Thoughts on Firestone Destination MT2 vs Other Brand MT's

[L9H 2 LM2]

I have a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 X31 with the 3.0 Duramax that I am ready to level out and throw some better looking tires on it but can't make up my mind on tires so I was hoping yall could help me out. 

 

To start, I have a 150 mile minimum commute to and fron work each day (mostly freeway) which is one big reason I got the duramax which btw I am loving the 25-28mpg avg i am currently getting. I know my mpg will drop considerably with heavier tires but I guess I'm still just a 34 year old teenager as I still feel like it's a small price to pay to look cool lol. 

 

That said, I am at least trying to be continous about tire weight in attempt to hang on to every mpg i can but at the end of the day, any aggressive looking AT or MT is going to be significantly heavier.

 

After searching the net the past few days I have compiled a list of tires I am (or was) potentially interested in which I have listed from lightest to heaviest for each A/T and M/T tires. As far as looks go, I think I like the "look" of the trail grapplers the best but I also love the toyo mts and geolander mts. But after seeing the weight of these tires I started considering other options. 

MUD TERRAIN
Firestone destination mt2 - 275/65R20 @ 57 lbs
Yokahoma geolander mt g003 - 275/65R20 @ 64.8lbs
Toyo open country mt - 275/65R20 @ 67lbs
Nitto trail grappler  - 275/65R20 @ 67.91lbs
BFG KM2 - 275/65R20 @ 67.91lbs
BFG KM3 - 275/65R20 @ 67.5lbs

ALL TERRAIN
Toyo open country at3 - 275/65R20 @ 55lbs
Toyo open country at2 - 275/65R20 34.1x11 @ 57lbs
BFG K02 - 275/65R20 34.1x11 @ 58.27lbs
Toyo open country RT  275/65R20 @ 60lbs
Nitto ridge grappler - 275/65R20 @ 60.85lbs
Cooper discoverer st max - 275/65R20 @ 65lbs

 

I was really surprised with how light the Firestone destination mt2 is for a mud terrain. Its actually one of the lighter of all the tires listed and I really like the way they look as well. Has anyone had any experience woth these? If so, How they handle on the road, how rough they ride, and what mileage can I expect to get out of them (specifically on a 1/2 ton) when compared to other mts and ats. Road noise is not a big issue for me as I have read several reviews that claim these are actually pretty quiet for a mt tire. Regardless, i have had several sets of mud grapplers in the past as well as other mt's that were way noiser than I suspect these would be and it never bothered me.

 

Also i am on the fence with size and more specifically width. I have a 2" rancho suspension for the front I will be getting installed with the tires. In the past I would usually go with somthing around the 11.5 - 12.5 width range on stock wheels but have been considering the look of somthing a little narrower to give the truck a different stance as sometime wide tires on the narrow stock wheels (stock GM 20"x9") makes the tires kinda balloon out too much and give too much side wall. I was thinking somthing like a 275/65r20. Im not sold it will look better worse or make enough difference to really notice so whats yalls thoughts? Any pics of this size or any other sizes on the stock GM 20s would be great for a comparison. Thanks. 

[redwngr]

I'll supply the 'old guy' comment.

At a 150 mile commute I'd be more concerned about cost per mile than looking cool.

 

Might even be worth it to look at a commuter vehicle and 'save' the truck. 

It was a bunch of years ago, but for a period of time I did the 2 vehicle thing for that reason.

[CamGTP]

Do you deal with snow or heavy rain at all?

 

MT tires will suck ass in both situations.

[It's Tim]

Nobody buys a truck for "fuel economy" you should buy whichever tire you like and just drive it.  As an aside, I don't feel so bad about my 12 minute commute now.

[L9H 2 LM2]

9 hours ago, CamGTP said:

Do you deal with snow or heavy rain at all?

 

MT tires will suck ass in both situations.

I live on the gulf coast so no snow but heavy rain from time to time. As mentioned ive had several sets of mts on various vehicles over the years so I knownwhat im getting into with a MT tire although I've never had the firestones so thats why I was asking about handling, ride, life of those tires specifically. To be honest I was actually leaning towards the ridge grapplers being they are more of an AT and probably ride better than most MTs will but after seeing that the firestones are actually lighter I would like to get some reviews from folks who have had them.

[Gangly]

Have you considered the Duratrac at 50 lbs for an E rated tire?

 

With that amount of distance to drive, I would want as light a tire as possible to maximize fuel efficiency.  The Dueler RSW's are really good AT's as well, one of the highest, if not the highest rated overall, but they wont have the aggressive pattern you are looking for.

 

 

[Silverado4x4]

1 hour ago, L9H 2 LM2 said:

I live on the gulf coast so no snow but heavy rain from time to time. As mentioned ive had several sets of mts on various vehicles over the years so I knownwhat im getting into with a MT tire although I've never had the firestones so thats why I was asking about handling, ride, life of those tires specifically. To be honest I was actually leaning towards the ridge grapplers being they are more of an AT and probably ride better than most MTs will but after seeing that the firestones are actually lighter I would like to get some reviews from folks who have had them.

You are better off with a AT tire with your 150 mile drive. MT tires have a soft compound rubber and wear fast compared to a AT tire and suck in the rain trust me I have been through several MT tires in my day as I did a lot of off-road driving. With the drive you have you will eat those MT tires up in a year to maybe year in a half if your lucky.

Edited January 5, 2021 by Silverado4x4

[aseibel]

The extra tire weight increases energy required for starting and stopping- IE city mileage.

Once rolling it won't kill your highway mileage that much. What really kills the highway mileage is knobby tread + any extra width and height you add over stock. (changing the air drag)

 

I would recommend you stick as close to OEM size as you can live with if you care about fuel economy.

 

Buying tires solely by looks isn't the way I would do it, but its your ride and you get to do whatever you want with it.

 

I went with OEM size Cooper Discoverer AT3 4s, great performance, no noticeable drop in fuel economy.

Edited January 5, 2021 by aseibel

[newdude]

I would avoid 275/65R20 as everything in it is an E load therefore will all be heavy if added weight is of concern.

 

If you stay 275/60R20 stock size, look at:

 

Toyo Open Country AT3

Cooper AT3

Hankook Dynapro AT2

Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo 3  

Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac

 

 

Edited January 5, 2021 by newdude

[CamGTP]

I'd go with the Nitto Terra Grapplers over the Ridge Grapplers anyday.

[SilverIceZed71]

I used to run the first generation of the Firestone Destination M/T about 15 years ago on a lifted Ranger. I thought they were fantastic tires, never had any issues in the snow/ice/rain with them here in the mountains of central PA. 
 

I see the M/T 2’s have some siping on them, so there’s that. None of my old M/T’s ever had any siping. 
 

Personally, I’m planning on going with Yoko Geolander M/T’s. 
 

On a side note: if you do go with an M/T, rotate them...religiously. Like every 3k miles. 

Edited January 8, 2021 by SilverIceZed71