So by the numbers, the Firestone Destination M/T2 315/70R17 stand at a fraction over 34" tall inflated with weight on. Front fender lip over the wheel center measures 39" from the ground, rear fender lip over the wheel center measures 40" from the ground - I installed a Teraflex 2.5" BB shortly after I brought the Jeep home. From a weight standpoint, my JKU has an AEV front bumper with a Warn 9.5 and steel rope, SRC sliders, and a Rancho rear tire carrier with my hi-lift and a spare (currently the stock BFG 255/75R17 since Firestone did not order my spare as requested).
Road manners from around town to the highway are, so far, very good. I did not realize how rough the BFG MT's had gotten because the Destination M/T2's ride smooth and quiet, especially for a large MT. The sidewalls when inflated feel stiffer as there is a pronounced lack of roll into corners, and there is no bounce or vibration from the individual lugs like th BFG's even though the M/T2 features both much larger lugs and more open space in the contact patch.
It has to be in my head but I swear it feels as if driveability has improved - I was prepared for a loss of acceleration but it feels like the gearing is somehow 'happier', also there was some indiscriminate noise/nervousness or buzz that I attributed to the engine/transmission with the BFG's installed that is now gone, overall the driving experience is substantially improved.
On the highway, tire/road noise seems to be just over half as pronounced as the BFG's. The M/T2's have deep siping in every lug (apparently almost full depth). Hill performance in 6th gear is as bad as always (stock 3.8L), but all other gears really don't feel to have lost much, 1st and 2nd in particular 'feel' better.
3 of the 4 balanced easy although they appear to have taken a bit of weight, the tech at the tire shop took a little longer on the 4th but the ride is smooth and there is no indication of bad balance - I went ahead and did the lifetime balance and rotation. I have never had tires this size before - largest I ever ran were 33's on my old '77 International Harvester Scout II.
Assuming I get out to one of the local trails I'll report back on offroad feel/performance later this weekend or next.
Larger tires and a modest lift make such a difference in the character of any JK, I am very pleased right now with the ride and look - exhaust is next (my WJ had a 4.7L with a Flowmaster Delta 40 and the exhaust note was perfect - looking to do the best I can with the 3.8).
JK
