Firestone Destination A/T2 vs Nexen Roadian ATX tires

Firestone doesn’t need a formal introduction, and its legacy since the 1930s says it all. Now a part of the Bridgestone family, Firestone offers tires for passenger cars, light trucks, commercial vehicles, OTRs, and farm applications. With technology influenced by Bridgestone, Firestone has been offering an outstanding range of tires on the market.

Nexen, on the other hand, is based in South Korea. In its 80 years of existence, it has established itself among the most dependable tire makers across the globe. From Original Equipment to replacement choices, Nexen tires are acknowledged for their performance. Passenger vehicles, CUVs, SUVs, EVs, and pickup trucks are some of the vehicle types Nexen tires cater to.

The Firestone Destination A/T2 and the Nexen Roadian ATX are the two capable all-terrain tires tires from these two manufacturers that offer drivers the convenience of driving on- and off-road. These tires are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, which means they are good for use in moderate to severe winter conditions, in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Here, we will compare the Firestone Destination A/T2 vs. Nexen Roadian ATX tires to help you choose the right set of tires for your drive. We will also utilize our proprietary tire rating system SimpleScore to understand the tire’s overall performance and performance pertaining to traction, handling, and longevity.

Firestone Destination A/T2 tires

It was in August 2019, that Firestone Destination A/T2 tires made their debut in the market. These tires are designed for use on SUVs, pickup trucks, and all-terrain vehicles and offer on-road dependability and off-road durability. A bunch of advanced technologies and an array of cutting-edge features make the Destination A/T2 a great choice. There is an attractive tread life warranty on offer, which we will discuss later in this comparison, and the tire has been optimized for responsive handling, better braking efficiency, improved off-road performance, long-lasting service, and year-round traction. All these abilities award the Destination A/T2 tire a higher 8.5/10 SimpleScore rating.

Nexen Roadian ATX tires

The Nexen Roadian ATX was introduced in June 2022 and sports strong construction and material advancements for improved grip and performance in dry and wet conditions. Some technologies and features ensure a reliable on- and off-road performance, and the tire is severe weather certified to offer traction and performance in challenging winter conditions. Whether it is your pickup truck or SUV, the Roadian ATX tires offer drivers the confidence to drive in dry, wet, muddy, or slippery conditions. Additionally, the tread life warranty also makes the ownership experience more delightful and it is because of such exciting features, that the tire earns a respectable 8.7 SimpleScore rating.

Firestone Destination A/T2 vs Nexen Roadian ATX on traction

Both, the Destination tires and Roadian tires are used on- and off-road, and therefore, traction analysis becomes crucial. While comparing these tires, we found that the differences were minimal and one of the tires had a slight edge over the other. To find out which of the two won in this criteria, read on!

The Destination A/T2 scored a great 8.4 SimpleScore on a scale of 10, indicating that the tire can offer traction year-round, and even on- and off-road. The tire features an aggressive shoulder tread pattern for improved traction and grip in off-road environments and the full-depth interlocking 3D sipes ensure consistent surefootedness in changing terrains and weathers. Water evacuation for hydroplaning resistance is assured by the see-through Void and tread grooves, while the sipes across the tread blocks ensure better grip in snowy conditions.

Contrarily, the Roadian ATX tire secures an 8.6 SimpleScore rating, allowing the drivers to experience confident driving on the highways and also on rough terrains. Severe snow rating adds to the dependable traction performance in moderate to severe snow conditions. Likewise, the all-season compound is optimized for confident driving in dry and wet conditions. The tread grooves ensure seamless water dispersion from the footprint for hydroplaning resistance and superior traction in wet conditions, while the sipes are detailed enough to provide grip in wintry conditions. For better biting ability in snowy conditions, the tread blocks are offered with sharper edges.

Firestone Destination tires compared here are great on the grip and traction part, but by a small margin, it is the Roadian tires that lead on the traction front.

ADVANTAGE: Nexen Roadian ATX

Firestone Destination A/T2 vs Nexen Roadian ATX on handling

Whether you have to drive on the roads year-round or switch from on- to off-road environments, you want your tire to be as responsive as possible. This makes handling analysis very crucial for an all-terrain tire buyer. In our handling analysis, we observed that the tires had similar capabilities and one of them earned some extra brownie points!

Starting with the Firestone tire, the Destination A/T2 is equipped with many impressive features to offer a solid steering response. It gets an aggressive shoulder tread pattern for improved off-road handling and the full-depth 3D interlocking sipes technology allows the tire to stop right on time, assuring a great braking performance and commendable stability on wintry roads. The increased surface area of the Destination A/T2 and the See-Through Void improves wet stopping and handling performance. All these attributes lead to the Firestone Destination A/T2’s score count of 8.2.

On the other hand, the Nexen Roadian ATX is built using advanced materials and sports a unique tread design that compliments handling performance. The sidewall lugs and deep grooves ensure confident handling and control on- and off-road, while the computer-tuned design and compound provide a balanced ride in changing weather. Steering response and cornering abilities are good with the flat and wider contact patch maintaining optimum surefootedness. With these features and abilities, the Roadian ATX attains an 8.5 SimpleScore rating.

As is visible, the Nexen tires are ahead of the Firestone tires on the handling front!

ADVANTAGE: Nexen Roadian ATX

Firestone Destination A/T2 vs Nexen Roadian ATX on longevity

Not only the ability to drive on- and off-road and across all seasons is important when buying an all-terrain tire, but also their service life. We compared the Destination A/T2 and Roadian ATX on the longevity front and concluded with an interesting outcome.

Talking about the Firestone Destination A/T2 first, the tire scores an impressive 8.9 SimpleScore rating, highlighting that it won’t disappoint you with the service life. There is a 55,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty that’s offered across all sizes, assuring that drivers don’t have to worry about changing tires anytime soon once mounted on the wheels. The use of full-depth interlocking 3D sipe technology ensures even wear for a long-lasting tread life, and also the flat and wide contact patch prevents irregular wear. The construction and rubber compound are both sturdy enough to slow down the wear rate.

Comparatively, the Roadian ATX achieves an excellent 9.1 SimpleScore rating and confirms the tire’s supremacy in the longevity area. The tire is also covered by an up to 65,000 miles limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which is way higher than what’s offered with the Destination A/T2 tires. Most popular sizes feature reinforced three-ply construction for increased durability and damage resistance, making the Roadian ATX worthy enough for long-lasting use. Both, the inner and outer constructions are engineered to resist damage and prevent off-roading impacts or cuts and wear for lasting use.

With dominance in longevity criteria as well, the Nexen Roadian ATX takes a clean sweep in all three important criteria.

ADVANTAGE: Nexen Roadian ATX

When to use each

Both, the Destination tires and Roadian tires are all-terrain specific, which means you can use them on- and off-road, and most importantly, they are severe snow-rated and come with Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol badged on the sidewall, assuring a dependable winter weather performance. It is to be noted that if you live in a region where the roads are covered with thick layers of snow or ice for more than 6 months or the temperature remains near the freezing level, a dedicated set of winter tires is a better choice.

Both, the Destination A/T2 and Roadian ATX tires are available in 15- to 22-inch rim sizes, allowing you to use them on a wide variety of light trucks and SUVs on the market.

Which one should you choose?

Looking at the overall SimpleScores of the Destination A/T2 and the Roadian ATX, we found that the Roadian ATX tires are better with a slightly higher SimpleScore rating (8.7 vs 8.5). However, you must compare the strengths and weaknesses of each tire to conclude with the purchase decision.

When it comes to pricing, the Destination A/T2 is offered at a starting price of $166.99, while the Roadian ATX is available at a starting price of at least $138.00 per tire. This means a set of four Destination tires will cost you $667.96, while a set of four Roadian tires will cost you at least $552.00.

Looking at the SimpleScore, you should consider the Destination A/T2 if you:

• Drive a high horsepower pickup like the GMC Sierra 1500 or a full-size pickup truck like the Ford F-150
• Need a set of tires that’s better when it comes to riding comfort and has lower tread noise levels
• Need a set of tires that’s better when it comes to on-road driving than off-road driving

On the other hand, you should choose the Roadian ATX if you:

• Drive a mid-size 3-row SUV like the Dodge Durango or a rugged full-size truck like the Toyota Tundra
• Need a set of tires that’s backed by a higher tread life warranty coverage
• Need a set of tires that’s better in traction
• Need a set of tires that’s better in handling
• Need a set of tires that’s better in longevity
• Need a set of tires that offer balanced on- and off-road driving

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.