Toyo Open Country Q/T vs Firestone Destination LE3 tires

Longevity and adaptability are common characteristics of all-season tires, a category that forms approximately 90% of the US tire market. Daily drivers choose these tires mostly because they provide continuous traction, quick handling, and longer tread life in dry, rainy, and light winter situations. Today, we will examine two all-season tires from the manufacturers Falken and Toyo, and the tires on the comparison analysis here include Falken Sincera SN250 A/S and Toyo Open Country Q/T. This Falken Sincera SN250 A/S vs Toyo Open Country Q/T tire comparison will cover a few parallels and contrasts between these two all-season tires meant for CUVs, luxury SUVs, and light trucks.

Each of our tires has been rated in accordance with SimpleScore, our in-house rating system that is designed as per parameters such as traction, handling, and longevity. 1-10 scores on these tires will help you gather a realistic understanding of a tire’s potential.

Toyo Open Country Q/T tires

Designed for use on CUVs and luxury SUVs, the Toyo Open Country Q/T is an all-season touring tire that offers improved handling, smoother ride, and enhanced braking and traction together, along with a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. Silent Wall Technology is used in the construction of the tire to guarantee a quiet ride by lowering pipe resonance. The large circumferential grooves enable this tire to evacuate water from the tread and minimize hydroplaning, thereby leading to safety on wet roads. An asymmetrical tread pattern is available for better traction and handling, and the Open Country Q/T is good enough for an average SimpleScore of 8.6.

Firestone Destination LE3 tires

Designed for sedans, coupes, CUVs, and SUVs, the Firestone Destination LE3 is an all-season tire that provides drivers great traction in dry, wet, and winter weather, ensuring further peace of mind through a 70,000 mile limited warranty. Wide lateral grooves, a unique shoulder design, robust tread blocks, and an ideal tread pattern equip the tire to provide low rolling resistance for equitable distribution of wear.

Apart from the above, Firestone's 90-day Buy and Try Guarantee on tires supplied in sets of 4 or more is responsible for long-term happiness. We found the Destination LE3 to be suitable for an average SimpleScore of 8.6.

Toyo Open Country Q/T vs Firestone Destination LE3 tires on traction

Across all tire types, traction determines a tire's performance on dry and wet surfaces. Particularly at high speeds or in slick situations like water, slush, mud, snow, and ice, it is absolutely essential for keeping vehicle control. Tread design, internal structure, and modern rubber compound define the traction of a tire.

Four big circumferential grooves lower the risk of hydroplaning and open lateral slits enhance grip on wet and dry roads. Multi-wave sipes are responsible for better overall grip, even on light snow. With a tread depth higher than the Firestone Destination LE3, the Toyo Open Country Q/T manages to score an 8.2 in traction.

There are dense sipes on the Firestone Destination LE3 features for biting into the road and generating extra year-round grip. As compared to the Toyo Open Country Q/T, the Firestone Destination LE3 features a symmetric tread. The hydro grip technology here, along with 3D sipes and wide grooves, evacuate water from the tread to reduce the risk of hydroplaning on wet roads. With an 8.3, we found the Firestone to be slightly ahead of the Toyo in terms of traction.

ADVANTAGE: Firestone Destination LE3

Toyo Open Country Q/T vs Firestone Destination LE3 tires on handling

Your control over the vehicle depends directly on the handling of a tire, especially while at high speeds on highways. Good quality of handling guarantees smooth maneuvering, simple turning, and simple lane changes, thereby enhancing your driving experience. Key elements affecting tire’s handling performance are rubber composition, tread design, and the technical characteristics of the tire.

The asymmetric tire design that improves braking, handling, and acceleration helped me to also get a high average handling score of 8.7 for the Toyo. Expect the lateral slits to be responsible for heightening wet performance. The tread depth on this tire is higher than that of the Firestone.

Conversely, the Firestone Destination LE3 boasts a strong 8.3 SimpleScore, mostly derived from HYDRP-GRIP technology that removes water from the tire’s contact patch. Expect the tire to show low rolling resistance throughout the year.

ADVANTAGE: Toyo Open Country Q/T

Toyo Open Country Q/T vs Firestone Destination LE3 tires on longevity

For many drivers, longevity is a major factor in selecting tires since it determines how long they may drive before needing a replacement. Maintaining constant handling and traction depends on choosing tires with a long tread life as the tread degrades over time. Factors such as tread pattern, rubber compound formulation, and general tire design invariably affect longevity.

With a multi-wave sipes design that guarantees a longer tread life and removes uneven wear, the Toyo Open Country Q/T receives an excellent longevity score of 9.0. Warranty is also an important factor here, and it is backed by a 65,000 miles limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Tractiontech, the tough rubber composition, and strengthened structure work to improve and extend both handling and tread life. Apart from that, the tire's ideal design and knotted shoulders increase rubber on the road, thereby distributing road forces for further decreasing uneven wear (longer tread life). While the limited manufacturer warranty is higher at 70,000 miles, Firestone also offers buyers a 90-day Buy and Try guarantee. As per the above, the Destination LE3 earns an average longevity score of 9.4.

ADVANTAGE: Firestone Destination LE3

When to use each

Both the Toyo Open Country Q/T and Firestone Destination LE3 are good mid-range all-season tires that are meant to be used throughout the year in dry, wet, or light winter weather conditions. Expect these tires to deliver great traction on wet and dry road surfaces as well as on light snow surfaces. However, since they’re not Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, do not expect them to be suitable for use in moderate to severe winter weather conditions. On the other hand, in areas with snow and temperatures going south of 45 degrees Fahrenheit, winter tires would be ideal. Apart from the above, cautious driving habits and avoiding harsh conditions will always be useful in preserving the tread and integrity of the tires.

Which one should you choose?

Having reviewed the preceding material, which all-season tire do you think would be best for your car?

Well, the response just relies on your own taste since both tires have different benefits and drawbacks. For example, the Firestone may be the better tire in terms of traction and longevity, but the Toyo can display better handling characteristics. Also, if you look at the scores closely, you'll notice that the difference between the two tires is not much, on every parameter. That being the case, let us talk about their starting prices.

While the Toyo Open Country Q/T costs around $143 per tire or $572 for a set of 4, the Firestone Destination LE3 is available for $136, or $544 for a set of 4 (Note - Prices may vary depending on the tire size.)

You should choose the Toyo Open Country Q/T if you:

• Drive a mid-size to full-size SUV like the Nissan Pathfinder, a mid-size SUV like the Toyota Highlander, or Chevrolet Blazer
• Want better handling
• Want a silent ride arising due to Silent Wall technology

In contrast, you should choose the Firestone Destination LE3 if you:

• Drive a CUV, SUV, or minivan like the Mazda CX-50, Toyota RAV4, or Honda Odyssey
• Want higher longevity
• Want better traction

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