All new cars arrive with a set of tires chosen by the car company, and most drivers don’t think much about them until they need repair or replacement. But tires are arguably one of the most important replaceable components of a vehicle, and a common misconception is that the replacement tires should be the same as the originals. Choosing the right new tire can significantly affect ride quality, road noise, grip, and fuel efficiency, and the original tires are not typically the best choice. If you are one of the many Americans who drive an SUV, crossover, or pickup truck, Firestone has an excellent new option when it comes time to put new rubber on your vehicle with the next-generation Destination LE4.

The previous-generation Destination LE3 was the most popular tire in the Firestone lineup, with more than 17 million sold since its introduction in 2020. Commonly found on SUVs and trucks, that tire was an ideal choice when replacing the original tires. While the Destination LE3 is still a great tire, the LE4 replacement brings a host of improvements.

The new Destination LE4 is built on a new carcass architecture that is both stronger and lighter, featuring improved structural plies (internal layers of rubber-coated fabric that form the tire’s skeleton) and steel cords that increase durability without adding weight. New wear-resistant technology and an advanced compound-mixing process help increase overall tire life. Firestone also reduced the raw materials needed for production, making the tire a more sustainable choice.

But the upgrades don’t stop with the updated structure – the LE4 gets a new tread design for improved drivability. With thinner, full-depth 3D interlocking sipes (the slits in the rubber that create the tread), the new LE4 provides improved traction and shorter stopping distances, including in wet and light snow conditions. Meanwhile, rib width (or shoulder) helps reduce uneven wear. According to Firestone, the new Destination LE4 outperforms its predecessor with a 2.6 percent shorter stopping distance while lasting up to 16 percent longer.

Firestone invited me to Las Vegas (covering my travel, lodging, and meals) to test the new Destination LE4 tire in a variety of conditions, and the tire performed well. Mounted on a Jeep Grand Wagoneer, the LE4 delivered a quiet, smooth ride with very little road noise, even at highway speeds on less-than-stellar pavement. The Grand Wagoneer isn’t a light vehicle, but the tire provided good grip and responsiveness in everyday driving situations.

I also had the opportunity to push the LE4 a bit harder on a wet surface in a Dodge Durango. Firestone created a custom autocross course and watered it down to simulate wet weather conditions, which properly showcased the new tire’s capabilities. When I pushed the Durango hard into the corners, the tire provided impressive grip in the wet. More importantly, when it did begin to slip (physics always wins), the slide was gradual and predictable, with no instances of it suddenly braking loose, delivering a more confident ride in poor weather conditions.

Firestone offers the Destination LE4 in 65 sizes for use on SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks, fitting wheels from 15-inch to 22-inch. According to Discount Tire, prices range from around $150 to $300, depending on the size. All variants come with a 70,000-mile limited treadwear warranty. The Firestone Destination LE4 is available now.