Firestone Destination M/T2 vs Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 tires

Mud-terrain tires are available from brands like Firestone and Kenda, and they are engineered for exceptional performance in challenging off-road environments, including mud, dirt, sand, gravel, and rock.

These tires are equipped with aggressive tread patterns that enable them to tackle various terrains with ease. Reinforced sidewalls are a key feature, providing crucial protection against damage during off-road driving. These tires are popular choices for light trucks, jeeps, and SUVs, offering drivers reliable traction even in slippery conditions. Their durable construction ensures they can withstand harsh terrain for better traction.

With aggressive tread patterns that provide solid traction and enhance vehicle durability, both tires excel at conquering rocks, dirt, and mud. Their reinforced sidewalls are designed to withstand damage from off-road driving. Additionally, these tires feature self-cleaning capabilities, releasing compacted mud from the tread as you drive to maintain traction. Suitable for light trucks and SUVs, both tires offer impressive performance, but one is likely to outperform the other. While both tires offer great performance, one has to be better than the other, right? Let’s compare Firestone Destination M/T2 vs Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 tires using SimpleScore to show where each tire excels and which one might be right for you.

Firestone Destination M/T2 tires

The Firestone Destination M/T2 is known for its durability, performance, and long tread life that allows trucks to handle on and off-road challenges. Featuring mud and stone ejectors within the tread that clear debris to help create a longer tread life. It also features a new rubber compound, that utilizes a 3-ply sidewall construction and aggressive upper sidewall lugs to provide drivers with additional traction in mud plus added resistance to chips and tears. Additionally, these can be pinned with TSMI #16 or #17 studs for extra traction in severe ice and snow, where permissible by law.

You also get an Outlined White Letter or Black sidewall depending on the tire's size. The tire boasts an average great SimpleScore of 8.3 out of 10. This tire excels in durability and traction, specifically, off-road, and received scores of 8.3 and 8.4 in those fields respectively. The drawback, unfortunately, is long-lasting as the tire averaged 8.2 out of 10 there, but that’s quite impressive for a mud terrain tire when you consider how much abuse these tires tend to take.

Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 tires

If you are looking for an alternate tire brand that is equally efficient in gripping the roads and delivering great performance all year round, look at the Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 that's built for use on Jeeps, light trucks, and SUVs, and features an interlocking tread pattern and high-void ratio that work together to boost traction and grip in mud, dirt, rocks, stones, and other off-road terrains. Features like Interlocking tread blocks and open shoulders protect the tire against cuts, chips, and tears, and strong rib protectors guard the tire against damage. Engineered with an A-8 tread pattern that lowers road noises and vibrations to increase ride comfort for drivers and passengers on paved roads. This tire has an impressive average SimpleScore of 7.9, with a 7.6 rating for handling, an 8.5 rating for durability, and a 7.7 rating for traction.

Firestone Destination M/T2 vs Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 tires on traction

Traction is crucial in mud-terrain tires because it directly affects their ability to grip the road or terrain surface. Comparing the above two based on traction, you will see that the Firestone Destination M/T2 is designed with additional biting edges to increase traction on slick, wet, and snowy surfaces. Additionally, it can be pinned with TSMI #16 or #17 studs for extra traction in severe ice and snow. Additionally, a 3-ply sidewall construction and aggressive upper sidewall lugs provide drivers with additional traction in mud plus added resistance to chips and tears. This has helped this tire to reach a solid average traction SimpleScore of 8.4 which is a solid score when it comes to performance. On the other hand, the Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 has a solid score of 7.7 out of 10 in traction. This is thanks to an aggressive tread pattern, interlocking tread blocks, and open shoulders that promote self-cleaning for consistent traction. Regarding traction, the Firestone Destination M/T2 tales a leap above the Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629

ADVANTAGE: Firestone Destination M/T2

Firestone Destination M/T2 vs Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 tires on durability

The durability of a tire is improved by different elements of the tire’s tread pattern and the tire’s overall design.

The Firestone Destination M/T2 sports a great 8.3 SimpleScore for durability, which is largely driven by the tire’s mud and stone ejectors within the tread that clear debris to help create a longer tread life so that drivers can spend more time off-roading to conquer the toughest road conditions while also adding an extra layer of protection.

On the flip side, the Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 falls behind the Nexen Roadian MTX for handling as the tire comes in with a SimpleScore of 7.6. The tire comes with a strong rib protection that guards the tire against damage for extra durability. Here again, the Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 lags behind the Firestone Destination M/T2 over responsive vehicle durability.

ADVANTAGE: Firestone Destination M/T2

Firestone Destination M/T2 vs Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 tires on longevity

Longevity is equally important to traction and durability when purchasing a tire. The longevity of a tire depends on several factors, including the quality of the tire, driving habits, road conditions, and maintenance. Based on SimpleScore, this was the biggest gap between the two tires.

Starting with the Firestone Destination M/T2, the tire offers a great SimpleScore of 8.2 out of 10 on the longevity front. The tire's durable rubber compound and reinforced construction collaborate to enhance durability, leading to an extended tread life. Additionally, its optimized design and connected shoulders increase the rubber contact with the road, preventing uneven wear by evenly distributing road forces, while also improving durability.

Conversely, the Klever M/T2 KR629’s SimpleScore in longevity is the major difference between both tires, as it delivers an exceedingly great SimpleScore of 8.5. The tire comes with an A-8 tread pattern that lowers road noises and vibrations to increase ride comfort for drivers and passengers. Here you will notice marginal progress in terms of longevity for the Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 is a winner by a great difference.

ADVANTAGE: Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629

When to use each

Mud-terrain tires can perform well on various surfaces, such as paved roads, dirt trails, snow, and mud. They are a good choice for drivers who want a versatile tire that can handle different driving conditions. Both the Firestone Destination M/T2 and Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 perform well in both on-road and off-road driving. As mud-terrain tires, they can be used for moderate temperatures but in case you stay in an area that witnesses heavy snow and extreme weather conditions, you will need a pair of winter tires, because they offer unmatched performance in snow and ice, making them suitable for regions with severe winter conditions.

Finally, cautious driving habits and avoiding harsh conditions can help preserve the tread and overall integrity of the tires.

Which one should you choose?

So, which mud-terrain tire is the right option for you? When looking at SimpleScore, the Firestone Destination M/T2 is slightly behind the Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 with an overall score of 8.3 versus 7.9. As noted above, there are key differences between the two tires and these need to be weighed against each other to determine what’s best for you. Finally (and maybe, most importantly), pricing on these two tires is a bit different as Firestone Destination M/T2 tires cost at least $233.99 per tire while Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 tires cost at least $217.22 per tire. That means a set of four Firestone Destination M/T2 all-terrain tires will cost you at least $935.96 for a set of four, while a set of four Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 tires will cost you at least $868.88.

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Firestone Destination M/T2 if you:

• Drive a light truck like the Mitsubishi Challenger, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Fortuner, or the Chevrolet Tahoe
• You are looking for an affordable tire that delivers on all aspects
• Want a tire that offers drivers a quiet ride and strong on- and off-road traction

Conversely, you should choose the Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 if you:

• Drive a Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, or Lincoln Navigator
• Want a tire that delivers extended durability

Firestone Destination M/T2 vs Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629 tires might not seem a close comparison on the surface, but the above clearly shows that either is a great option. Remember, both of the tire brands are some of the best tire manufacturers on the market, and that tradition continues with the Firestone Destination M/T2 and Kenda Klever M/T2 KR629. At the end of the day, the decision to buy one or the other depends on your vehicle, where (and how) you drive, and what you care more about in terms of traction, durability, longevity, and price.

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.