Firestone Destination LE3 tires?

[sohanrd]

2025 Tahoe LT came with Continental LX20 - great tire on noise and mpg. But bit firm ride over potholes, road cracks, etc

Installed Pirellis AS Plus 3 for their comfort claims - Worse than the LX20. Much firmer on city driving. Great tire on highway not on city. Planning to change before trial period (this week)

Michelin LTX MS2 is bit softer, but tirerack claim it is also a taut tire.

Any experience with Destination LE3? checked yday at the store and very soft and pliable tire by hand.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I'm not sure that you can tell how a tire will ride, simply be hand feeling the tread.

Ride feel is a very subjective measure, and certainly varies from person to person. I have the Michelin LTX MS2 tires, and I don't think that the ride is overly stiff on poor road surfaces.

Maybe, someone on this Forum has direct experience with the Destination LE3 tire.

 

[GMCChevy]

Rim size can have an effect on it also. If it has something like 22 or bigger on it changing to a smaller size might get the results you're after.

 

[sohanrd]

Rim size can have an effect on it also. If it has something like 22 or bigger on it changing to a smaller size might get the results you're after.

Already have 20". DT is nice to give LE3 to try out after trying Pirellis. Will see how it goes.

 

[West 1]

I strongly support the Michelin line of tires. Have not had a bad one yet.

With that said when I needed tires for my current 2008 Yukon Denali I found a set of Firestone Pursuit Radials. A local Highway patrol received 5 Tahoes in brand new with these tires on them, they were supposed to have Goodyear Wranglers by contract. They sold off the Firestones for $500 for 4 new tires. For that price I bought them and really like them. Smooth, quiet, handle very well. Speed rating is for something like 140 mph which I will never need. Not sure how these compare to your firestones but this set is a good set of tires. I only have about 5,000 miles on them now.

 

[LSCALADE]

Not sure if you are interested in some AT tire but check out the NOKIAN OUTPOST ATP they make them here in the US and they are awesome tires. Also I am on Falken Wildpeaks at the moment and I really like those tires and how they perform, soft quiet and with a ton of grip on loose gravel.

 

[sohanrd]

I strongly support the Michelin line of tires. Have not had a bad one yet.

With that said when I needed tires for my current 2008 Yukon Denali I found a set of Firestone Pursuit Radials. A local Highway patrol received 5 Tahoes in brand new with these tires on them, they were supposed to have Goodyear Wranglers by contract. They sold off the Firestones for $500 for 4 new tires. For that price I bought them and really like them. Smooth, quiet, handle very well. Speed rating is for something like 140 mph which I will never need. Not sure how these compare to your firestones but this set is a good set of tires. I only have about 5,000 miles on them now.

Michelins are good tires. The thing is my priority is different from most others. My priority is softer ride on city potholes and road cracks. Roads are not good here. I dont mind snow, wet, off-road, noise. towing, handling.. etc.

Was originally looking at the LTX MS2, Tirerack review on MS2 vs LE3 they mentioned MS2 is a taut/firm tire that you feel the read much more than the LE3.

Not sure if you are interested in some AT tire but check out the NOKIAN OUTPOST ATP they make them here in the US and they are awesome tires. Also I am on Falken Wildpeaks at the moment and I really like those tires and how they perform, soft quiet and with a ton of grip on loose gravel.

Need a soft tire for daily city driving, I dont think that AT would fit.

 

[sohanrd]

Installed the LE3 and running at 32psi cold. Initial impression is not bad.

-Bit softer over cracks/potholes/reflectors than Pirelli AS +3 I had (32 psi). Not a day and night difference.
-Pirelli felt bit softer after 2000 miles than when it was new. Hoping for the same with these.
-Road noise is low and very similar to Pirelli.
-MPG seems bit better than Pirellis (already had great MPG on Pirellis). Need more testing though. '
-Handling/steering is bit mushy but doesnt bother me.
-Tire doesnt look as good as Pirellis
-Doesnt have rim protection (pireeli does have)

 

[Doubeleive]

2025 Tahoe LT came with Continental LX20 - great tire on noise and mpg. But bit firm ride over potholes, road cracks, etc

Installed Pirellis AS Plus 3 for their comfort claims - Worse than the LX20. Much firmer on city driving. Great tire on highway not on city. Planning to change before trial period (this week)

Michelin LTX MS2 is bit softer, but tirerack claim it is also a taut tire.

Any experience with Destination LE3? checked yday at the store and very soft and pliable tire by hand.

my preference is goodyear eagle sport a/s (probably have to order them nobody really keeps them in stock, but there around to be had within 1 day all over)
or check out the general gmax as07 those seem to be around all over. just put them on the wife's rig last week but I hardly ever drive it.
I would put the eagles on her's but the wheels are 22's and the eagles only go up to 20" the generals seem to be rated pretty well for there price range
they are a sporty tire so they are inherently softer

 

[sohanrd]

my preference is goodyear eagle sport a/s (probably have to order them nobody really keeps them in stock, but there around to be had within 1 day all over)
or check out the general gmax as07 those seem to be around all over. just put them on the wife's rig last week but I hardly ever drive it.
I would put the eagles on her's but the wheels are 22's and the eagles only go up to 20" the generals seem to be rated pretty well for there price range
they are a sporty tire so they are inherently softer

Interesting!. My understanding was that sport tires are inherently firmer for handling and steering response. I think my Pirellis were in the same category.

 

[Doubeleive]

Interesting!. My understanding was that sport tires are inherently firmer for handling and steering response. I think my Pirellis were in the same category.

sport tires are softer for better grip, but not so soft that they are going to deform or makes noise, etc
your not going to get high mileage out of them, that's the point of being softer there will be wear but that translates into grip.
the pirelli's you mention, the AS PLUS 3 is a standard all season

 

[sohanrd]

sport tires are softer for better grip, but not so soft that they are going to deform or makes noise, etc
your not going to get high mileage out of them, that's the point of being softer there will be wear but that translates into grip.
the pirelli's you mention, the AS PLUS 3 is a standard all season

My understanding is different.

Yes, sport tires have softer rubber for better grip. However, the carcass, belts, internal structure are tighter/firmer to keep the sporty handling and steering. This inherently brings firm ride and more road feeling, which is essential for a sport tire.

 

[Doubeleive]

My understanding is different.

Yes, sport tires have softer rubber for better grip. However, the carcass, belts, internal structure are tighter/firmer to keep the sporty handling and steering. This inherently brings firm ride and more road feeling, which is essential for a sport tire.

I suppose this is the case but they sure ride nicer than those hard @ss Michelin's that everyone raves about, I hated those tires when I tried them.
maybe you need to lower your tire pressure to see if that helps how it rides for you.

 

[sohanrd]

I suppose this is the case but they sure ride nicer than those hard @ss Michelin's that everyone raves about, I hated those tires when I tried them.
maybe you need to lower your tire pressure to see if that helps how it rides for you.

The problem with nice riding tires means anything in the tire world. For someone, excellent cornering, stiff steering feel, feeling every bit of road is the nice tire. For someone else, relaxed, isolated, boaty, cloud like ride is the nice ride. Everyones priorities are different.

I like the LE3 than the OE conti. LX20 and Pirelli AS +3 I just had. DT assured that I will be back return the LE3 if I didnt get the Mich. LTX MS2. How did you feel it over cracks/potholes in city driving?

 

[Doubeleive]

The problem with nice riding tires means anything in the tire world. For someone, excellent cornering, stiff steering feel, feeling every bit of road is the nice tire. For someone else, relaxed, isolated, boaty, cloud like ride is the nice ride. Everyones priorities are different.

I like the LE3 than the OE conti. LX20 and Pirelli AS +3 I just had. DT assured that I will be back return the LE3 if I didnt get the Mich. LTX MS2. How did you feel it over cracks/potholes in city driving?

I drive kinda fast so hard tires result in skipping a beat for me sometimes, a momentary loss of traction or a skip to to say
I can even feel a skip over a painted line on the road because the paint causes loss of traction
for most people though there probably fine
personal preference I guess

 

[Newokie59]

2025 Tahoe LT came with Continental LX20 - great tire on noise and mpg. But bit firm ride over potholes, road cracks, etc

Installed Pirellis AS Plus 3 for their comfort claims - Worse than the LX20. Much firmer on city driving. Great tire on highway not on city. Planning to change before trial period (this week)

Michelin LTX MS2 is bit softer, but tirerack claim it is also a taut tire.

Any experience with Destination LE3? checked yday at the store and very soft and pliable tire by hand.

I have used the Firestone LE3's all all 4 of my trucks and now I have them on my Yukon. The Yukon's rims are the bigger 22's. The ride is great, they don't make a lot of road noise and they handle really well in crap weather (Oklahoma). I also like knowing, that IF I have a problem, there is almost always a Firestone nearby. If there is a Hibdons Tires+ store in the area they will also honor warranty/flats

 

[Boston2020]

2025 Tahoe LT came with Continental LX20 - great tire on noise and mpg. But bit firm ride over potholes, road cracks, etc

Installed Pirellis AS Plus 3 for their comfort claims - Worse than the LX20. Much firmer on city driving. Great tire on highway not on city. Planning to change before trial period (this week)

Michelin LTX MS2 is bit softer, but tirerack claim it is also a taut tire.

Any experience with Destination LE3? checked yday at the store and very soft and pliable tire by hand.

I have a 2020 Tahoe Premier with 20inch wheels and have the Firestone tires your speaking of I am not a Firestone fan but I think the tires are great on the highway but I think the problem with my Tahoe is the magnetic ride system its terrible on roads with expansion joints bumps and potholes I would rather have a excellent set of regular shocks

 

[sohanrd]

I have a 2020 Tahoe Premier with 20inch wheels and have the Firestone tires your speaking of I am not a Firestone fan but I think the tires are great on the highway but I think the problem with my Tahoe is the magnetic ride system its terrible on roads with expansion joints bumps and potholes I would rather have a excellent set of regular shocks

Why/how is your Magna ride bad? Isnt it supposed to be good over joints/bumps/potholes?

 

[Boston2020]

Why/how is your Magna ride bad? Isnt it supposed to be good over joints/bumps/potholes?

its great on the highway but the city roads I just find it jolting. lets just say I'm not impressed not even with small imperfections of the road yet higher speeds like highway is great.

 

[sohanrd]

its great on the highway but the city roads I just find it jolting. lets just say I'm not impressed not even with small imperfections of the road yet higher speeds like highway is great.

Really? My non-magna LT is very smooth on highway and jolting over city roads (whole reason I wanted to switch OE tires). I thought magnaride is designed to mitigate that.

Anyone else who has Magnaride can comment on this please?