How to Choose the Best Tires for Your Subaru

Some folks don’t realize just how important it is to choose the right tires for your Subaru. As the only point of contact with the ground (hopefully), your tires are quite literally doing a lion’s share of the heavy lifting. They take a beating 24/7, whether you’re driving or not.

All tires are not created equal, though. Some are meant to provide a smooth and quiet ride on the highway, some are meant for aggressive all-terrain action, and some are built with both in mind. When it comes to tire categories, there’s always some overlap, but no single tire and wheel combo is best in all categories, so it’s up to you to pick the right setup for you.

With so many options, how do you choose? Let’s see if we can’t figure it out.

The Best Tires for Daily Driving

Many Subaru owners are going to be doing the majority of their driving on paved roads—commuting to work, picking the kids up, running errands, etc. There are a couple of different types of tires that cater to this lifestyle.

All-season tires are typically the standard go-to stock tire. As the name suggests, these tires are suitable for a wide range of road and weather conditions, and their versatility is why they’re so popular. They tend to last a while and perform well in rainy conditions, but don’t expect impressive results in excessive snow or ice. For this reason, all-seasons may not be the best choice if you live in a place that gets multiple feet of snow in the winter.

All-weather tires are a solid all-around option as well. Now, everyone say it with us: all-weathers are similar to all-seasons, but they’re not the same thing. All-weather tires tend to have a slightly more aggro tread profile than all-seasons, which gives the benefit of slightly better handling in snowy weather and makes them more suitable for cities with harsher winters. They’re often chosen as a dependable middle ground between all-seasons and winter tires because they provide good grip without sacrificing comfort on the road during the warmer months.

You can think of both these types as the jack-of-all-trades of the tire world. They’re awesome for commuters because they allow the vehicle to get the best gas mileage, and they do a good job of canceling out road noise. They’re also suitable for some mild-to-moderate camping activities. Thanks to Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD, you can confidently travel dirt and gravel roads, and even do some light off-roading. This makes them ideal for weekend warriors who like to get rowdy in the woods, but you’ll have to be more judicious about where you go, because they may not fare the best if taken too far off the beaten path.

The Best Tires for Trails and Off-Roading

If you want to really see what Subaru all-wheel drive is about, slapping on a set of more aggressive tires is your best bet.

Off-road tires are characterized by extremely blocky tread patterns, with deep grooves that allow the tire to push past obstacles like rocks, mud, and sand with ease. They’re sometimes known as mud tires. The big downside is that their on-road manner is about as smooth as 24-grit sandpaper—running a set of off-roads down the highway will give you a louder and bumpier ride, and it’ll noticeably diminish fuel economy.

Most truly off-road tires are also designed for larger vehicles like trucks and full-size SUVs, so putting a set onto a Subaru might require buying smaller aftermarket rims to get them to fit, which makes them an impractical choice. So, unless you’re willing to make some semi-heavy modifications to your Crosstrek, it’s best to stay away from these.

All-terrain tires are better suited to SUVs like the Crosstrek. They’re positioned sort of halfway between highway-oriented tires and off-roaders. The best all-terrain tires are designed with larger peaks and valleys than all-weathers, which allows them to cut through mud and gravel with confidence. They also tend to have less rigid construction and thinner sidewalls than off-road tires, which makes them more fuel-efficient and less noisy on the tarmac. Combined with AWD, all-terrains can be a perfect solution for avid campers and overlanders who still need a good around-towner, because they serve as the best overall on and off-road tires.

Again, we need to differentiate: the terms “off-road tires” vs. “all-terrain tires” are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.

When shopping for AT tires for your Subaru, it’s important to make sure that they’re designed for crossovers and SUVs—you can shell out big bucks for the best all-terrain truck tires, but they won’t do you a lick of good if they don’t fit. Crossover tires are designed to weigh less, so putting hefty truck tires on an SUV will massively affect drivability, and not in a good way.

The Best Tires for Snow and Ice

If you live in a mountainous area, or a northern latitude that experiences high snowfall, you’ll want to consider the best winter tires for your Subaru Forester, which are specially designed to handle the dangerous road conditions.

Winter tires are also widely referred to as snow tires. The rubber in these tires is formulated to remain flexible in cold temperatures, and the tread is much deeper than all-seasons, which allows them to bite into slush more efficiently. They have deeper lateral grooves, and siping, which refers to the barely noticeable perpendicular slots meant to increase grip on the ice.

It’s generally not recommended to drive snow tires when the temp is above 35 or 40 degrees. The rubber material is softer, which causes them to degrade in the heat, so even the best winter tires for SUVs will wear out rapidly if driven during the hot summer months. If you have snow tires for your Subaru Outback, it’s recommended that you have them swapped out when the weather starts to change. It may seem like a hassle, but we promise it’ll save you gobs of cash in the long run.

Many people in mild climates, like parts of the Midwest that only see a foot or two of snowfall per year, choose to opt for the best all-weather tires for snow instead. This can be a great option to save money, because you don’t have to worry about switching them out twice a year. Remember, having a sturdy all-wheel drive system will help tremendously when the first freeze comes, so you may not necessarily need dedicated snow tires. If in doubt, it’s best to consult with your local service department to figure out exactly what you need.

Let Us Help You Find the Perfect Tires for Your Subaru

Whether you’re looking for affordable all-terrain tires for your next overland adventure or just a new set to hit the city streets, call our Subaru tire shop near Kansas City at (785) 856-7127. We have certified specialists ready to work with you to find genuine parts, no matter where the road may take you.