Well, about time for tires again...

[Dennis_H]

Have Michelin LTX M/S2 and they have been fine. Looking at Firestone Destination LE3 since they are several hundred less. I used to use the LE2 when I was drivingfull size vans and they were great. I don't offroad and mostly stick to paved roads. May come down to who will stick in some new TPMS sensors (that I bring) at the same time for the best price...

Costco has the LTX M/S2 for about 255 each installed after rebates.
Sam's has the LE3 for $195 each installed after rebates.

Anyone have experience with the LE3?

 

[inmanlanier]

We have a 2012 EL XLT. I went from OEM Goodyears at 55k miles to the Destination LE2s - LOVED them. Smooth, quiet - good in the wet and dry, etc. I just replaced them at 111K miles last July with the Destination LE3s. Can't tell any difference. We love them as well. Only 1 data point, but my bud is in the business, he originally recommended the LE2s based on many, many customers he sold them to. Firestone is Bridgestone USA (originally British, then taken over by the Japanese where they infused quality into the line - ignoring the rolling Exploders!).

I should have also clarified - I'm quite persnickety about tires. I have raced or (now at an older age) driven on race tracks quite a bit. Tire performance - especially on street cars in the wet down here in South Florida (lotsa rain) - is very important to me. Many people just go for the low price. I go for the lowest price of quality tires that give me excellent wet weather performance, quality manufacture (round!), good dry handling, reasonable life, etc. Obviously getting 56K miles out of the LE2S is a good indicator of good life on the LE3s.

 

[Dennis_H]

We have a 2012 EL XLT. I went from OEM Goodyears at 55k miles to the Destination LE2s - LOVED them. Smooth, quiet - good in the wet and dry, etc. I just replaced them at 111K miles last July with the Destination LE3s. Can't tell any difference. We love them as well. Only 1 data point, but my bud is in the business, he originally recommended the LE2s based on many, many customers he sold them to. Firestone is Bridgestone USA (originally British, then taken over by the Japanese where they infused quality into the line - ignoring the rolling Exploders!).

I should have also clarified - I'm quite persnickety about tires. I have raced or (now at an older age) driven on race tracks quite a bit. Tire performance - especially on street cars in the wet down here in South Florida (lotsa rain) - is very important to me. Many people just go for the low price. I go for the lowest price of quality tires that give me excellent wet weather performance, quality manufacture (round!), good dry handling, reasonable life, etc. Obviously getting 56K miles out of the LE2S is a good indicator of good life on the LE3s.

Thanks for the info. I really liked the le2 and was hoping the le3 didn't go backwards. Sounds like they are as good as the le2.

 

[Dennis_H]

Tire rack has a somewhat decent comparison on these and doesn't like the steering response on the LE3. I never had an issue that I can think of on the LE2 on full size high top vans, but may reconsider the LE3 vs LTX M/S2 debate again...

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=335

 

[JasonH]

The tires are going to be on the vehicle for tens of thousands of miles. There's not really much reason to cut corners to save a buck when you're driving on them for years.

 

[chuck s]

I put Continental TerrainContact A/T tires on my 2017 after the originals aged out at 7 years. Happy with them. Seem to be well-rated and they look good! Much of Virginia is shut down this morning due to incredible snow depths which in some places exceed two (2) inches (my miniature Dachshunds came back inside this morning indigent 'cuz their little tweenies got cold and wet). The roads are empty enough for me to risk seeing how these tires handle these severe weather conditions.

-- Chuck

 

[1111ExpyEL1111]

I have 2 comments:

1. I'm partial to Nokian tires as they are great performers in winter and have excellent tread wear characteristics. Also, Goodyear Wranglers w/Kevlar as they exhibit the same characteristics.
2. I would never buy tires from a place like Walmart, Costco, or Sam's. Why are cheaper? Because they are made to a different spec that allows the places to sell them at a lower price and still make a nice profit.

 

[MrItchy]

Following the recommendations on this group, I put Cooper Discoverer AT3's on my '16 EL in 2021. 50k miles later, they still have good tread and road performance, have good traction in snow and wet, mountain, plains, and desert, and are very stable on the occasional towing job. I should easily exceed the 60k expected lifespan, and will likely replace them with the same.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

I have 2 comments:

1. I'm partial to Nokian tires as they are great performers in winter and have excellent tread wear characteristics. Also, Goodyear Wranglers w/Kevlar as they exhibit the same characteristics.
2. I would never buy tires from a place like Walmart, Costco, or Sam's. Why are cheaper? Because they are made to a different spec that allows the places to sell them at a lower price and still make a nice profit.

I don't have any experience with Nokians, but I can tell you that Wranglers are not what they used to be....

Many years ago when I had an 04 Explorer (26K @purchase), it came with new Wranglers and they lasted almost 70K miles before needing replacement. However, when I bought my current 011 Expy (58K @purchase), it also came with new Wrangler SR-A's, but they only lasted about 30K.

Both vehicles were in excellent condition when purchased and had been well maintained by the previous owners. So I replaced them with Steadfast HT's, which by all accounts is a little heavier duty and better sidewall/tread construction as compared to the SR-A's, but only cost about $30 more per tire..

So fingers crossed that they will last longer than the SR-A's did

A side note, I am partial to Goodyear because I have had them on several mid-sized sedans in the past and always got at least 50k out of them....I know those were much different vehicles, but just sayin....

As for where to buy tires, I can concur with NEVER, EVER, buying them from the above box stores, since they are primarily made specifically for them and to hit a certain price point and nothing else.... and also, when they wear out prematurely, those places will absolutely REFUSE to give you a prorated warranty replacement, and neither will the mfgr, as they say that those places are not "authorized" dealers for their products and will tell you to go F yourself

 

[rollinstone]

I don't have any experience with Nokians, but I can tell you that Wranglers are not what they used to be....

Many years ago when I had an 04 Explorer (26K @purchase), it came with new Wranglers and they lasted almost 70K miles before needing replacement. However, when I bought my current 011 Expy (58K @purchase), it also came with new Wrangler SR-A's, but they only lasted about 30K.

Both vehicles were in excellent condition when purchased and had been well maintained by the previous owners. So I replaced them with Steadfast HT's, which by all accounts is a little heavier duty and better sidewall/tread construction as compared to the SR-A's, but only cost about $30 more per tire..

So fingers crossed that they will last longer than the SR-A's did

A side note, I am partial to Goodyear because I have had them on several mid-sized sedans in the past and always got at least 50k out of them....I know those were much different vehicles, but just sayin....

As for where to buy tires, I can concur with NEVER, EVER, buying them from the above box stores, since they are primarily made specifically for them and to hit a certain price point and nothing else.... and also, when they wear out prematurely, those places will absolutely REFUSE to give you a prorated warranty replacement, and neither will the mfgr, as they say that those places are not "authorized" dealers for their products and will tell you to go F yourself

Wow…I didn’t know that about Costco and the others. You’d think a tire was a tire no matter who sells it. My Michelin Defenders were purchased from Discount where I have purchased ALL my tires for 20 years. They’ll take a tire back for just about any reason. I took a set of ST trailer tires back that went from 9/32s to 6/32s with less than 5000 miles on them in a year. They gave me credit for replacements.

 

[chuck s]

No surprise. Discount Tire is NOT the same as Costco or Walmart or Amazon.

Doubt I've ever had poorer OEM tires than Wranglers. I think they came on my '02 Explorer and "07 Expedition. Other than they were Round and held air I can't recall anything I liked.

-- Chuck

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Wow…I didn’t know that about Costco and the others. You’d think a tire was a tire no matter who sells it. My Michelin Defenders were purchased from Discount where I have purchased ALL my tires for 20 years. They’ll take a tire back for just about any reason. I took a set of ST trailer tires back that went from 9/32s to 6/32s with less than 5000 miles on them in a year. They gave me credit for replacements.

Well, now you know whatcha didn't know about whatcha thought ya knew, hahahaha

I'm not a big fan of Discontent Tire (long story), but yea, at least they will stand behind the stuff they sell, so there's that

 

[914rrr]

Noticed a huge improvement going from no-name Chinese cheapies the selling dealer installed vs Pirelli Scorpions. Bonus is the spare is the same as my current tires!