Table of Contents
Firestone Destination LE3 Tire Review
Specifications:
- Dry 90%
- Wet 90%
- Snow 60%
- Comfort 80%
- Noise 90%
- Treadwear 80%
- The shortest braking distance in its class
- Excellent resistance to aquaplaning
- Even at higher speeds, it remains very quiet
- Handling on dry and wet surfaces is excellent
- There needs to be a bit more refinement in the comfort department
- The off-road capabilities aren’t great
A good set of tires for a truck isn’t easy to find. A well-balanced tire that performs well throughout the year is the biggest problem facing most truck owners.
Firestone continues its Destination lineup with LE3, the latest version. According to the company, the tire should be better than the previous generation. Is the Destination LE3 the next tire for your truck or SUV?
Firestone Destination LE3 features?
On the product page for the Destination LE3, Firestone advertises it as a light and medium truck tire. However, the tire can easily fit plenty of SUVs and crossovers.
In order to perform in all weather conditions, Firestone claims that the tire has been designed with a special rubber compound.
The tread pattern is symmetrical, which improves driving dynamics. A more responsive driving characteristic. Comfort is another benefit of the rubber compound and design combination.
Tires wear down as you drive, and some lose some of their performance. The Destination LE3 is equipped with Firestone’s TractionTech technology. There are 3D sipes that go all the way down and have the full depth of the tread, resulting in consistently reliable performance.
Firestone combined 3D sipes with HydroGrip technology for wet and snow traction. In the rain or on snow, the result should be excellent grip.
On dry tarmac, how does it behave?
On a dry road, the Destination LE3 is surprisingly good, much better than I expected. With any input, it feels very stable at higher speeds.
It’s pretty responsive, perhaps not as much as a high-performance tire, but still pretty good. Even though the feedback isn’t the best, the Destination LE3 takes steering inputs without a glitch.
Again, I was pleasantly surprised by the level of grip in the corners. Despite not being a tire that should be pushed hard, it won’t complain if you get carried away.
When it comes to traction, lighter cars sometimes struggle, but not the Destination LE3. It should be possible to maintain traction even under very light loads.
In wet and slippery conditions, how does it behave?
On wet and slippery roads, the Destination LE3 performed well.
During cornering, the tire has more grip than is needed by the average driver. There are some better-performing options, such as the Michelin Defender LTX, but that’s above this class. Even if the grip is lost, the tire won’t spiral out of control.
Most tires have problems with heavy rain, primarily because the blocks don’t evacuate the water. Destination LE3 doesn’t have a problem with this. In my opinion, the aquaplaning resistance is excellent.
Behavior on snow?
Destination LE3 is performing well in winter, better than LE2. Another surprise was Firestone’s improvement in snow performance.
Snow tires are not designed to be driven too much on snow, and this one is no different. With light snow conditions, you can drive with confidence knowing that you’re in control.
In addition, the rubber compound is designed to work at lower temperatures, so ice won’t be a problem.
In heavy snow, these tires should not be driven. A tire like the Destination LE3 cannot provide the necessary winter performance. Winter tires are recommended if you live in a harsh climate.
Does it feel comfortable and refined?
Destination LE3 is comfortable and refined, but not perfect.
The tire is decently comfortable in terms of comfort. Even at higher speeds, road imperfections are smoothed out and vibrations are hardly noticeable. As soon as you start driving on a terrible road, you’ll notice the lack of refinement. It still manages to smooth out most of the holes, but tires like the Defender LTX do a better job in that regard.
There is nothing to complain about in terms of noise, and I can only praise Destination LE3. Considering the class, the tires make almost no noise at city speeds. If your vehicle is well insulated, some noise can be eliminated at higher speeds.
The Destination LE3 proved to be a great touring tire in this category.
Off-roading Experience?
The Destination LE3 isn’t designed for off-roading, so I wouldn’t recommend it. This is an all-season touring tire made by Firestone, so it should be driven on paved roads.
In contrast to some of its rivals, the Destination LE3 does not have a beefed-up construction, so you can damage it. It is best to avoid sharp rocks because they will be the biggest problem.
Dirt roads or small mud patches, however, should not be a problem.
What is the Firestone Destination LE3’s suitability for sporty driving?
Despite its name, the Destination LE3 isn’t a bad tire for sporty driving. Considering how much grip it provides in the corners, it’s a tire you can enjoy.
You can take this tire down a twisty road and see how good it can be, even though it isn’t designed for sporty driving. You won’t be disappointed with the tire’s sporty characteristics when you combine the levels of grip with a decently sharp response.
Warranty for Firestone Destination LE3
Given the tire’s price category, a warranty isn’t surprising; its duration is.
Firestone offers a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty on the Destination LE3. Additionally, you get a 90-day buy-and-try guarantee. The tire can be returned within 90 days if it is not right for you.
What is the price of Firestone Destination LE3?
The Destination LE3 is the best tire in this price range and category. Starting at $136, the price may not seem cheap at first glance. All-season truck tires aren’t cheap, but Firestone’s model is affordable.
It is hard to find tires with the performance of the Destination LE3. Those that you will find will be more expensive, which is why this one is one of the best.
Video Review of Firestone Destination LE3?
Don’t hesitate to buy the Destination LE3. It’s hard to find a better deal at this price to performance ratio.
It provides excellent cornering grip both in dry and wet conditions. I would say that it provides more grip than any truck or SUV driver would ever need. Straight-line stability is excellent, and the tire does not vibrate at high speeds. The Destination LE3 has one of the shortest braking distances in its class when it comes to braking.
With its sharp reactions, it reminds me a bit of performance tires. Don’t expect too much feedback from the steering wheel, but it will take any input perfectly.
In heavy rain, the tread design and 3D sipes provide excellent performance.
This results in excellent aquaplane resistance.
In snow conditions, the Destination LE3 is barely passable, and it should not be used as a replacement for a winter tire. In terms of off-roading, the tire isn’t so good. Despite being able to drive it in some light off-road scenarios, the Defender LTX offers better performance.
If you don’t drive over some horrible roads, you won’t notice a performance drop, but if you do, you will notice a drop in comfort. Noise is almost nonexistent. On the highway, you may hear a faint tire sound at slower speeds. However, the noise won’t be obtrusive.
Overall, I cannot find too many faults with the Destination LE3. It won’t perform as well as its premium competitors in a few areas. The price, however, makes it one of the best bargains on the market right now.
References and Resources:
