Firestone and tires are two things that go hand in hand, like peanut butter and jelly. And when it comes to the Firestone tire range, many consider the Destination series to be one of their finest products. But what is the best Firestone Destination LE tire out there?
Today, we look to answer this question for you. In this article, we will focus on the Destination LE2 and LE3 tires to find out which one suits you the most.
The tread pattern, noise level, overall durability, and fuel efficiency are some areas where you can spot key differences between the Firestone Destination LE2 and LE3. Keep these in mind the next time you pay a visit to the local tire shop.
A Closer Look At Firestone Tires
Before diving into the battle of Firestone LE2 vs LE3, let us take a moment to appreciate the history of the Firestone tire company.
Firestone tires are one of the oldest tire manufacturers in the world. It was founded by Harvey Firestone all the way back in 1900. What started as a small workshop with 12 employees in Akron, Ohio, is now a multi-billion dollar corporation.
The American manufacturer has experienced rapid growth since the beginning. They began producing tires in 1903 and passed one million dollars in sales just three years later.
Although most know Firestone as a street-tire manufacturer, they were involved with motorsports since the beginning as well. In fact, Ray Harroun won the first Indy 500 riding on a set of Firestone tires.
Firestone is one of the most innovative tire brands in the world. They are responsible for several industry-changing innovations, such as the low-pressure balloon tire. The longevity and longer treadwear of modern tires are made possible due to this innovation.
1988 marked another turning point in Firestone’s history. They merged with fellow tire manufacturer Bridgestone to form one of the largest tire and rubber companies the world had ever seen.
This legendary American manufacturer is one of the most well-known tire brands in the world. If you take a glance out the window at this moment, you’re bound to spot a vehicle driving around on Firestone rubber.
Now that you have a clear understanding of Firestone tires, let us shift our attention toward the two main subjects of today’s conversation – the Firestone Destination LE2 and LE3.
LE2 Review
In order to compare the Firestone LE2 with the LE3, first, you should have a good understanding of them both. So, let’s do just that!
First, we will tell you about the older model of the two – the Destination LE2. Released in 2014, this was one of the brand’s highest-end tires yet. It’s an all-season tire designed to be used on light-to-heavy-duty vehicles like pickup trucks, vans, and crossovers.
Firestone made the LE2s with a special silica-enhanced compound to give them the best durability possible. Not only that, but these tires have a symmetrical tread pattern that gives them great traction on any road surface.
If your car is riding on Destination LE2s, you don’t have to worry about rainy conditions at all. They have circumferential grooves that make sure you don’t slide off the road. Furthermore, these grooves ensure great braking performance on the wet surface as well.
For many years, the Destination LE2s were some of the best all-season tires you could get. However, Firestone threw a wrench into the process by releasing its successor a few years later.
LE3 Review
Speaking of the LE2s successor, it is time for us to shift our attention toward the Firestone LE3s. With a 70,000-mile warranty straight out the door, these tires are sure to perform up to the highest standards for a long while.
One of the main features that the Destination LE3 tires bring to the table is Firestone’s “Hydro-Grip” technology. This innovation drastically reduces the risk of hydroplaning. So, if you have been striving for traction on the wet, you know what tires to get!
We should also highlight the fact that the Destination LE3 tires have full-depth 3D sipes in their tread. Firestone has made this inclusion to give the tires improved performance under snowy conditions.
These tires stand head and shoulders above the competition in terms of ride comfort as well. Tire noise is minimal, and they absorb the jerks and bumps quite well.
However, if you were planning to take these tires off road, think again. The Destination L3s are strictly made for tarmac use only.
Overall, with a 90-day buy & try guarantee and over 66 sizes to choose from, it is hard to go wrong with the Firestone Destination LE3 tires.
LE2 VS LE3
Are you impressed with the Firestone LE2 and LE3? Then, you might be even more confused when picking between the two. But don’t worry! We are here to help.
Some key differences between the Firestone Destination LE2 and LE3 tires are in the areas of,
- Tread Pattern
- Traction
- Durability
- Fuel Efficiency
- Comfort
Let us go through each of these differences and find out which tire is the better choice overall.
Tread Pattern
The tread pattern is one of the major differences between the Destination LE3 and its predecessor. Although both tires share a similar design where S-shaped blocks of rubber are surrounded by 2 F-shaped ones, there are some areas that differentiate them.
Compared to the LE2s, the LE3s have a more advanced tread design. They come with the aforementioned “Hydro-Grip” technology, where the lateral notches are both wider and have a better opening than the LE2s.
Not only that, but the LE3s have deeper tread sipes as well. The average tread depth of the Firestone Destination LE3 tires stands at 10/32” inches, which is actually shallower than the 11.6/32” inch depth of the LE2s.
Overall, the refined design and advanced materials give the Destination LE3 tires nearly 20% more biting edges than the older LE2s. Not only does this improve traction, but it makes the tires longer lasting too.
Traction
Traction is perhaps the most important factor you should consider when picking a car tire. The Firestone LE3 tires have the edge over the LE2s in this aspect as well.
First, let’s focus on wet traction. The deep grooves of the LE3 tires allow them to channel water away more efficiently. When compared to the Destination LE2s, this makes the LE3s less prone to hydroplaning.
The thickness of the tire compound also plays a part in overall traction. The slightly harder compound of the Destination LE3 tires helps them hug the road better than the much softer LE2s.
Durability
Let’s face it – tires are expensive. Who wants to keep swapping them out every week? A good tire should last a while and retain its performance when doing so.
We can’t talk about tire durability without taking the construction of the tires into consideration. First, let’s take a closer look at the older Firestone Destination LE2s.
Firestone constructed the LE2 tires with a single polyester code body. On the inside, they have twin steel belts that are spirally wound with durable nylon.
On the other hand, the LE3s come with a dual polyester exterior. However, the construction and materials of the interior remain the same.
The extra layer of polyamide on the Firestone LE3s gives it the edge in durability. Oh, and did we mention that the tread wear warranty of the LE3 tires is nearly 10,000 miles more?
Fuel Efficiency
Your choice of tires has a considerable effect on how far you can travel with a full tank of gas. If you want to be frugal with your fuel, Firestone Destination LE3 is the way to go.
When compared to the LE2s that came before, the LE3 tires have a considerably low rolling resistance. Not only does this improve fuel efficiency, but it helps to reduce the vehicle’s CO2 emissions as well.
Comfort
Being all-season tires, both the Destination LE2s and LE3s have to be comfortable all year round. And we must say that they do an excellent job of doing just that! No matter how many potholes are there on the road, these tires will keep your passengers comfortable from beginning to end.
However, the LE3 tires once again come out on top in this aspect too. Their softer tread compound does a better job of absorbing road bumps. Additionally, they do an exceptional job of keeping road noises at a minimum.
Apart from the differences we discussed above, price is another factor you have to keep in mind. Being the newer and more advanced model, the Destination LE3 tires are typically priced higher than the older LE2s. However, the exact price may vary depending on the tire size as well as the vendor you go for.
Conclusion: Which One Is The Better Choice?
We can safely recommend both the Firestone Destination LE2 and LE3 tires if what you want is a capable all-season tire. However, the newer Destination LE3 comes out on top in terms of comfort, traction, fuel efficiency, as well as durability. These benefits make the Firestone Destination LE3s a better choice than its predecessor.
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