One of the most well-known brands in the tire market today, Firestone tires have been a reliable option for more than a century. Over the years, numerous manufacturers have chosen Firestone’s tires as their preferred rubber, but things haven’t always gone smoothly for the company. The tire manufacturer was implicated in a significant safety issue concerning Ford Explorer tires in the 1990s. As per our review about Firestone tires, Ford as a result began using alternative tire manufacturers, namely Falken, for several of its most recent models. But as of late, the business has largely recaptured its previous splendor and is a dominant force in the tire industry.
- In our most recent tire research, Firestone received an overall rating of 4.0 out of 5.0.
- Firestone tires are often inexpensive options for simple driving requirements.
- The business also offers warranty plans for purchase and repair facilities across the nation.
The name Firestone is well-known in the tire industry. But how do Firestone tires stack up against those from rival manufacturers? In this post, we’ll go into a great review of Firestone, covering the company’s standing in the market, popular tire models, prices, client feedback, and our conclusions.
- Best All-Season Tire: Firestone WeatherGrip
- Best All-Terrain Tire: Firestone Destination A/T2
- Best Touring Tire: Firestone Destination LE3
- Best Winter Tire: Firestone Winterforce 2
- Best Summer Tire: Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
- Best Durable Tire: Firestone Destination XT
Before deciding, we advise comparing a few different tire models from various brands. Visit TireRack.com to start comparing the best tires on the market, including Firestone’s.
About Firestone Tires Review
The Firestone brand is well-known among drivers in the United States and abroad. Harvey Firestone established it in Akron, Ohio, in 1900. Bridgestone Tire, which presently serves as Firestone’s parent business, purchased Firestone in 1988. One of the biggest tire producers in North America, Bridgestone accounted for 19.5% of the continent’s tire sales in 2019.
Within Bridgestone’s wider market share, Firestone has established a niche for itself in the passenger vehicle industry by competing with major tire producers like Michelin and Goodyear. Nashville, Tennessee, serves as the current headquarters for Firestone.
Originally producing original equipment (OE) tires for Ford Motor Company, Firestone now offers replacement tires for cars, trucks, and SUVs. For daily commuters searching for a low-cost solution, according to this review, Firestone tires are a solid option.
Offers several budget-friendly tire styles
Widely accessible at tire shops nationwide
A huge selection of fits, sorts, and sizes
The brand’s inventory features a lot of highly-rated tires
Fewer options for performance tires
Not the finest warranties for tread life
Best Firestone Tires by Car Type
FR710: Best for Passenger Cars
Although Firestone truck and SUV tires frequently receive the top reviews, one of the best-rated tires from the manufacturer is the FR710 passenger all-season tire. It has wet traction and a warranty on tread life to keep drivers moving. The business purchases many FR710 versions for as little as $90 and routinely provides rebates and discounts to sweeten the sale.
Specs:
Brand: Firestone
Model: FR710
Weight: Varies
Available Sizes: 15”, 16”, 17”,18”
Destination A/T2: Best SUV Tire
There’s a good reason why we routinely suggest the Destination A/T2 in our “best tires” guides for different automobiles. It’s one of the highest-rated tires of any kind available right now. It received five stars for traction, value, comfort, and value. Car Talk was extremely pleased with the Destination A/T2 after testing it on Jeep SUVs in the winter. Firestone offers a reliable 55,000-mile tread life warranty. Firestone will replace any tires with flaws discovered during the first three years of use at no cost. The company will then give a discount on new tires based on how much tread is still on the previous pair.
Specs:
Brand: Firestone
Model: Destination A/T2
Weight: Varies
Available Sizes: 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”, 22”
Destination A/T: Best Truck Tire
Even though the original Destination A/T tire has been around for a long time, it remains one of the best options for your truck or SUV. It also has a fantastic tread life warranty, positive customer feedback, and outstanding traction. Businesses usually offer it at steep discounts, given the time it has been on the market. The fact that you have to look around to find them is a significant drawback. Tire Rack now offers only one size, although other sizes are commonly accessible online.
Specs:
Brand: Firestone
Model: Destination A/T
Weight: Varies
Available Sizes: 17”
All Season: Best All-Season Tire
That wasn’t a typo. Firestone claimed the name “All Season” for one of its tires. The Firestone All Season tires have a tread life rating that is above average, are reasonably priced, and have an outstanding review from the customer. They come in a range of sizes, including those for 14-inch wheels and other specific types, and are often available, moderately priced, and accessible. All Seasons is frequently discounted significantly from its already remarkable price because it has been on the market for a while.
Specs:
Brand: Firestone
Model: All Season
Weight: Varies
Available Sizes: 14”, 15”, 16”, 17”, 19”, 20”
Winterforce 2: The Best Winter Tire
Firestone Winterforce 2 is rated for use in extreme snow conditions and has one of the best customer rating records. It is steady, which can be quite helpful for people who spend a lot of time driving on ice and in areas where the roads aren’t as frequently plowed. Firestone made the tire with deep grooves to direct water away from its core and hundreds of sipes to help it bite into snow and ice. The product is moderately priced, widely accessible, and available in numerous sizes, from 14 to 18 inches.
Specs:
Brand: Firestone
Model: Winterforce 2
Weight: Varies
Available Sizes: 14”, 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”
Destination M/T2: Best Off-Road Tire
The Firestone Destination M/T2 tires earn a spot on our list because of their retro appearance, stellar review, and aggressive design. Mud and stone ejectors built into the tread blocks of the tire help sweep away debris and guard against damage. The tires are pinned and can absorb metal studs to aid in improving traction on ice. Tire shops everywhere readily make the Destination M/T2 available, competitively price it, and offer it in a wide range of sizes and applications.
Specs:
Brand: Firestone
Model: Destination M/T2
Weight: Varies
Available Sizes: 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”, 22”
Cost of Firestone Tires
Firestone tires are more reasonably priced than those of other renowned tire manufacturers, according to reviews. For instance, a popular passenger vehicle like the 2019 Toyota Camry can be fitted with Firestone All-Season tires for as little as $105.47 per tire. Consumer Reports estimates that all-season tires cost between $80 and $120 per piece.
Even under the same brand, tire prices might range dramatically between models, sizes, and specializations. Drivers should weigh the expense of a tire against its treadwear warranty. Longer tread life on more expensive tires typically results in fewer replacements over time.
Why Choose Firestone Tires?
One of the most well-known and accessible tire brands on the market right now is Firestone. Although they occasionally fall short of Michelin, Goodyear, and other brands on Treadlife, they consistently receive positive customer feedback. There is also the issue of cost, where Firestone represents excellent value.
Firestone tires, even though they are made to be versatile off-road tires, are routinely rated as quiet, pleasant road tires. The company’s passenger car tires have strong tread life ratings to keep families on the road for a very long time. The company’s winter tires offer outstanding traction and comfort when circumstances deteriorate.
Some purchasers may find the slightly reduced tread life ratings or the fact that some of Firestone’s current portfolio is made up of older tires to be drawbacks. We would answer that by saying that Firestone’s product line has a ton of long-life options and pointing out that an older model tire can still be a fantastic option. Because they aren’t as popular as new ones, previous models can also help you save money.
Important Considerations When Choosing a Tire Brand
No matter the manufacturer, you should look for tires that suit your driving habits and your geographic location. No review or warranty in the world can save a summer tire in the winter or all Firestone all-season tires in the mud. Choose the best tires for your car, your budget, and your taste when purchasing tires.
Firestone Tires Industry Ratings
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) developed an assessment methodology, which Firestone Tires follows like many other well-known tire manufacturers. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) system uses the treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance of standard tires to grade them.
Treadwear
This rating predicts the tread life of your tires. A control tire with a rating of 100 is used to compare tires and determine treadwear. A tire’s treadwear rating of 500 indicates that it outlasted the control tire by a factor of five. SaferCar.gov data show that most passenger tires have a treadwear rating of between 300 and 500.
Traction
This rating reflects how effectively your tires “grip” a slick surface. There are four traction grades: AA, A, B, and C. Good daily passenger tires are usually given an A rating.
Temperature
This rating assigns a letter grade—A, B, or C—to the heat resistance of a tire. In their area of expertise, tires must resist a variety of temperatures. Performance tires often have greater speed ratings than all-season tires because they travel at higher speeds.
Firestone Tire UTQG Grades
Here are a few of the top-rated Firestone models according to Tire Rack and their UTQG rankings:
| Firestone Tire Model | Tire Type | Treadwear Score | Traction Score | Temperature Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firestone All-Season | Passenger All-season | 560 | A | B |
| Firestone Destination LE 2 | Light truck/SUV Highway All-season | 520 | A | B |
| Firestone Destination A/T | Light truck/SUV All-terrain | 460 | A | B |
| Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 | Passenger Ultra-high performance Summer | 500 | A | B |
The NHTSA does not perform UTQG testing. Tire manufacturers contract with unbiased businesses to test them and provide UTQG ratings. Tire manufacturers grade their products differently from how they function on the road because no single organization or group conducts the testing.
Most Popular Firestone Tire Models
Firestone uses heavy-duty truck tires and regular all-season types the most. Customers give some Firestone performance tires excellent marks, but many of them fall short when compared to Michelin or Pirelli. For vehicles, light trucks, and SUVs, the tire manufacturer also makes dependable, studdable winter tires.
We’ve produced a list of the most well-liked Firestone models of tires below using data from Tire Rack’s industry rankings and the review of customers.
Firestone Destination A/T: a comfy all-terrain tire with great off-road performance
Firestone All-Season: a daily commuter tire designed to withstand 65,000 miles and offered in most tire sizes
Destination LE2: A load-bearing tire “designed to combine long wear, a comfortable ride, and all-season traction, even in light snow,” per Tire Rack
Firestone Winterforce 2: A winter and snow tire with studs that has the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) emblem, which denotes increased performance under adverse conditions
Customers on Tire Rack rated each of these Firestone tires at least 4.0 out of 5.0, and many of them obtained ratings of 90% or higher when compared to the tire that was chosen as the “best” in that category.
Firestone Tire Buying Guide
The majority of Firestone tires are of high quality; however, not every tire is suitable for every vehicle, season, or intended application. Knowing which tires best suit your needs ensures that you make the greatest purchase.
Firestone Tires: What To Consider
Graph titled “Tire Buying Guide: Factors to Consider” with six red icons standing in for tread pattern, weather rating, speed rating, noise rating, mileage/lifetime, and tire build.
The suitability of a tire for your vehicle depends on several variables. You can use the following criteria to determine whether a tire, like the Firestone Weathergrip or the Firehawk AS, is a better option for you:
Tread pattern: Different tread designs have unique advantages and qualities. Diagonal, symmetrical, asymmetrical, and combinations of those types of tread patterns are the general tread pattern categories.
Tire build: The majority of tires fall under the radial, bias-ply, and bias-belted construction groups. Bias tires are often less expensive and frequently have firm sidewalls than radial tires, which in general tend to be more durable.
Weather rating: Other winter and summer tires are made for certain climates, while some tires are made to function in any weather.
Tire life: The manufacturer normally expresses the projected lifetime of a tire in terms of mileage.
Speed rating: Every tire has a top safe speed that the manufacturer advises.
Ride noise: When it comes to the noise you hear inside the cabin, quieter tires, and louder tires can make a significant difference.
How To Read Tire Sizes
To ensure safe and effective driving, make sure your tires are the right size for your vehicle and wheels. The majority of tires have a label with fit, build, and purpose information that follows a comparatively consistent format. Here is a breakdown of what each element in the tire label P 225/65R17 means:
P: The first letter of the label indicates the tire’s intended application. The letter “P” denotes passenger in this instance, and this indicates that the tire is intended for a personal car.
225: The first digit on the label indicates the tire’s width in millimeters. This indicates that the width of our example tire is 225 millimeters.
65: The label shows the aspect ratio as a percentage after the slash. The label in our illustration says that the tire’s height is 65% of its width.
R: The second letter on the label indicates the type of tire build. The letter “R” designates radial construction on our example tire.
17: The last digit on the label denotes the wheel diameter in inches that it fits. The 17-inch rim is designed to fit the example tire in this situation.
Firestone Additional Services
In addition to tires, Firestone also offers a few other services that can help you safeguard your investment and control some of the costs associated with tires and tire care.
Firestone Trial Period and Tire Warranty
For most models, Firestone also provides a 90-day trial period. The longest treadwear warranty granted by Firestone is for 70,000 miles, which is shorter than Michelin’s and Goodyear’s warranties of 80,000 and 90,000 miles, respectively.
Firestone Gold Pledge Limited Warranty
Except for winter and other specialty tires, Firestone provides a Gold Pledge Limited Warranty through its retailers with all passenger models. According to Firestone’s warranty booklet, the warranty is valid for three years from the date of purchase or four years from the date of manufacture if you don’t have documentation of the purchase date.
Firestone Complete Auto Care
Additionally, Firestone maintains a nationwide network of repair facilities that provide services beyond tire-related. You can get regular maintenance services like oil changes and auto repairs at Firestone Complete Auto Care locations.
Firestone Customer Tires Review
Additionally, Firestone maintains a nationwide network of repair facilities that provide services beyond tire-related. You can get regular maintenance services like oil changes and auto repairs at Firestone Complete Auto Care locations.
Positive Experiences with Firestone Tires
“[The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is a] great tire. I drive aggressively, and this tire never makes a sound while cornering. Very stable and [has] great dry traction. Wet traction is better than expected considering the lack of wide grooves on the outer edge of the tire.”
– via Tire Rack
“I was always amazed every time I serviced the car on how well the [Firestone Destination LE 2] tires were wearing. They felt smooth on the road and performed exceptionally in the rain. My wife hit two nails throughout our time with these tires, and both times, the tire didn’t lose air or puncture completely.”
– via Tire Rack
Negative Experiences with Firestone Tires
“The [Firestone Transforce tires] were all-around great at first. The problem came at about 20,000 miles when they felt like they had turned into glass. The traction seemed to diminish overnight, especially the wet traction. It got so bad, I stopped driving my truck when it rains at the 35,000 mark.”
– via Tire Rack
“[The Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter] became noisy around 20,000 and were hard to keep balanced. The tire would never make it past 50,000 miles, even though it was rated for 70,000 miles. The tires were wearing very unevenly. I wanted to like these tires, as they are not cheap.”
– via Tire Rack
Firestone Tires: Conclusion
Firestone tires are priced reasonably for daily usage, especially for drivers of light trucks and SUVs. The tire producer sells a wide variety of tires, although just a few of its models are noteworthy. Compared to other brands we’ve evaluated, Firestone’s customer feedback is more inconsistent, but it’s still generally positive. In the end, Firestone is a reliable option for select all-terrain tires and some basic commuter types.
Firestone Tires: Recommended Competitors
Examine your vehicle’s alternative possibilities before settling on a single OE or replacement tire model. You might be able to locate a superior tire for less money. We advise Cooper and Michelin tires.
Michelin: Best Tires Overall
Michelin received a score of 4.5 out of 5.0 in our 2021 evaluation of the tire market, earning the title of “Best Tires Overall.” While Michelin tire models are more expensive than Firestone tires, they come in a wider range of tire options and have longer warranties on treadwear. Industry experts and good customer satisfaction ratings support Michelin tires, making them a wise choice for the majority of drivers.
On TireRack.com, start comparing Michelin tire costs.
Best Tires Overall
Tires Reviewed Rating
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Cooper: Most Affordable
In our analysis of the market, we ranked Cooper Tires as the Most Affordable. Some Cooper models are priced as low as $84 per tire, depending on the size and vehicle. The tire company is an independent producer that specializes in replacement tires. Customers highly praise the quality and tread life of Cooper tires.
On TireRack.com, you can start your search for Cooper tires.
Most Affordable Tire
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Firestone Tires: FAQ
Are Bridgestone and Firestone the same thing?
As of right now, Bridgestone Tire is the parent business of Firestone. The brands, however, are independent businesses with various product ranges.
Who makes tires by Firestone?
Bridgestone Tire is the manufacturer of Firestone tires. In 1988, Bridgestone acquired Firestone and its assets.
What kind of tires are made by Firestone?
A respectable brand of tires is Firestone Tires. The business manufactures reasonably priced, trustworthy tires for everyday use.
How durable are Firestone tires?
Your Firestones could last up to 60,000 miles, depending on the tire. It’s vital to know that due to their designed rubber formulations, summer performance tires and winter tires can have ratings for reduced tread life.
What sizes of tires are offered by Firestone?
The sizes available in Firestone’s catalog range from 14 inches to 22 inches. You must look into sizes for the model you require because not all tire sizes are available.
What companies compete with Firestone?
Cooper, Hankook Tire, Toyo, and other tire companies, along with others, are equivalent to Firestone.
What internet stores sell Firestone tires?
Firestone tires are sold practically everywhere, which is one of its best qualities. Many tire retailers, like Tire Rack, SimpleTire, Discount Tire, and many others, provide Firestone tires at competitive pricing. Find out more about where to buy tires online and save hundreds of dollars here.
How good are Firestone tires?
Firestone manufactures tires for a variety of uses and price ranges. We advise reading evaluations for the specific model you are considering in light of the size and purpose of your vehicle.
Our Methodology
Our research team is dedicated to offering the most precise, comprehensive, and objective information so that consumers can choose the right tires. To make sure that our review of Firestone tires is consistent and comparable, we apply a set of established criteria.
Industry Reputation: We evaluated each company’s overall reliability by considering its duration, industry ratings from agencies like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and other considerations.
Tire Variety: Our team took into account the entire tire lineup for each manufacturer, awarding higher marks to businesses that provided wider and more varied selections.
Affordability: One must take costs into account when purchasing tires. To assess each company’s affordability in comparison to rivals, we looked at the price range of its items.
Customer Satisfaction: To gauge how happy consumers are with their brand experience, our researchers combed the internet for customer reviews. We took Firestone tires review ratings into account and searched for recurring patterns of criticism or acclaim.
Summary
Firestone is, in many respects, the most common tire brand available. Although not the lowest, the costs are reasonable. There are few performance alternatives, but so are there for other brands. Although the warranties for tread life are subpar, they do cover more tire series than those offered by most manufacturers.