The centre three rows of tread blocks have full depth siping and the shoulder lugs have slots to evacuate water, mud and snow. Do the X/T’s deliver on all of Firestone’s promises – great durability, traction under all conditions, and a quiet comfortable ride? Great traction usually comes at the cost of additional road noise and a rougher ride. It’s available in 25 sizes for almost every light truck and SUV, so if you choose to go this route you should be able to find your size. Firestone says a new tougher tread compound has been used so the tire can handle more off-road abuse and improve on-road durability – hence the 80,000 km (50,000 mi) limited tread-life warranty and 90-Day Buy & Try Guarantee. The X/T is designed to be an all-terrain light truck and SUV tire with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Certification, indicating that it’s built for northern climates. The X/T (and A/T2) replaces the Destination A/Ts, which were originally released in 2004. Our test tires were LT285/70R17, mounted on Rugged Ridge XHD wheels on my 2015 Wrangler JKU weighing in at a rather chubby 2290 kg (5048 lb), roughly 225 kg (500 lb) over the stock curb weight. Some other tires could probably do the same, however the Destination X/T’s were the ones to prove it.įresh dumps of snow close highways, which create avalanches across southern BC. On this particular drive, I wish I had photos to share, and a change of underwear.įortunately, I lived and returned unscathed to tell you that the X/T’s distinguished themselves through the heavy rain and wet pavement, as we dodged rocks along a narrow, twisting, cliffside highway. The lane and half available to two-way traffic means you’re guaranteed to enjoy vertigo-inspiring vistas for at least a kilometer or two. The views are spectacular driving a kilometer above the valley bottom, as no trees or shrubs can cling to the sheer drop, and there are no guardrails to obstruct your view. Driving alone through a partial rockslide in the pouring coastal rain outside of Lillooet, BC is a long way from controlled, but a great way to test tires, although the pucker factor is on the high side. We like to start in medium difficulty terrain and conditions, and then steadily push the tires through increasingly challenging circumstances. We like to test new tires under relatively controlled circumstances with a back-up plan if something goes sideways. Ice, snow and fallen trees – another perfect day to go to work.
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