Well someone finally did this!!

[Frenchy]

So as most of you are aware, I definitely like the Firestone Destination XT. Well one of the local places here in Colorado decided to do a test on the Snow for Braking and Acceleration with 3 Tires.

These tires are:

The Firestone Destination XT

The BF Goodrich KO3

The Fallen Wildpeak ATW4

To say the least the results were interesting. Two preformed well and the other not so much. Also both tests with each tire are in 4WD with same size and load rating(trying to keep the playing field fair). I also liked the initial comparison of the KO3 vs the KO2 for Winter Performance. I felt the KO2 and the General Grabber ATx were in the same boat.

Anywho, here is that video so you can see the results for yourself!!

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[got3fords]

Very interesting. But let's say the over all testing took about 4 to 6 hours, then the conditions of the snow will vary greatly.

 

[Frenchy]

Very interesting. But let's say the over all testing took about 4 to 6 hours, then the conditions of the snow will vary greatly.

Thankfully with the location of where they went, the snow is most likely still there as we speak today.

 

[got3fords]

Thankfully with the location of where they went, the snow is most likely still there as we speak today.

Perhaps, but I am thinking it can vary from early morning to sunset. And maybe the poorer performing tire was tested mid-day when the snow was wetter. I dunno, I always take these reviews with grain of salt. I have no dog in the fight, I run Michelins' with a small chance of needing them is snow. Heck, I would like to see them in the comparison. They have decent reviews of snow performance.

 

[dtech]

I recently bought wildpeak at3w xl ($210 ea. so price a factor) but in doing so researched wildpeak at4w , different tire in several aspects than at3w, but E rated are really really heavy, highly likely more rugged than the Firestone or Goodrich but raises questions about what market falken is going after, most AT brands cater to a 90/10 use model highway vs off road. But those who do heavy off road will find much to like in the at4w rugged construction.

 

[Frenchy]

I recently bought wildpeak at3w xl ($210 ea. so price a factor) but in doing so researched wildpeak at4w , different tire in several aspects than at3w, but E rated are really really heavy, highly likely more rugged than the Firestone or Goodrich but raises questions about what market falken is going after, most AT brands cater to a 90/10 use model highway vs off road. But those who do heavy off road will find much to like in the at4w rugged construction.

Just because it is Heavy doesn't necessarily make it Rugged. Got to remember that I have been running the Destination XT on 4 different vehicles now. The first 3 I never had any issues with punctures especially in places where others would pickup a nail or something(this was more related to the work van). Even when I took both the Ranger and Pathfinder OffRoad, the Destination XT did not complain. I can only imagine how well the Frontier does with them!

 

[awd.nv]

I cheated and went to the end but watching it from the start. Glad the K03 did so well. I had K02 before and can tell the wet on-road is better. Cuts through puddles noticeably better. Haven't had them in snow yet but was glad to see them do so well. Most likely they will see some snow this season.

 

[dtech]

Just because it is Heavy doesn't necessarily make it Rugged. Got to remember that I have been running the Destination XT on 4 different vehicles now. The first 3 I never had any issues with punctures especially in places where others would pickup a nail or something(this was more related to the work van). Even when I took both the Ranger and Pathfinder OffRoad, the Destination XT did not complain. I can only imagine how well the Frontier does with them!

What I read from multiple reviews is that a good deal of the falkens heavier weight compared to competitors is in the sidewall construction. I'm not promoting falkens , not sure they are the ideal tire for me as I fall into that 90/10 highway/off road use rule but I did go on a 40 mile off road drive in the McGinnis canyon lands and the extra tread blocks did protect the sidewalls, the route had a lot of rocks, not gravel but lots of raised rock slabs. I also tow so a reason I bought an xl tire but e loaded rated wildpeak at4w have as one reviewer said " a massive weight problem " and the reviews say it can be felt when accelerating from a stop so the poor performance in that comparison test is understandable.

 

[Frenchy]

What I read from multiple reviews is that a good deal of the falkens heavier weight compared to competitors is in the sidewall construction. I'm not promoting falkens , not sure they are the ideal tire for me as I fall into that 90/10 highway/off road use rule but I did go on a 40 mile off road drive in the McGinnis canyon lands and the extra tread blocks did protect the sidewalls, the route had a lot of rocks, not gravel but lots of raised rock slabs. I also tow so a reason I bought an xl tire but e loaded rated wildpeak at4w have as one reviewer said " a massive weight problem " and the reviews say it can be felt when accelerating from a stop so the poor performance in that comparison test is understandable.

Still have to remember that this was on Snow and not Dry Pavement. There is a whole lot more to it than weight on the Acceleration and Braking. The Tire still has to be able to Grip the Surface you are trying to Drive on.

A great example was my Lovely Bridgestone Dueler AT Ascent's. On Dry Pavement and Rainy Wet Weather they were Great. In the Snow and Ice they did not meet the same performance as the Firestone Destination XT.

How a Tire Manufacturer builds their Tire and where they Build it will certainly make a Difference. Thankfully Bridgestone/Firestone have picked the USA, Canada and Japan for a majority of their Products. Falken chose Thailand for the AT4W...... Don't ask me why........

 

[dtech]

Well as it so happens my 1rst job out of college was in the tire industry, Dunlop tires in Tonawanda, NY, recently in the news as sumitomo rubber (owns falken) unexpectedly closed the 100 yr old plant. Seems like a number of brands including Bridgestone, yokohama and Michelin have large and growing operations in Thailand. When doing searches for tires, I was amazed at how many Chinese brands there are now , you may be skeptical of their quality, agree many brands are best avoided but this is putting increasing pressure on the established makers and lower cost is probably behind the moves to Thailand. You may know most tires are built in stages(core, sidewalls, threads, beads ) and still involve a good deal of labor. I don't know if proximity to rubber plantations plays a role, your better tires use more natural rubber.

 

[lildobe]

Glad the K03 did so well. I had K02 before and can tell the wet on-road is better. Cuts through puddles noticeably better. Haven't had them in snow yet but was glad to see them do so well. Most likely they will see some snow this season.

I just had a set of K03s mounted onto my Tremor and I'm really hoping we actually get some decent snow this year, so I can put them through their winter paces.

I can say that on-road, both dry and wet, they've been impressing me over what I can remember of the KO2s that I had on my '04 Ranger. Quieter than the K02s (And MUCH quieter than the General A/T tires that my Tremor had on when I bought it last year), and they feel more sure-footed in the rain.

I'd like to get off road with them at some point soon, but that all comes down to having a buddy to go offroading with, since I don't like to go with only one vehicle.

 

[dtech]

Well Car and Driver picks the Firestone as the best value AT , most reviews I came across usually had BF Goodrich in their recommendations. Road and track likes the Firestones and BFs as well.
Seems like Firestone might be arguably the best value .

https://www.caranddriver.com/shopping-advice/g26292273/best-all-terrain-tires/

https://www.roadandtrack.com/gear/g45229229/best-all-terrain-tire/?

 

[awd.nv]

I just had a set of K03s mounted onto my Tremor and I'm really hoping we actually get some decent snow this year, so I can put them through their winter paces.

I can say that on-road, both dry and wet, they've been impressing me over what I can remember of the KO2s that I had on my '04 Ranger. Quieter than the K02s (And MUCH quieter than the General A/T tires that my Tremor had on when I bought it last year), and they feel more sure-footed in the rain.

I'd like to get off road with them at some point soon, but that all comes down to having a buddy to go offroading with, since I don't like to go with only one vehicle.

Oh yeah totally. I put K02 285/70/17 with about 10k miles on my Tremor then at like 42k miles did the K03. They were still above the wear bar but I just like changing tires early. The K03 on-road impressed me, it feels more stable on sweeping freeway onramps and cuts through puddles better. Considering our softer sway bars, it was a welcome improvement.

I was blown away by how quiet they are. I was cruising down the CA coast the weekend I got them, was nice having the windows down with little tire noise. K02 weren't bad but the K03 are almost on-road tire quiet. For sure more quiet than the Toyo AT3 we have on our Pilot.

Utah sand is the test I want to put it through. The k02 did good there, curious how these will do. It is pretty fine sand, love the orange color. Snow, not sure we will take the truck to Park City, UT this year but likely will hit the local snow at Mt. Charleston. Being in Vegas mud is rare to come by.

 

[lildobe]

Utah sand is the test I want to put it through.

Utah sand dunes are on my "offroading bucket list"

As are the Cascade Mountains.

 

[awd.nv]

Utah sand dunes are on my "offroading bucket list"

As are the Cascade Mountains.

Sand Hollow is fun, whether we RV camp inside the park or Airbnb a home across the street at the golf course, just a good time being out there. I forgot this spots name but near Top of the World.

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