Highway-Terrain Tires

Why Asymmetrical Tread Designs Dominate Highway Safety: A 2025 Engineer’s Breakdown

Updated: May 12, 2025 by Emrecan Gurkan Leave a Comment

“My symmetrical tires hydroplaned at 65 MPH. Switched to asymmetrical—suddenly, rain felt like dry pavement.” – u/HydroHater, Reddit

As a former field test engineer at Bridgestone, I’ve worked with over 200 tire prototypes on proving grounds and in AI-driven simulations. I’ve run wet braking tests in 5 mm standing water, logged miles on EVs pushing 5,000 pounds, and analyzed tread patterns under thermal cameras. If there’s one lesson I keep seeing repeated: asymmetrical tread designs consistently outperform symmetrical and directional patterns—especially in highway driving conditions.

But why?

To understand this, you need to dive into the physical tasks a tire performs: evacuating water, resisting cornering forces, reducing noise, and wearing evenly. Asymmetrical tread patterns assign these roles to different parts of the tire. That division of labor makes them far better suited for modern highway use.

Symmetrical vs. Asymmetrical: What’s the Real Difference?

Feature	Asymmetrical Tread	Symmetrical Tread
Inner Shoulder	Dense sipes sweep water sideways at high speed	Uniform blocks attempt to handle all forces
Outer Shoulder	Wider, stiffer blocks handle aggressive cornering	Same as inner—less support during turns
Groove Layout	Angled and variable grooves evacuate water faster	Straight, even grooves can trap water

Wet Braking Test (70→0 MPH, 5 mm water):

Asymmetrical: 142 ft
Directional: 158 ft
Symmetrical: 167 ft

Root Cause Explained:

Symmetrical patterns treat the whole tire like one big compromise. The same tread blocks are expected to evacuate water, grip corners, and stay quiet. That’s like asking a single shoe to be a hiking boot, running sneaker, and dress shoe at once.

Asymmetrical patterns solve this by assigning specialized zones:

Inner zone: water evacuation
Center: straight-line stability
Outer zone: dry handling and lateral grip

This setup lets each area excel at its job—reducing the trade-offs.

Why Asymmetrical Treads Lead on Highways

1. Targeted Traction Zones

The inner shoulder has smaller, siped blocks that clear water sideways.
The outer shoulder has large, rigid blocks that dig into the pavement during cornering.

This dual behavior gives you grip in both straight-line wet braking and dry turns.

2. Noise Reduction

Asymmetrical patterns use pitch sequencing—a fancy term for arranging tread blocks so they don’t all hit the pavement at the same interval. That cancels out sound waves, cutting cabin noise by up to 12 dB over symmetrical designs.

3. Better Wear Balance

With two compounds and tread geometries, asymmetrical tires distribute heat and pressure more intelligently. In testing, we found they maintain consistent tread depth across the surface, especially useful for EVs with uneven torque loads.

4. Designed for Modern Loads

EVs weigh more—sometimes 1,000+ pounds more than gas cars. Their torque is instant. Asymmetrical patterns handle this with reinforced outer shoulders and center ribs that resist squirming under pressure.

Best Asymmetrical Tires in 2025 (Tested and Rated)

Tire Model	Wet Braking	Noise	Tread Life	Price
Michelin Pilot Sport 5	138 ft	68 dB	45k mi	$220
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06+	145 ft	70 dB	60k mi	$190
Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack	148 ft	67 dB	80k mi	$210

Real-World Tip:

The Turanza’s silica-rich compound has a unique ability to heal tiny cracks over time, which actually improves its longevity. It’s like giving your tire a self-repairing skin.

Ideal Vehicles for Asymmetrical Tires

Vehicle	Best Match	Why It Works
Tesla Model Y	Michelin Pilot Sport 5	Handles EV torque + range stability
Toyota Camry Hybrid	Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack	Ultra-low noise and smooth wear
BMW 3 Series	Continental DWS06+	Grips hard in corners, even in rain

Pro Tip: Only rotate asymmetrical tires front-to-back. Swapping sides reverses the tread and ruins its engineered water flow.

Hybrid Tech: Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra

This tire bridges the gap. It looks asymmetrical, but pressure scans reveal an evenly distributed footprint—just like a symmetrical tire.

Noise Reduction: Uses variable block shapes and built-in dampeners.
Winter Grip: Deep sipes bite into snow.
Rotation-Friendly: Can be swapped in any direction.
Warranty: 80,000 miles—rare for an all-season SUV tire.

Root Cause: It’s All About Load

SUVs carry more weight and need even tread wear. The Alenza’s quasi-symmetrical load path gives you that, while mimicking asymmetrical handling traits.

Highway All-Terrain Hybrid: Michelin Defender LTX M/S

An all-terrain tire optimized for paved roads, the Defender LTX M/S uses:

EverTread™ Compound: Heat- and cut-resistant rubber for long life
3-D Active Sipes: Bite in wet/snow, lock on dry for firmness
Shoulder Ribs: Reduce squirm and sidewall deflection under load

Root Cause:

Highway-focused all-terrain tires like this prioritize compound resilience and flexible traction features, giving trucks and SUVs the best of both on-road and mild off-road worlds.

Why Symmetrical Treads Still Exist on Some SUVs and Trucks

You’ll still find symmetrical patterns on OEM tires for trucks and SUVs—and it’s not just cost-cutting.

Even Load Carrying: Symmetrical blocks handle heavy payloads evenly.
Simple Rotation: Any direction rotation = longer life.
Predictable Wear: Uniform grooves avoid high-wear hot spots.

However, when these vehicles need all-season versatility, they often switch to asymmetrical designs. Think of it this way: symmetrical is stable under load, but asymmetrical is smarter when road conditions change.

Future-Forward: AI in Tire Tread Design

Brands like Bridgestone and Goodyear now use AI to:

Simulate wet/snow grip across thousands of patterns
Predict wear rates based on real traffic data
Adjust groove depth with embedded sensors

The result? Tires that will evolve with your environment—literally.

FAQs

Can I rotate asymmetrical tires like symmetrical ones? Only front-to-back. Reversing sides messes with the tread design’s intended flow.

Are asymmetrical tires good in snow? If they carry the 3PMSF symbol (like DWS06+), yes. Otherwise, stick to dedicated winter tires.

Why are they more expensive? Two compounds, complex mold shaping, and dual-performance design add about 15–20% to the cost.

Final Verdict: Should You Switch to Asymmetrical Tires?

Go Asymmetrical If You:

Drive >10,000 highway miles/year
Own an EV or heavy SUV
Prioritize wet grip, quiet ride, and precise handling

Stick With Symmetrical If You:

Do city-only driving
Rotate tires yourself frequently
Want a low-cost, all-purpose tire

Are 80,000-Mile Warranty Tires Worth It? (Test Data)

Updated: May 9, 2025 by Emrecan Gurkan Leave a Comment

“Burned through my ‘80k-mile’ tires in 42k—turns out, warranties don’t cover my lead foot.”
– u/HighwayHustler on r/TireGrip

When I worked as a field test engineer at Bridgestone, I didn’t just test tires—I diagnosed why they failed. Over 15 years, I helped develop treadwear prediction algorithms and personally reviewed 37 customer warranty claims. Most of those claims? Denied. Not because drivers were wrong—but because they didn’t understand what those mileage promises really meant.

So let’s cut through the marketing fluff: Do 80,000-mile warranty tires actually save you money, or are they just a safety net made of fine print?

Why Warranties Lie: The Treadwear Illusion

Here’s real-world data comparing lab-rated treadlife vs. actual driver results:

Tire Model	Claimed Treadlife	Real-World Avg.	Cost per 1k Miles
Michelin Defender	80,000 miles	68,000 miles	$3.12
Cooper Discoverer	65,000 miles	55,000 miles	$2.98
Goodyear Assurance	70,000 miles	60,000 miles	$3.45

Why the gap? Because 80k warranties assume a near-perfect usage model:

Regular rotations
Immaculate alignment
Proper inflation
65%+ highway driving

But in the real world, things look different. Miss just one rotation or drive mainly in stop-and-go traffic? You’re already trending toward 20–30% faster wear.

5 Cost-Benefit Factors You Can’t Ignore

1. Treadwear Rates: Slower ≠ Forever

In our lab, long-life compounds showed slower wear—about 0.7% tread loss per 1,000 miles vs. 1.1% on standard tires (SAE Paper 2024-02-0113). But that’s under controlled loads and temps.

“If Lincoln’s head vanishes before 60k, you’re screwed.”
– u/TreadTracker, monitoring with a penny gauge

Even with tougher rubber, real-world variables accelerate loss. Sharp cornering, high torque EVs, and aggressive braking all eat tread faster than your alignment sheet can predict.

2. Hidden Exclusions: Read the Fine Print or Pay the Price

Most drivers don’t realize that simple mistakes can void an 80k warranty:

Using tires off-road—even briefly
Installing mismatched sizes or brands
A tread depth variation >1/32″ across tires

Case Study: One Subaru Outback owner lost coverage after a single gravel road detour. Why? The wear on the rear tires was slightly more than the front. Warranty denied.

3. Upfront Cost vs. Longevity: Do the Math

Yes, 80k tires often cost 20–30% more. But if maintained properly, they can last 40% longer.

Break-even point: About 3 years of consistent, balanced driving.
Daily urban commuters? You might not get there before traction suffers.

4. Performance Trade-Offs: Longer Life, Lower Grip

Here’s the trade: to extend treadlife, manufacturers harden the rubber. But by 40k miles, this reduces wet braking traction by up to 18% (Tire Rack 2024).

That can be the difference between stopping in time or hydroplaning into the intersection.

5. Climate Impact: Where You Live Matters

Tires don’t wear the same in Phoenix as they do in Portland.

Heat causes rubber oxidation and accelerates degradation.
UV exposure stiffens compounds, increasing cracking risks.

Data shows Southwest drivers can lose up to 22% more treadlife than those in cooler, wetter regions.

Vehicle-Specific ROI Breakdown

Which drivers actually win with 80k warranties?

Vehicle	Best Value Tire	Warranty	Estimated Savings
Honda CR-V	Michelin Defender T+H	80k	$210 over 4 years
Ford F-150	Continental TerrainContact HT	70k	$180
Tesla Model Y	Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3	75k	$245

Pro Tip: If you own a light truck and haul or tow frequently, opt for Load Range E (10-ply) tires. They handle the stress better and keep your warranty intact.

Reddit’s Costliest Warranty Mistakes

u/CheapCommuter
Bought 80k-mile tires for urban stop-and-go. Gone in 48k.

u/TireNoob
Skipped 2 rotations. Warranty denied due to uneven shoulder wear.

u/SpeedDemon
Upgraded from 18” to 22” wheels. OEM warranty voided.

Moral: Manufacturer promises come with strings. Misuse—even unintentional—often means footing the bill yourself.

Pro Secrets: How to Maximize Warranty Value

As someone who’s processed (and denied) warranty claims, here’s how to protect your investment:

Alignment Hacks: Use laser alignment every 10k miles. Prevents subtle camber wear that invalidates coverage.
Rotation Rhythm: Rotate every 5k—yes, even the spare if it’s full-size. Helps maintain even wear and proration eligibility.
Documentation Discipline: Save receipts. Log rotations. Photograph tread with a gauge.

“Dealers love to play the ‘we never received that paperwork’ game.” – ex-Tire Kingdom manager

FAQs: Straight Answers on Tire Warranties

Q: Can I claim warranty if I hit a pothole?
A: No. That’s “impact damage”—excluded by default. Try road hazard insurance instead.

Q: Do winter tires void all-season warranties?
A: Not if used on separate sets. But mixing winter and all-season tires on the same axle? That’s a hard no.

Q: Are prorated refunds worth it?
A: Rarely. A claim at 50k on an 80k tire may only get you $45 back—barely covers a balance and install.

Final Verdict: Are 80k Tires Worth It?

Only if you’re the kind of driver who:
✅ Keeps up with rotations
✅ Drives mostly on highways
✅ Tracks inflation and alignment
✅ Logs receipts like a tax auditor

If not, you’re better off buying a mid-tier 60k tire and pocketing the difference. The best tire isn’t the one with the longest warranty—it’s the one that fits your lifestyle, road conditions, and driving habits.

Firestone Destination LE3 Review

Updated: April 18, 2025 by Emrecan Gurkan Leave a Comment

Firestone Destination LE3 is a highway all-season tire that is mainly built for CUVs, SUVs, and pickup trucks. Highway all-season tires are great options if you’d like to combine a smooth riding experience with long-lasting rubber. The Firestone Destination LE3 tackles the tough balancing act of catering to SUVs, CUVs, and light trucks—a challenge many all-season tires struggle with. Designed for drivers prioritizing affordability without sacrificing versatility, it delivers quiet highway comfort and reliable all-weather traction. But does it truly excel across such diverse vehicles? We dissect its performance to see if it’s the ideal fit for your SUV’s daily drives, your CUV’s family trips, or your light truck’s mixed-duty needs. Discover how Firestone’s budget-friendly contender stacks up in durability, winter capability, and ride smoothness—and whether its compromises are worth the cost savings. Let’s dive in!

	Firestone Destination LE3
Cons	It can only handle dirt & gravel, tread life is suspicious for light-trucks
Pros	Wet & dry traction, decent level of handling, light-snow traction, fuel efficiency
Best for	CUV&SUV owners who would like to combine smooth & quiet riding experience with a good MPG
Vehicle	SUV, CUV, Light Truck
Available Sizes	15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 19”, 20”, 22” (Check if it fits your vehicle)
Test Report	vs TerrainContact HT & Geolander HT G056 (June 1, 2020)
Made In	US, Mexico, Costa Rica
Labels	No
Warranty	70,000 miles

As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Firestone Destination LE3 is an affordable highway all-season tire that provides a very satisfying level of smooth and quiet riding experience. This tire can handle wet and dry conditions with ease. However, its winter performance is limited to light snow. While Firestone Destination LE3 offers excellent handling, it is also a great option if you want better MPG. However, the longevity of the tire is slightly behind the competition for light trucks. Yet, it’s still a great option if you’re looking for an affordable option.

All-Season Tires Cheat Sheet

Finding the most suitable one for you among thousands of tires is very difficult.

My team & I have analyzed 100 different tires and generated this ‘Quick Answer Sheet‘ for those who don’t wanna spend too much time during tire selection.

Before we start, here are the incredibly helpful articles I highly recommend to take a look at;

How to keep tire noise down:
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise
Fuel-Efficiency:
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/rolling-resistance
Tire rating charts & reviews
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/rating-chart&reviews
Tire test report
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests

Below the table, you can find my favorite tires that I have classified according to your needs.

All-Season Tires Cheat Sheet
Name	Best for	Works Best on	Articles	3PMSF	Road Noise	Mileage	Responsiveness	Riding Comfort	Warranty	Fuel Economy	Wet Performance	Mild Winter	Severe Winter
Michelin Crossclimate 2 (Test Report – Check Price)	Year Round Usage & Tread Life	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, SUVs, minivans	Review	Yes	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Decent	60,000	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Decent
Michelin Primacy Tour A/S (Test Report – Check Price)	Everything but severe winter traction	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, SUVs	Review	No	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	45,000 – 55,000	Decent	Elegant	Average	Fairy Well
Bridgestone WeatherPeak (Test Report – Check Price)	Smooth & quiet 4 season driving	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, SUVs, minivans	Review	Yes	Elegant	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	70,000	Elegant	Decent	Elegant	Average
Bridgestone DriveGuard Plus (Test Report – Check Price)	Great all-round run-flat tire	SUV, CUV, Sedans, Coupes	Review	No	Average	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	65,000	Average	Excellent	Decent	Average
Vredestein Quatrac Pro (Test Report – Check Price)	4-Season performance-driven riding	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, SUVs	Review	Yes	Elegant	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	50,000	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Average
Vredestein HiTrac All-Season (Test Report – Check Price)	Year round performance with great handling	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, SUVs		No	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	70,000	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Average
Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3 (Test Report – Check Price)	Great all-round performance + mild winter	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, SUVs	Review	No	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	70,000	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Average
Nokian WRG4 (Check Price)	Traction focused 4 season driving	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, SUVs, minivans	Review	Yes	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	65,000	Average	Elegant	Elegant	Decent
Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady (Test Report – Check Price)	Year-round traction + handling	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, SUVs, minivans	–	Yes	Average	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	60,000	Average	Elegant	Elegant	Average
Firestone WeatherGrip (Test Report – Check Price)	Winter-focused 4 season driving	Sedans, coupes, crossovers	Review	Yes	Average	Fairy Well	Average	Decent	65,00	Fairy Well	Average	Elegant	Elegant
BF Goodrich Advantage Control (Test Report – Check Price)	Quiet & smooth 3 season traction + light snow	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, SUVs	Review	No	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	65,000 – 75,000	Elegant	Decent	Average	Poor
Kumho Crugen HP71 (Test Report – Check Price)	Decent all-round performance + light snow	CUV, SUV	Review	No	Average	Average	Decent	Decent	65,000	Decent	Decent	Decent	Fairy Well
Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra (Test Report – Check Price)	Long lasting performance for squishy regions	Crossovers, SUVs, light trucks	Review	No	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	70,000	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Fairy Well
Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring AS (Check Price)	Affordable 3 season traction	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, SUVs	Review	No	Average	Average	Decent	Decent	70,000	Decent	Average	Fairy Well	Poor
Goodyear Assurance All-Season (Test Report – Check Price)	Affordable all-round 3 season + light snow performance	Sedans, minivans	Review	No	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	65,000	Decent	Decent	Average	Fairy Well
Goodyear Assurance MaxLife (Test Report – Check Price)	Longevitiy focused 3 season traction + light snow	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, minivans	Review	No	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	85,000	Elegant	Decent	Average	Poor
Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack (Test Report – Check Price)	Comfort-focused 3 season traction + light snow	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, minivans	Review	No	Elegant	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	80,000	Elegant	Elegant	Decent	Fairy Well
Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive (Test Report – Check Price)	Above average all-round performance	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, SUVs	Review	No	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	60,000	Average	Elegant	Decent	Average
Michelin Defender T+H (Test Report – Check Price)	Efficiency focused 3 season performance	Sedans, coupes, crossovers	vs Crossclimate 2	No	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	80,000	Elegant	Decent	Fairy Well	Poor
BF Goodrich Advantage T/A Sport (Test Report – Check Price)	Long lasting 4 season performance + handling	Sedans, coupes, crossovers	–	No	Average	Decent	Decent	Decent	60,000 – 70,000	Average	Decent	Decent	Fairy Well
Continental TrueContact Tour (Test Report – Check Price)	Smooth & long-lasting 3 season performance + light snow	Sedans, coupes, crossovers	–	No	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	70,000 – 80,000	Decent	Elegant	Average	Fairy Well
Yokohama Avid Ascend LX (Test Report – Check Price)	Long-lasting & responsive 4 season performance	Sedans, coupes, crossovers, minivans		No	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	85,000	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Fairy Well
Laufenn S Fit AS (Check Price)	Long-lasting sporty driving	SUV, CUV, Sedans, Coupes	Review	No	Decent	Decent	Excellent	Decent	45,000	Decent	Decent	Average	Poor

If you’re in a hurry, here are the tires worth every penny;

Michelin Crossclimate 2 – Best for All-Round & Heavy Snow
Michelin Primacy Tour A/S – Best All-Round & Moderate Snow
Nokian WRG4 – Best for Comfort & Heavy Snow
Nokian WRG4 SUV – Best for Comfort & Heavy Snow
Bridgestone WeatherPeak – Best for All-Round & Moderate Snow
Goodyear ComfortDrive – Best All-Round & Light Snow
BF Goodrich Advantage T/A Sport – Best for Longevity & Light Snow

Depending on your needs, the below article might help;

Handling

Highway all-season tires generally offer decent handling. Since these tires aren’t built for loose ground traction, they generally have a symmetrical pattern and rib-type design that improve the handling capability.

In addition to that, these tires are made for huge vehicles. Hence, durability is their priority.

For this reason, these tires have a stiff compound which increases handling capability in a good way.

Under these circumstances, it’s easy to say Firestone Destination LE3 offers decent handling. Yet, I would like to explain the reasons behind this.

In order to explain myself better, I prefer to divide this section into two.

Steering Response

Responsiveness is extremely important for highway all-season tires. These tires should have the capability to work under loaded conditions which include towing or hauling. Since responsiveness becomes vital under loaded conditions, responsiveness is a priority for highway all-season tires.

Things are quite the same for Firestone Destination LE3.

In this case, tread depth, compound stiffness, and pattern design are the game changers.

Higher tread depth decrease the steering response time. Firestone Destination LE3’s tread depth is lower than most of the highway all-season tires in the market.
Firestone Destination LE3 has a fluffier compound. Its UTQG rating is 700. Yet, 700 is a still good number for a decent steering response.
Firestone Destination LE3 has a relatively softer tread design. It has a rib-lug-type hybrid design like other highway all-season tires in the market. If you can check the placement of the center section lugs, you can clearly see that the main idea is interlocking these lugs for better steering response and handling.

Firestone Destination LE3 offers a satisfying steering response. If you’re an aggressive driver, it could be a good fit for you.

Cornering Stability

Cornering stability is related to the inner structure and it’s generally not an issue for highway all-season tires.

Firestone Destination LE3 has a durable inner structure that offers decent cornering stability.

In this case, the real game-changer is the extra nylon reinforcement. This reinforcement goes through the whole tire and its main duty is to keep the tire in shape while cornering at high speeds. Does it work? Absolutely.

As a result, if your priority is handling or satisfying on-road manners, I think Firestone Destination LE3 is one of the best you can get for this price level.

Riding Comfort

Riding comfort of highway all-season tires are also good because these are high-profile tires that have more air inside of the tire.

This might come a bit fancy but in fact, the air inside of the tread carries all the load. Hence, more air means a higher load index and a generally more comfortable ride.

Besides these natural advantages, Firestone Destination LE3’s design is slightly softer than its competitors.

Firestone Destination LE3’s center section is more compact than the others. Besides that its lugs are interlocked which increases the comfort level significantly.

Due to its symmetrical pattern and relatively softer tread design, Firestone Destination LE3 provides a highly comfortable driving experience.

Road Noise

Road noise is where this tire shines due to its softer center section design.

Generally, highway all-season tires have highly sectional ribs that provide a comfortable but sometimes slightly noisy ride.

Firestone Destination LE3 is a bit different. Even though its tread also has lugs, these lugs are interlocked vertically and horizontally.

Due to its low void area center section and blocky but a bit fluffy shoulder blocks, Firestone Destination LE3 provides one of the quietest rides in the market.

Wet Performance

The wet performance of highway all-season tires is generally better than all-terrain tires. This is because highway all-season tires put more rubber on the surface. In another saying, these tires have fewer void areas.

Wet performance has two different dimensions that are completely different than the others. In fact, at some point, these two totally need the opposite features.

While one of these two dimensions is wet traction and it’s related to compound stiffness and sipe density; the other one is hydroplaning resistance which is highly vital, especially under the downpour.

Let’s evaluate them one by one.

Wet Traction

As I’ve mentioned above, wet traction is related to compound stiffness and sipe density.

The easiest way to understand decent wet traction is by checking to UTQG rating.

UTQG rating contains one number and two letters after that. The first letter rates the wet traction. A is the highest rating, continues B, C…

In this case, my limit stiffness is 700 which highway all-season generally doesn’t match with.

Unlike other highway all-season tires, Firestone Destination LE3 meets this criterion. Its UTQG rating is 700 A B. Which means it also has A-rating wet traction and B-rating heat resistance. I’m going to talk about heat resistance in the longevity section.

On the other hand, maybe you realize that Firestone Destination LE3’s sipe density is lower than most highway all-season tires in the market. This is because its compound is fluffier and provides a better grip.

It seems like Firestone trying to make tires that can provide decent traction and maximum comfort level. I can confidently say that you’ll not have any issues regarding wet traction.

Firestone Destination LE3 provides excellent wet traction.

Hydroplaning Resistance

Hydroplaning resistance basically the water evacuation capability of the tread. It becomes vital, especially at high velocity and under the downpour.

While going through the puddle, if you break, you may feel the flotation feeling. That’s hydroplaning and actually, it can be extremely dangerous.

Luckily, highway all-season tires have relatively narrower patterns than all-terrain tires which decrease the floatation level.

More importantly, the priority of these tires doesn’t off-road traction. Hence, manufacturers can use a relatively softer tread design which helps them to increase hydroplaning resistance.

In this case, circumferential grooves and open shoulder blocks do most of the job.

Firestone Destination LE3’s symmetrical pattern contains 4 circumferential grooves. Besides that this tire has a blocky shoulder design that provides a lot of open shoulder slots.

Moreover, you can see the deep and angled notches at the center section of the tread. These notches provide two things. Vertical biting edges and water evacuation. The shape of the notches directs water in the center section to the shoulders or grooves.

Firestone Destination LE3 offers trustworthy hydroplaning resistance.

Winter Performance

First of all, if someone saying great about any highway all-season tires’ winter performance is lying.

These tires are built for huge vehicles and their main duty is to provide durability and a decent level of handling.

Because of that, highway all-season tires have a stiff compound that can’t get the 3PMSF marking.

3PMSF marking is the severe snow rating of the tires’ compound. If the tire doesn’t have this label, that means the compound of the tire becomes relatively useless under 7 Celcius degrees.

The above statement is what is written in the books. Yet, technology’s developing rapidly. In the last 4-5 years, the tire compounds maybe can’t get the 3PMSF label but can handle at least freezing temperatures.

So, if I have to talk about Firestone Destination LE3, I think it can be an assertive competitor in this case.

I would like to explain this for 3 different conditions,

Light-Snow Traction

Light-snow traction is actually what you should expect from highway all-season tires.

Unlike most people think, this is the most dangerous snow type.

The light snow can easily merge with dust and dirt and become slush or muddy. Hence, sliding and spinning are highly expected in this kind of weather condition.

So, Firestone Destination LE3’s fluffy compound gets into the game again here. Due to its fluffy compound, Firestone Destination LE3 provides a decent level of grip.

Besides that, its sipes are full-depth and 3D which provides vertical and horizontal grip at the same time. This is very important for light-snow traction.

Due to its 3D-siped pattern and fluffy compound, Firestone Destination LE3 provides reliable light-snow traction.

Deep Snow Traction

You can actually call this one packed-snow traction.

Unlike most people who think positively, I think Firestone Destination LE3 isn’t a good tire for packed snow traction.

First of all, the tire has a lower tread depth. Which is highly important regarding loose ground traction.

Secondly, Destination LE3’s center section isn’t blocky to provide decent deep snow traction. I like deep notches and I’m sure they gonna work but it’s still too far away from dedicated winter tires.

Last but not least, soft compound again. It still increases the biting capability.

Firestone Destination LE3 isn’t a perfect deep-snow tire but it can take you out of unexpected situations.

Ice Traction

Highway all-season tires generally have similar performance on the ice.

Firestone Destination LE3 has a slight advantage in this case. Its compound is softer and it can put more rubber on the surface.

For this reason, Firestone Destination LE3 is a good option for icy surfaces. Yet, I still recommend using a dedicated winter tire at least on the ice.

Longevity

Longevity is actually the only feature that I have doubts about.

First of all, the soft compound is a disadvantage in this case.

Besides that, the tire has B-rated heat resistance which means it’s gonna wear more quickly than A-rated tires. For instance, Michelin Defender LTX M/S has A-rated heat resistance and an 800 UTQG rating.

On the other hand, a compact and less notched pattern is a huge advantage in this case. Besides that, Firestone Destination LE3 is one the lightest of its segment. The huge advantage regarding tread life.

In a summary, I think Firestone Destination LE3 provides great tread life for CUVs and SUVs. However, it can be only a price/performance tire for a pickup owner who is looking for the longest tread life.

Getting maximum wear life from a tire is related to you as well as your tire,

If you’d like to learn how to get maximum tread life:

https://tireterrain.com/how-to-make-tires-last-longer/

Warranty

Firestone offers 70,000 miles treadwear warranty for this product
You can also buy & try this product for a 90-days. If you’re not happy with it, it’s free to return

Fuel Efficiency

Fuel efficiency is where this tire shines.

Due to its lightweight and relatively lower sipe density, I strongly believe that Firestone Destination LE3 is one of the most housewifely tires in the market.

Off-Road Performance

The off-road performance of highway all-season tires is meh.

In fact, the main duty of these tires isn’t loose ground traction.

They can handle off-road because they’re durable and they have plenty amount of void area to provide a decent level of light-duty off-road traction.

Mild off-road traction only contains gravel and dirt traction.

Firestone Destination LE3 can handle some mild off-road conditions but it’s slightly behind the competition due to its fluffy compound and compact pattern.

Dirt: Dirt traction is related to gripping capability. Firestone Destination LE3’s fluffy compound is an advantage in this case.

Gravel: Firestone Destination LE3 can provide a decent level of gravel traction. However, its fluffy compound will definitely wear faster

Mud: Depending on the depth of the mud, it can be useful. Yet, its shallow tread can’t have enough void area for decent mud traction. It can still take you out of unexpected situations

Sand: Softer designs work better on the sand. It’s gonna be fine.

In summary, Firestone Destination LE3 isn’t a tire to buy if off-road traction is your priority. Besides its low-rated heat resistance, it’s also a bit soft for a decent level of off-road traction. So, dirt & gravel is okay but I recommend keeping it only occasionally.

Sizes

15”	16”	17”	18”	19”	20”	22”
215/75R15 100T SL BSW 700 A B	205/70R16 97H SL BSW 700 A B	215/60R17 96H SL BSW 700 A B	225/55R18 98H SL BSW 700 A B	225/55R19 99H SL BSW 700 A B	235/55R20 102H SL BSW 700 A B	285/45R22 110H SL BSW 700 A B
225/70R15 100T SL BSW 700 A B	215/65R16 98H SL BSW 700 A B	215/65R17 99H SL BSW 700 A B	225/60R18 100H SL BSW 700 A B	235/45R19 95H SL BSW 700 A B	245/50R20 102H SL BSW 700 A B
225/75R15 102T SL BSW 700 A B	215/70R16 100H SL BSW 700 A B	225/55R17 97V SL BSW 700 A B	235/50R18 97H SL BSW 700 A B	235/50R19 99H SL BSW 700 A B	245/60R20 107H SL BSW 700 A B
235/75R15 109T XL BSW 700 A B	225/70R16 103T SL OWL 700 A B	225/60R17 99H SL BSW 700 A B	235/55R18 100V SL BSW 700 A B	235/55R19 101H SL BSW 700 A B	255/50R20 109H XL BSW 700 A B
265/75R15 112T SL BSW 700 A B	225/75R16 104T SL BSW 700 A B	225/65R17 102H SL BSW 700 A B	235/65R18 106T SL BSW 700 A B	245/55R19 103H SL BSW 700 A B	255/55R20 107H SL BSW 700 A B
265/75R15 112T SL BSW 700 A B	225/75R16 104T SL BSW 700 A B	225/65R17 102H SL BSW 700 A B	235/60R18 103H SL BSW 700 A B	255/50R19 107H XL BSW 700 A B	265/50R20 107H SL BSW 700 A B
	235/65R16 103H SL BSW 700 A B	235/55R17 99H SL BSW 700 A B	245/60R18 105H SL BSW 700 A B	255/60R19 109H SL BSW 700 A B	275/45R20 110H XL BSW 700 A B
	235/70R16 106T SL BSW 700 A B	235/60R17 102H SL BSW 700 A B	255/55R18 109H XL BSW 700 A B	275/55R19 111H SL BSW 700 A B	275/55R20 113H SL BSW 700 A B
	235/75R16 108T SL BSW 700 A B	235/65R17 104H SL BSW 700 A B	255/65R18 111H SL BSW 700 A B		275/60R20 115H SL BSW 700 A B
	245/70R16 107T SL BSW 700 A B	235/70R17 109T XL BSW 700 A B	255/70R18 113T SL BSW 700 A B
	245/75R16 111T SL BSW 700 A B	245/65R17 107T SL BSW 700 A B	265/60R18 110T SL BSW 700 A B
	255/65R16 109T SL BSW 700 A B	245/70R17 110T SL BSW 700 A B	265/65R18 114T SL BSW 700 A B
	255/70R16 111T SL BSW 700 A B	255/65R17 110T SL BSW 700 A B	265/70R18 116T SL BSW 700 A B
	265/70R16 112T SL BSW 700 A B	255/70R17 112T SL BSW 700 A B	275/65R18 116T SL BSW 700 A B
	265/75R16 116T SL OWL 700 A B	265/65R17 112T SL BSW 700 A B
		265/70R17 115T SL BSW 700 A B

Spec

	Firestone Destination LE3
Vehicle	SUV, CUV, Light Truck
Available Sizes	15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 19”, 20”, 22”
Test Report	vs TerrainContact HT & Geolander HT G056 (June 1, 2020)
Made In	US, Mexico, Costa Rica
Labels	No
Warranty	70,000 miles
Prices	Check Price Section to See Possible Best Prices

Price

The tire market has a dynamic price policy. Hence, in my point of view, sharing tire price is pointless.

Though, I’ve analyzed the top 10 brands of most popular tire brands.

Here are the dealers with a reasonable price range,

DiscountTire

Biggest dealer in the US. Founded in 1960
1000 stores in 35 states. You most probably find one on your parallel street
Free rotation and balancing
5% off for DiscountTire cardholders on online purchases
Highest-rated online tire dealer in Consumer Affairs
Almost all brands are available
Delivery takes 2-4 days (30% shorter average waiting time when you book online)
Frequent discounts and promotions

Firestone Destination LE3: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/firestone-tire-destination-le3

TireRack

Fast and Free shipping
Usually delivered in 1 day
Joint venture with DiscountTire(their installers and dealers are on your service)
Tons of installer options, and they also help you to choose the best one
Mobile installers in many areas, your tires will be replaced while you’re working in the office
Tire test results and comparisons can be found on the most product page
4.6/5 points on Google rate

Firestone Destination LE3: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/firestone-destination-le3

SimpleTire

Free shipping
Delivered in 2 days
Verified shops near you(for mount and balance)
Mobile installation option
7 million customers since 2021
4.7/5 points on Google rate
Top-notch customer service, you may even request a price match

Firestone Destination LE3: https://simpletire.com/brands/firestone-tires/destination-le3

Amazon

Fast and free shipping (mostly in a day)
Get your tires shipped to a selected service center or get them installed at home or work (how does it work?)
Installation on Mavis Discount Tire (15$ per tire)
Installing new stem valves supplied by pro
Balancing your tires
Road/safety test
Since Amazon provides wholesale and affordable prices, they don’t offer a road hazard warranty

Firestone Destination LE3: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=firestone+destination+le3

While choosing dealers, I especially pay attention to reliability. All of the dealers on this list have 15-20 years of experience in the online tire business. Therefore, I can guarantee a smooth and fast tire-buying process.

Conclusion

Firestone Destination LE3 is a highway all-season tire that focuses on comfortable & quiet rides. It’s a great option for SUVs and CUVs looking for comfortable highway driving. Even though it can be used on light trucks, it provides lower tread life.

	Firestone Destination LE3
Cons	It can only handle dirt & gravel, tread life is suspicious for light-trucks
Pros	Wet & dry traction, decent level of handling, light-snow traction, fuel efficiency
Best for	CUV&SUV owners who would like to combine smooth & quiet riding experience with a good MPG
Vehicle	SUV, CUV, Light Truck
Available Sizes	15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 19”, 20”, 22” (Check if it fits your vehicle)
Test Report	vs TerrainContact HT & Geolander HT G056 (June 1, 2020)
Made In	US, Mexico, Costa Rica
Labels	No
Warranty	70,000 miles

I hope the article was helpful, if you need any further support, please leave a comment in the below section. Have a safe ride folks!

Michelin Defender LTX M/S Review

Updated: April 18, 2025 by Emrecan Gurkan Leave a Comment

Michelin Defender LTX M/S is a highway all-season tire that has a wide product range. This tire can be used on SUVs, commercial vans, sport utility vehicles, and any light truck. Due to its longevity and durability, it can be ever used on heavy-duty 3/4 ton or above pickups. Even though it’s an all-season tire, due to its high durability, it can even handle some off-road. Yet, knowing its limit is highly vital to get maximum performance from it. I pushed the limits a bit. Let’s dig into it and see what it’s capable of.

	Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Best for	Longevity, cozy and quiet ride, heavy-duty light trucks, mostly highway-oriented commercial usage, mild off-road-like dirt & gravel
Category	Highway All-Season
Vehicle	SUV/Light Truck
Available Sizes (Rim)	15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 19”, 20”, 22” (Ensure these tires fit your vehicle)
Weight	24 – 58 lbs
Made In	United States
Labels	M+S
Warranty (P-metric)	70,000 Miles (50,000 for R-speed rate)

As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Michelin Defender LTX M/S has unique traction on wet and dry surfaces. Moreover, its light snow capability is highly acceptable and it can handle icy surfaces as well. The long-lasting tread is its main feature. Furthermore, surprisingly, it can handle mild off-road very well. However, Michelin Defender LTX M/S has a bit stiff ride and makes some noise after half of its tread. Though worth reminding, its loose ground performance is limited to a couple of inches.

All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet

Finding the ideal all-terrain tire among the plethora of options available can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, my team and I have taken on this challenge head-on. Besides our hands-on experiences with these tires, we also analyze thousands of customer reviews and test reports.

Please note that: Light-Duty is 1500 series, Medium-Duty is 2500 series and Heavy-Duty is 3500 series. If you do towing or hauling, I recommend considering at least Medium-Duty tires.

Mobile users can scroll the table to the left to see the whole data.

All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet
Name	Category	Articles	3PMSF	Road Noise	Mileage	Fuel Economy	Riding Comfort	Responsiveness	Wet Performance	Mild Winter	Severe Winter	Mild Off-Road	Severe Off-Road	Best Fit by Pickup Truck Classification	Warranty (SL or XL)	Warranty (LT)	Product Page
Falken Wildpeak AT3W	Off Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Decent	Decent	Poor	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Decent	Average	Light-Duty	55,000 Miles	55,000 Miles	Wildpeak AT3W
Toyo Open Country AT3	Off Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Average	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Medium-Duty	65,000 Miles	50,000 Miles	Toyo Open Country AT3
General Grabber ATX	Off Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Average	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Heavy-Duty	60,000 Miles	50,000 Miles	General Grabber ATX
BF Goodrich KO2	Off Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Heavy-Duty	N/A	50,000 Miles	BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
Sumitomo Encounter AT	Off Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Decent	Decent	Average	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Average	Decent	Average	Light-Duty	60,000 Miles	60,000 Miles	Sumitomo Encounter AT
Firestone Destination XT	Off Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Average	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Average	Decent	Decent	Heavy-Duty	N/A	50,000 Miles	Firestone Destination X/T
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT	On Road All Terrain Tire	Review	No	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Average	Elegant	Average	Heavy-Duty	N/A	60,000 Miles	Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT
Falken Wildpeak AT Trail	On Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Average	Light-Duty	65,000 Miles	N/A	Falken Wildpeak AT Trail
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S	On Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Elegant	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Fairy Well	Light-Duty	65,000 Miles	N/A	Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S
Firestone Destination AT2	On Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	Decent	Elegant	Average	Decent	Average	Light-Duty	55,000 Miles	N/A	Firestone Destination AT2
BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A	On Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Elegant	Elegant	Decent	Elegant	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Average	Decent	Average	Light-Duty	60,000	N/A	BF Goodrich Trail Terrain T/A
Toyo Open Country R/T Trail	Rugged Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Heavy-Duty	45,000 Miles	45,000 Miles	Toyo Open Country R/T Trail
Falken Wildpeak R/T	Rugged Terrain Tire	Review	No	Decent	Decent	Average	Average	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Heavy-Duty	50,000 Miles	50,000 Miles	Falken Wildpeak R/T
Pathfinder AT Tire	On Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Average	Average	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Average	Decent	Average	Light-Duty	55,000	50,000	Discount Tire Exclusive Product
Nitto Ridge Grappler	Rugged Terrain Tire	Review	No	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Heavy-Duty	N/A	N/A	Nitto Ridge Grappler
General Grabber APT	On Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Decent	Decent	Average	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Average	Decent	Fairy Well	Medium-Duty	60,000 Miles	60,000 Miles	General Grabber APT
Vredestein Pinza AT	On Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Average	Medium-Duty	70,000 Miles	50,000 Miles	Vredestein Pinza AT
Nitto Recon Grappler	Off Road All Terrain Tire	Review	No	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Average	Elegant	Decent	Medium-Duty	65,000 Miles	55,000 Miles	Nitto Recon Grappler
Michelin Defender LTX M/S	Highway Tire	Review	No	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Fairy Well	Decent	Fairy Well	Heavy-Duty	55,000 – 70,000 Miles	55,000 – 70,000 Miles	Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Kenda Klever R/T	Rugged Terrain Tire	Review	No	Average	Decent	Average	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Fairy Well	Decent	Decent	Heavy-Duty	N/A	N/A	Kenda Klever R/T
Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT	On Road All Terrain Tire	Review	No	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Average	Elegant	Decent	Medium-Duty	N/A	N/A	Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT
Goodyear Wrangler UltraTerrain AT	Off Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Average	Decent	Fairy Well	Medium-Duty	N/A	N/A	Discount Tire Exclusive Product
Continental Terrain Contact H/T	Highway Tire	Review	No	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	Elegant	Decent	Average	Poor	Decent	Poor	Heavy-Duty	70,000 Miles	60,000 Miles	Continental TerrainContact H/T
Patriot R/T	Rugged Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Average	Average	Average	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Medium-Duty	N/A	N/A	Patriot R/T+
Kenda Klever AT2	Off Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Decent	Average	Average	Decent	Decent	Decent	Decent	Average	Decent	Average	Medium-Duty	60,000 Miles	50,000 Miles	Kenda Klever AT2
Yokohama Geolander AT G015	On Road All Terrain Tire	Review	Yes	Elegant	Decent	Average	Elegant	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Average	Average	Poor	Light-Duty	60,000 Miles	50,000 Miles	Yokohama Geolandar AT G015
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT	Rugged Terrain Tire	Review	Yes (315 or narrower width)	Decent	Decent	Average	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Decent	Decent	Elegant	Decent	Medium-Duty	50,000 Miles	60,000 Miles	Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT

Dry Performance

Traction, steering response, or cornering stability. No matter what feature are we talking about, Michelin Defender LTX M/S’s performance is unquestionable. In my point of view, its design is superior in its category.

For a better understanding, I’m going to separate dry performance from the above features and explain them one by one.

Dry Traction

Even though it’s a narrow tire, due to its exceedingly siped rubber, it can provide tons of traction on the dry ground.

Well, it’s obvious that Michelin put hauling and towing into consideration at the design stage of this tire. Its compound is stiff, though, its block-type shoulders and sectional ribs provide the necessary void area for a perfect traction ability.

Michelin Defender LTX M/S has an alpha plus dry traction capability.