![]() ![]() ![]() This is the more stringent “severe snow service’ rating, which is much better than M+S (Mud and Snow). The new tire compound and siping work together to achieve good ice and snow grip, earning the tire the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Certification. Unlike some tires, the siping on these centre blocks is full depth so you’ll get great traction for the tread life of the tire. The staggered siping through the centre tread blocks and open slots on the shoulder blocks evacuate water for good wet pavement traction. We had to pull over twice to the edge to allow other cars pass on the narrow highway.įirestone incorporated a number of design features to achieve their goal. On the journey home to Kelowna through intermittent heavy rain at highway speeds, there was no hydroplaning and the cornering and braking was quick and secure as we dodged rock fall. I let the cat out of the bag (which I normally never do – I dislike cats) in the first paragraph after my harrowing expedition to Whistler to test drive new trucks off-road in the narrow, steep switchbacks of the Callaghan Valley. 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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