Do you want an off-road LT tire but don’t want BF Goodrich KO2? Let me introduce you to one of the lightest tires in its class, Firestone Destination X/T. Since Destination X/T is mainly built for 3/4 or above trucks, its deaf ride makes it a good option for those who want durability and comfort at the same time. Yet, it doesn’t overperform BF Goodrich KO2 in every section. Let’s dig into it and see which one is a better fit for your use.
At a Glance
| Firestone Destination X/T | BF Goodrich KO2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Mostly highway driving, fuel efficiency, hauling & towing, camping, 3/4 ton or above trucks | Snowy regions, severe off-road lovers, SUV, CUV, or 1/2-ton light truck owners |
| Pros | Light-weight (decrease in MPG), long-lasting rubber, quiet and comfortable ride | Responsiveness, strong sidewalls, product range |
| Cons | You should heat up tires a bit for the best wet and light-snow traction | Wet traction is questionable, doesn’t last long as its competitors, a bit noisy |
| Available on | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Firestone Destination XT has a less aggressive tread design. This feature makes it smoother and quieter. However, Firestone Destination X/T is specified for 3/4 ton or above light trucks. Hence, its compound is slightly stiffer than BF Goodrich KO2. Well, I have to admit that a stiff compound is a double-edged sword. It lasts longer but decreases the traction on wet and snowy surfaces. Yet, in my point of view, this is a highly acceptable wet and snow traction level for 3/4 ton or above light trucks. Yet, I still recommend BF Goodrich KO2 if you like riding on severe off-road and having some fun.
All-Terrain 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 - How to Air Down Tires?
https://www.discounttire.com/blog/airing-tires-down - What to Expect from 3PMSF Tires?
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/mountain-snowflake-symbol
Below the table, you can find my favorite tires that I have classified according to your needs.
If you’re in a hurry, here are the tires worth every penny;
- Toyo Open Country AT3 – Best All-Round & Longevity
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W – Best All-Round & Squishy Regions
- BF Goodrich KO2 – Best All-Round & Off-Road Adventure
- Falken Wildpeak AT Trail – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Severe Off-Road
- Nitto Recon Grappler – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
- General Grabber ATX – Best All-Round for 3/4-ton or above trucks
- Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac – Best On/Off Road tire for 3/4-ton or above trucks
- Cooper Discoverer 4S XLT – Best Commercial All-Terrain Tire & Hauling and Towing
If you’re looking for something at a bargain price;
- Vredestein Pinza AT – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
- Kenda Klever A/T2 – Best All-Round for Medium & Light Duty Usage
- Kenda Klever R/T – Best All-Round for Heavy-Duty Usage
Depending on your needs, also the below articles might help;
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-3-4-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-mud-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-rt-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-tires-for-snow-plowing/
I highly recommend checking the below pages out before making any purchase:
- DiscountTire Deals:
https://www.discounttire.com/promotions - TireRack Deals:
https://www.tirerack.com/specialoffers - SimpleTire Deals:
https://simpletire.com/tire-deals
Table of Contents
Tread Appearance
Firestone Destination XT (review) looks like a slightly less aggressive version of the Falken Wildpeak AT3W. Wildpeak AT3 is a trustworthy option. It is one of the best all-terrain tires. Destination XT’s tread design promises better on-road manners than Wildpeak AT3W.
On the other hand, BF Goodrich KO2 has a more aggressive tread design. It tends to perform well off the road. Actually, it proved their off-road ability on Baja Race. It is a champion.
Let’s start with the center section.
Firestone Destination XT has a lot of sipes on the center section. These sipes will improve your traction ability dramatically. Especially in winter conditions. Moreover, siping on the center blocks is full-depth so you get full traction for all of tread life.
BF Goodrich KO2 also has a good amount of siping on the center. The only difference is it has straight sipes. Which will decrease your ice and winter traction. Yet, this sipe design is better for off-road traction.
And lastly shoulders,
Destination XT has staggered shoulder lugs that have less siping straight and not full depth. Luckily, this makes them stiffer for better highway speeds. Normally, that causes a bit of wet performance but they increased the evacuation ability with thicker sipes on shoulders.
BF Goodrich KO2 has similar shoulders design. The only difference is the angle of thick sipes. BF Goodrich placed those sipes at different angles. That is going to improve your traction ability in harsh off-road conditions. In return, the noise level will be up after you make some miles.
In summary, BF Goodrich KO2 has a more aggressive tread design. Yet, in my point of view, Firestone Destination XT promises more.
Treadwear
I generally associate treadwear with even wearing ability. Well, it is also related to balance by implication.
Tread depths are par. So the above paragraph topics will be our deciding points.
BFG KO2 has an asymmetric tread design. Also has a wider void area. These will cause balancing issues if you miss your rotation times. As a result, you will face uneven wearing.
Firestone Destination XT has a symmetrical tread design. Also has a close pattern design. So, it tends to wear evenly.
I can confidently say that Firestone Destination XT promises more regarding treadwear. Yet, on this level, it is all about you and your driving habits.
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:
Note: Both tires come up with a 50000-mile tread life warranty.
You can check the below Destination XT videos (7500 miles and 22500 miles) from my dearest friend Scott. He also shared his views on holding stones.
Noise Comparison
I want to keep this section short. In fact, the comparison is very clear on my side.
A wide void area will make way much more noise than a narrow one.
In that case, Firestone Destination XT is the true winner.
A side note here: Even though some tires tend to make noise because of their tread patterns, it’s still possible to keep your tire noise down.
I’m leaving a perfect explanation below from DiscountTire for those who need it;
How to Keep Tire Noise Down? –>
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise
Comfort
At beginning of the article, I talked about the good on-road manners of Destination XT. In this section, the table turned.
Comfort is related to compound as well as pattern. Destination XT has a softer design. I agree. Yet, I have made my research. Thanks to my fellows on Bridgestone.
Destination XT has a rigid compound due to increase traction. And that cost lack of comfort. Slow down when you are passing the bumps.
BF Goodrich KO2 offers a slightly smoother ride than Firestone Destination XT.
Durability
As you know, LT tires are more durable than P-metric tires. It is sensible. They work under severer conditions.
Since Destination XT is only available for LT size, this comparison becomes easy as winky.
BF Goodrich’s durability is a well-known truth. But, I am pretty impressed by the beefy sidewalls of Destination XT. It is also 10 ply(E-rated).
The battle is close, I am going to say draw this time.
Wet Performance
All-terrain tires sometimes struggle on wet. In that case, sipe density and evacuation ability will be our administrators.
Destination XT is amazing in the wet. It can handle any wet ground easily. No sliding, no hydroplaning, no steering issues. None of them. It will become one of the best-wet tires in the future.
On the other hand, wet is the weakest point of BF Goodrich KO2. I am not saying it is bad. But, compare with the other features of the tire, it stays behind.
You can go either way. Yet, Destination XT is a beast.
Note: Hydroplaning is vital for a safe ride under the pouring rain. However, it might occur even with the best tire. Maybe you can’t prevent it but if you know what it is and how to deal with it, you can easily stay on the safe side.
Here is an extremely efficient guide about ‘How to Deal with Hydroplaning?‘ –> https://www.discounttire.com/learn/hydroplaning
Winter Performance
Both tires are rated with 3 peak mountain snowflake marking.
Well, let’s be honest. No matter what snow ratings say, these tires are not snow tires. They will perform very well in light and deep snow. But ice is not their expertise.
Anyway, I think Destination XT has an exceptional winter performance. There are a couple of tires on the market, that can compete with it. Toyo Open Country AT3 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W are the first ones that come to my mind.
BF Goodrich KO2 can not compete with Destination XT. I prefer Destination XT the whole day long.
You can check this article out if you need a solid winter tire!
Off-Road Performance
Off-road is where BF Goodrich KO2 shines. It is a champion tire and hard to defeat.
On the other hand, Destination XT will give you everything you need on mild off-road. No doubt!
Destination XT‘s self-cleaning ability is huge. It can effortlessly throw the dirt out of lugs. So, BF Goodrich KO2 too. They are even on dirt.
Sand performance is easy to evaluate. Less aggressive design works better on the sand. Therefore, Destination XT is my pick.
BF Goodrich KO2 is killing it in mud. A wider shoulder block provides better traction. In addition to that, sidewalls are deeper than Destination XT’s. That will help you on deeper mud.
Lastly the rock. Destination XT will not let you down on gravel or pavement. Yet, climbing ability is not as good as BF Goodrich’s. As long as, we are talking about LT sizes; I am going to say even for rocks.
In summary, both are great tires for off-road. I recommend BF Goodrich for severe and Destination XT for mild applications.
- A side note here: If you’d like to see the best all-terrain tires by vehicle or usage, this article is GOOOOLD –> https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
Specs
| Firestone Destination XT | BF Goodrich KO2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All-Terrain Tire | All-Terrain Tire |
| Vehicle | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20” | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ |
| Weight | 35- 61 lbs | 34-78 lbs |
| Made In | USA | Opelika, AL, USA |
| Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF) | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 50,000 Miles | 50,000 Miles |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 50,000 Miles | 50,000 Miles |
| Prices | Check price section to see best possible prices | Check price section to see best possible 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 purchase
- 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 XT: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/firestone-tire-destination-x-t
BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2
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, 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 XT: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/firestone-destination-x-t
BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2
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 XT: https://simpletire.com/brands/firestone-tires/destination-x-t
BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://simpletire.com/brands/bfgoodrich-tires/all-terrain-t-a-ko2
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
Since Destination XT is only available for LT sizes, I have made the comparison on LT size-based. If Firestone will decide to expand their line-up with P-metrics, BF Goodrich KO2 would be a competitor to them.
| Firestone Destination X/T | BF Goodrich KO2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Mostly highway driving, fuel efficiency, hauling & towing, camping, 3/4 ton or above trucks | Snowy regions, severe off-road lovers, SUV, CUV, or 1/2-ton light truck owners |
| Pros | Light-weight (decrease in MPG), long-lasting rubber, quiet and comfortable ride | Responsiveness, strong sidewalls, product range |
| Cons | You should heat up tires a bit for the best wet and light-snow traction | Wet traction is questionable, doesn’t last long as its competitors, a bit noisy |
| Available on | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
Take-Home Points,
- LT sizes have stronger sidewalls. That feature makes them more durable. Yet, these tires offer a rougher ride. (LT vs P-Metric tires)
- XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, if you’ll go with p-metric sizes, they might be a better pick for hauling and towing( XL vs SL tires)
- Please pay attention to the load range and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
- There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires
A side note here: If you’d like to get local advice and find the best fit for your driving habits, location, and road conditions DiscountTire – Treadwell Tire Guide can give you masterpiece recommendations.
Firestone Destination XT is my choice regarding the price difference. It is almost as good as BF Goodrich in every section. Even better in wet and snow.
Catch it before prices will be up!
Note: Firestone Destination XT is only available in LT sizes
I hope this comparison will help you to decide. If you have any questions, you are more than welcome to leave them below! Have a safe ride!
Guide Me Bruh!
This section contains my research and top picks. Depending on your need, you may choose a category and easily find the best fit for yourself. Remember, nobody knows your driving conditions and requirements better than yourself. You’re in the charge out here.
Start Here:
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