, this one has a 55,000-mile treadwear warranty. Firestone designed the tire to be more durable by increasing the warranty by 5,000 miles.

What is the price of Firestone Destination A/T2?

Destination A/T2 tires are worth the money, but things aren’t as simple as that. Starting at $157, the tire isn’t cheap by any means. Overall, the tire is worth the price. Nevertheless, when you consider some slight negative aspects, you have to ask yourself, is it worth it?

Video Review of  Firestone Destination A/T2?

It is true that the Destination A/T2 is a tire you should buy, but only if your needs are specific.

The tire performs well on the road, and I cannot fault it for that. A tire can handle dry or wet conditions, summer or winter, without breaking a sweat. Off-road, the tire is also very capable and can deliver impressive performance as long as you don’t take things too far. Some Firestone tires are more capable in these situations than others.

For better off-road performance, the Destination X/T is a better choice. That’s true, but keep in mind that that tire will produce a lot more noise than this one.

Overall, the Destination A/T2 is a tire for people seeking excellent road and off-road performance without sacrificing comfort or noise.

References and Resources:

https://carsandbids.com/

https://www.carsdirect.com/

https://www.carvana.com/