| Destination M/T Tire Test |
Name the top 10 mud terrain tires! Several brands come to mind
immediately. Chances are Firestone is not one of them. Better add
the new Firestone Destination M/T to your list. When I first heard
about Firestone’s entry to the mud terrain tire segment, I was just a
little skeptical. After a little research, the Destination M/T seems to
have a great reputation among hardcore four wheelers, especially
among the Land Rover/Range Rover enthusiasts. In fact, the
Rover guys rave about the tire, especially in the mud. We don’t get
much mud in Big Bear, except when the winter snow melts, but we
do have lots of rocks and slippery, sandy surfaces. The positive
feedback from the Rover owners made the decision to test this
relatively new offering an easy one. Especially considering that we
have two Range Rover Classic projects under way.
The Destination M/T is the first Firestone light truck tire with
exclusive UNI-T technology to advance wet handling and braking.
Plus, you get a whole package of advantages from DMR Max
Traction Light Truck Tire Technologies, exclusively from Firestone.
With deep skid lugs, 3 body ply construction, over-the-shoulder
tread/lug design and our special Rim Guard Off-Road Protector
Rib, the Destination M/T is as tough and durable as it looks. Since
it's pinned for studs, the Destination M/T is also ready to deliver
extra grip in winter conditions. All these features add up to a light
truck tire that has what it takes for off-road, all-terrain, all-season
performance.
The Destination M/T features a square footprint and more rubber
between the bottom of the skid and the steel belts, than standard
all-terrain or light truck tires, to protect the body plies. It also
features additional rubber between the outside sidewall and body
plies and has a high void to help clear debris from the tread. No
tread siping provides excellent cut resistance and longer wear.
Additionally, a 40 pitch-length design around the circumference
helps keep noise to a minimum.
The tire, which is pinned for studs to assist in winter driving
conditions, incorporates Bridgestone/Firestone's DMR™ Max
Traction Light Truck Tire innovative patent-pending technologies
This innovative tire design improves handling in wet or dry
conditions and reduces irregular treadwear by combining an ideal
tread design, casing shape, materials and construction. The more
rounded overall tire shape provides better balance for wet or dry
handling. L.L. Carbon utilizes a special form of molecular re-
engineered carbon black, a key factor in improving tire wear while
enhancing wet performance.
The Rim Guard Off-Road Protector Ribs help protect the wheel by
deflecting off-road debris from between the tire bead and rim area,
keeping the lower sidewall stiffer and making the bead fit tighter to
the rim. A unique high-strength tie-in construction, combines 3 full
polyester body plies, 2 high-tensile steel cord belts and a full spiral-
wrapped nylon cap ply for outstanding resistance to on- and off-
highway hazards.
Mud and Off-Road Traction is improved as a result of a unique
over-the-shoulder tread/lug design that increases Extraction
Traction to help get you through ruts and mud combined with low
23' Attack Angle to increase pulling power. Wide wraparound lugs
and special tread element shapes and angles help deflect road
hazards from the shoulder areas as well as improve self-cleaning in
mud and snow conditions.
Using out two Range Rover Classic projects as test mules, Off
Road Big Bear tested the new Firestone Destination M/T tire on
some of the tough rock crawling trails in Big Bear. We used the
LT235/85R16 size. We generally air down M/T tires to 18 PSI for
crawling and climbing some the slippery, loose rock and sand
grades. The open, high void ratio tread pattern of the Destinations
handled the big rocks with ease, crawling up and down boulders
without lockers. The unique sidewall design allows good grip,
flexibility at lower tire pressures yet provides a tough guard against
sidewall cuts and punctures from the sharp rocks strewn across our
trails. We didn’t have mud to test the Destination M/T tires, but after
driving in loose rock and sand, and with input from those how have
used the Destinations in muddy conditions, there is no doubt that
Firestone has a good tire for mud and snow conditions. The tread
design appears to provided good self-cleaning characteristics, On
the highway, after airing back to 32 PSI, the Destination M/T's
handle very well for an M/T design, and are quiet and well
behaved. Braking and turn-in are stable and predictable, nice
features for an M/T tire on a dual purpose 4x4. Combined with good
traction, comfortable and relatively quite ride characteristics and
excellent off road capabilities, the Firestone Destination M/T has
jumped into the 4x4 arena as a serious tire for hardcore four
wheelers.
immediately. Chances are Firestone is not one of them. Better add
the new Firestone Destination M/T to your list. When I first heard
about Firestone’s entry to the mud terrain tire segment, I was just a
little skeptical. After a little research, the Destination M/T seems to
have a great reputation among hardcore four wheelers, especially
among the Land Rover/Range Rover enthusiasts. In fact, the
Rover guys rave about the tire, especially in the mud. We don’t get
much mud in Big Bear, except when the winter snow melts, but we
do have lots of rocks and slippery, sandy surfaces. The positive
feedback from the Rover owners made the decision to test this
relatively new offering an easy one. Especially considering that we
have two Range Rover Classic projects under way.
The Destination M/T is the first Firestone light truck tire with
exclusive UNI-T technology to advance wet handling and braking.
Plus, you get a whole package of advantages from DMR Max
Traction Light Truck Tire Technologies, exclusively from Firestone.
With deep skid lugs, 3 body ply construction, over-the-shoulder
tread/lug design and our special Rim Guard Off-Road Protector
Rib, the Destination M/T is as tough and durable as it looks. Since
it's pinned for studs, the Destination M/T is also ready to deliver
extra grip in winter conditions. All these features add up to a light
truck tire that has what it takes for off-road, all-terrain, all-season
performance.
The Destination M/T features a square footprint and more rubber
between the bottom of the skid and the steel belts, than standard
all-terrain or light truck tires, to protect the body plies. It also
features additional rubber between the outside sidewall and body
plies and has a high void to help clear debris from the tread. No
tread siping provides excellent cut resistance and longer wear.
Additionally, a 40 pitch-length design around the circumference
helps keep noise to a minimum.
The tire, which is pinned for studs to assist in winter driving
conditions, incorporates Bridgestone/Firestone's DMR™ Max
Traction Light Truck Tire innovative patent-pending technologies
This innovative tire design improves handling in wet or dry
conditions and reduces irregular treadwear by combining an ideal
tread design, casing shape, materials and construction. The more
rounded overall tire shape provides better balance for wet or dry
handling. L.L. Carbon utilizes a special form of molecular re-
engineered carbon black, a key factor in improving tire wear while
enhancing wet performance.
The Rim Guard Off-Road Protector Ribs help protect the wheel by
deflecting off-road debris from between the tire bead and rim area,
keeping the lower sidewall stiffer and making the bead fit tighter to
the rim. A unique high-strength tie-in construction, combines 3 full
polyester body plies, 2 high-tensile steel cord belts and a full spiral-
wrapped nylon cap ply for outstanding resistance to on- and off-
highway hazards.
Mud and Off-Road Traction is improved as a result of a unique
over-the-shoulder tread/lug design that increases Extraction
Traction to help get you through ruts and mud combined with low
23' Attack Angle to increase pulling power. Wide wraparound lugs
and special tread element shapes and angles help deflect road
hazards from the shoulder areas as well as improve self-cleaning in
mud and snow conditions.
Using out two Range Rover Classic projects as test mules, Off
Road Big Bear tested the new Firestone Destination M/T tire on
some of the tough rock crawling trails in Big Bear. We used the
LT235/85R16 size. We generally air down M/T tires to 18 PSI for
crawling and climbing some the slippery, loose rock and sand
grades. The open, high void ratio tread pattern of the Destinations
handled the big rocks with ease, crawling up and down boulders
without lockers. The unique sidewall design allows good grip,
flexibility at lower tire pressures yet provides a tough guard against
sidewall cuts and punctures from the sharp rocks strewn across our
trails. We didn’t have mud to test the Destination M/T tires, but after
driving in loose rock and sand, and with input from those how have
used the Destinations in muddy conditions, there is no doubt that
Firestone has a good tire for mud and snow conditions. The tread
design appears to provided good self-cleaning characteristics, On
the highway, after airing back to 32 PSI, the Destination M/T's
handle very well for an M/T design, and are quiet and well
behaved. Braking and turn-in are stable and predictable, nice
features for an M/T tire on a dual purpose 4x4. Combined with good
traction, comfortable and relatively quite ride characteristics and
excellent off road capabilities, the Firestone Destination M/T has
jumped into the 4x4 arena as a serious tire for hardcore four
wheelers.
