Top 10 Best Tires for Subaru Forester: Buying Guide

The Subaru Forester is easily the most popular crossover/SUV among adventure seekers, particularly thanks to the standard symmetrical AWD system.

Subaru took things even further with the latest Wilderness Forester model, which adds a more rugged suspension and more capable off-road tires to the mix.

And while the suspension is important, the tires are those that will give you traction on slippery terrains, such as dirt, gravel, mud, and rocks.

Moreover, a good set of Subaru Forester tires will also provide you with safe driving on dry, wet, and snow-covered roads – all crucial for Subaru Forester owners.

The thing is, various types of tires fit the Subaru Forester, and choosing a set that suits you can be a hassle. For instance, if you want to go off-roading, you’ll need to opt for all-terrain tires, but if you only drive on paved roads, touring all-season tires will be your best bet.

Meanwhile, people that live in areas with harsh wintry conditions will need winter tires to cope with the deep snow and ice.

Fortunately, this list of the best tires for Subaru Forester includes all types of products, so you can choose one that fits you best.

Besides, every tire is carefully chosen to work well with the abilities of Subaru’s popular SUV and provide good performance overall. Sure, most of these tires will have some disadvantages, but they will never be connected to road safety, which is the thing we rate highly on this website.

So, without further ado, let’s have a look at the Subaru Forester tires, starting with the most popular touring category!

Top 10 Best Tires for Subaru Forester Available in 2024

1. Continental CrossContact LX25

Best Touring All-Season Tires for Subaru Forester

The CrossContact LX25 is Continental’s latest touring all-season tire designed specifically with crossovers and SUVs in mind. When the German tiremaker introduces a new tire, it usually launches itself near the top of every category, and that’s also the case with this model.

Namely, the LX25 is a tire that fits Forester’s abilities quite well and is a clear upgrade over the Falken’s that come equipped on the latest model in almost every measurable category.

Continental’s crossover/SUV touring tire is particularly impressive in the rain, where it provides outstanding braking and acceleration for an all-season tire.

The handling is equally impressive – this is a tire that is easy to drive on wet pavement, with good responsiveness and grip and excellent behavior at the limit. Not to forget, the hydroplaning resistance is exceptional.

But the LX25 is also an excellent performer on dry tarmac, with solid steering response and good straight-line tracking. The braking distances are also among the shortest in the category, and the handling is surefooted.

Unlike many all-season tires, the CrossContact LX25 also performs well on light snow, providing some of the shortest stopping distances around, accompanied by very strong acceleration.

The tire is also very easy to drive on snow thanks to the grippy front end, balanced handling, and responsive steering.

Furthermore, this tire is also the longest-lasting in its category, and it comes with a class-leading 70,000-mile treadwear warranty on H-speed and T-speed rated sizes, and a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty on V-speed rated sizes. And it's also important that you choose the right Subaru Forester tire size.

As for comfort, there is almost no tread noise coming from the tires, though the ride can feel unsettled over broken pavement. Overall, though, the CrossContact LX25 is the most accomplished Subaru Forester all-season tire at the moment.

2. Michelin CrossClimate 2

Best Touring All-Season Tires for Subaru Forester

If you are looking for an all-season/all-weather tire with advanced light-snow traction, look no further than the Michelin CrossClimate 2, as it comes with a Severe Snow rating.

The best thing about this tire is that it combines excellent snow performance with strong dry and wet traction. This is definitely one of the best tires for Subaru Forester.

Notably, the longitudinal snow traction is better than almost every other all-season tire, meaning the CrossClimate 2 accelerates and brakes without any issues. Moreover, the handling feels very balanced, with a responsive front end and easy-to-control rear wheels.

Furthermore, the CrossClimate 2 brought some great improvements in rainy conditions and now has some of the shortest braking distances in the category, an area where the CrossClimate+ wasn’t particularly impressive.

Meanwhile, the handling is as impressive as ever – you can easily control your Forester during cornering, even if you drive faster than usual.

For me, though, the most impressive aspect of the CrossClimate 2 is how it handles on dry pavement, where it almost feels like a summer tire. The cornering grip is very strong and competes with the best in the category, accompanied by excellent braking and acceleration out of a corner.

Michelin also managed to make the CrossClimate 2 quiet, both on smooth and rough pavement, though the ride quality could’ve been smoother. Also, the 60,000-mile treadwear warranty is good but not very impressive, considering the exorbitant price.

Regardless, if you want your Forester to perform well regardless of the weather conditions, you should definitely consider the CrossClimate 2!

3. Vredestein Quatrac Pro

Best Touring All-Season Tires for Subaru Forester

The Vredestein Quatrac Pro is a similar tire to the CrossClimate 2 because it comes with a Severe Snow rating, meaning it was tested for added longitudinal traction when compared to regular all-season tires.

It’s also slightly less expensive than its French rival, though it also comes with an even lower 50,000-mile treadwear warranty.

Still, the Quatrac Pro is quite impressive in other areas. Namely, it handles dry conditions like the best touring all-season tires out there, with a strong grip in the corners and excellent braking. It’s also fairly responsive, something that’s unusual for a tire with a Severe Snow rating.

Furthermore, the wet traction is again among the highest in the category. Hence, the braking distances are fairly short, and you won’t have any trouble accelerating out of a corner. The handling is also balanced – your Forester will be safe and easy to drive in the rain.

The Dutch tire continues to impress in the winter, with very good overall light-snow traction. Notably, the stopping distances are among the shortest in the category, the acceleration is swift, and the cornering feels surefooted.

Unlike the CrossClimate 2, the Quatrac Pro also managed to combine the low tread noise with a very smooth ride, meaning it will be a great companion on long drives!

4. Cooper Endeavor Plus

Best Budget Tires for Subaru Forester

The Cooper Endeavor Plus is a budget-friendly option for owners of older Forester SUVs or anyone that doesn’t want to spend a fortune on tires. As a result, the overall performance of the tire is slightly behind the three premium tires above but still the best among similarly-priced rivals.

The most impressive thing about the Endeavor Plus is that it comes with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, meaning you won’t be sacrificing longevity by paying less than for premium tires.

Furthermore, this is a tire that provides very good rain traction – the stopping distances are the shortest in the price range, and the handling feels very balanced. The hydroplaning resistance is excellent as well, rounding up the strong wet performance.

As for dry traction, it’s again very good for the price. Sure, you’ll get slightly better road-holding on some premium tires, but the differences will be very small. For Forester owners that don’t drive like maniacs on a twisty road, the Endeavor Plus has more than enough longitudinal traction and lateral grip.

I was also surprised by how this tire handles snowy conditions. It provides very good acceleration on light snow, and the stopping distances are among the shortest in the category. Moreover, the tire is easy to control in the corners, with a solid grip.

The Endeavor Plus is also a very comfortable tire over bumps – it deals with smaller and larger imperfections with ease. Still, the tread growl can be distracting on the highway.

5. Sumitomo HTR A/S P03

Best Performance All-Season Tires for Subaru Forester

Not many performance all-season tires fit the Forester, but luckily, the option that’s available is cheap and performs well.

The Sumitomo HTR A/S P03 is an excellent tire for those that want to elevate the driving experience, as it provides higher traction and grip when compared to regular touring tires.

Notably, the braking is very strong, and you won’t have any issue accelerating out of a corner. Moreover, the tire provides high levels of grip in the corners and excellent stability on the highway.

If I had to nitpick, the steering feels artificially heavy on this tire and isn’t particularly responsive. Once the tires start to turn, it gets more linear, but still, it’s nowhere near the premium competition. Also, the HTR A/S P03 isn’t a particularly comfortable tire, as the ride is somewhat harsh, and the tread noise is noticeable.

Still, despite its very low price, the HTR A/S P03 offers surefooted handling and strong braking in rainy conditions, and it also works quite well on snow. Lastly, Sumitomo offers an outstanding 65,000-mile treadwear warranty for the price.

6. Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015

Best All-Terrain Tires for Subaru Forester

The Geolandar A/T G015 is easily the best all-terrain tire for the Forester – Subaru even uses it as an OEM equipment on the Wilderness.

This is a tire that will give you excellent traction on hardpacked surfaces and better traction in mud than a regular touring all-season tire. Sure, it won’t be as good as a dedicated off-road tire, but the Forester is not really a dedicated off-roader, so that’s to be expected.

Furthermore, the Geolandar A/T G015 works quite well on public roads, with very solid traction and grip on dry and wet pavement. The braking distances are short, too, and the handling feels balanced.

What’s more, Yokohama’s all-terrain tire provides very good light-snow traction and handles winter conditions very well.

As for comfort, the tread growl is almost similar to what you’d get from a touring tire, which is a big plus. However, the ride can be harsh over broken pavement, as the tire doesn’t handle repetitive impacts well.

7. Continental TerrainContact A/T

Best All-Terrain Tires for Subaru Forester

The Continental TerrainContact A/T is a mild all-terrain tire, meaning it’s halfway between a touring and an all-terrain tire. Hence, it’s by far the best performer on pavement, with very responsive and linear steering and high levels of longitudinal traction and lateral grip.

Furthermore, this tire impresses in rainy conditions, where it provides outstandingly short braking distances and balanced handling. Unfortunately, the light-snow traction isn’t as impressive; the TerrainContact A/T is still good in the winter, but other all-terrain tires do it better.

As for comfort, the ride is a little firm, though not objectionable on most surfaces, while the tread noise is among the lowest in the category.

Although it’s rated as an all-terrain tire, the TerrainContact A/T won’t be the best option for demanding terrains, such as mud and rocks, as the traction is insufficient. Still, it works on dirt and gravel very well, with traction on the level of the best all-terrain tires.

8. Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail

Best All-Terrain Tires for Subaru Forester

The Wildpeak A/T Trail is another great option for owners of Subaru Forester that want advanced off-road traction. Falken’s all-terrain tire excels when driving on dirt and gravel, and it can also give you better mud traction than your regular touring tires.

Another big plus is that it also performs very well on dry roads, with positive steering, short braking distances, and a strong cornering grip.

Furthermore, the rain traction is also very good for the category. Again, the Wildpeak A/T Trail brakes like the best all-terrain tires out there and provides a strong lateral grip.

One area where the Wildpeak A/T Trail suffers slightly is snow, as the traction is only average for the category. Also, the tire can be noisy on impacts, though the ride is generally okay. Driving on the highway will be comfortable for you and your family, though, as the tread growl is minimal.

Lastly, the Wildpeak A/T Trail comes with an outstanding 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is among the best in the category.

9. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Best Winter Tires for Subaru Forester

If you want to prepare your Subaru Forester for the upcoming winter, you should definitely give the Blizzak WS90 a look. It’s one of the most advanced winter tires on the market, with exceptional traction on slush, snow, and ice. This is a tire that accelerates, brakes, and steers in wintry conditions like it’s nothing.

But the thing that sets it apart from most competitors is how it handles dry and wet conditions. This is a confidence-inspiring tire everywhere you drive, with very good overall traction and balanced handling. It’s also surprisingly quiet for a winter tire, though the ride could’ve been a bit softer.

10. Continental VikingContact 7

Best Winter Tires for Subaru Forester

The Continental VikingContact 7 is WS90’s closest competitor, equally matching its Japanese rival in most conditions. Hence, it provides outstanding traction in wintry conditions, regardless if you encounter slush, snow, or ice.

Furthermore, the VikingContact 7 works excellently on dry and wet roads, of course, provided the temperature isn’t very high. Notably, the braking distances are very short, and you won’t have issues controlling this tire at the limit.

As for comfort, Continental did a great job minimizing tread noise, though the VikingContact 7 can be somewhat loud on impacts. Still, the ride quality is pretty smooth overall.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How often should I rotate my Subaru Forester?

You should rotate your tires every 5,000-8,000 miles. For convenience, you can do that at every oil change or when you are replacing your all-season tires with winter tires.

As for the pattern, I recommend using an X pattern, as the Forester has a symmetrical AWD system that uses all four wheels. If the tires can’t be rotated that way, try a left-to-right or front-to-back pattern.

• Which tires for my Subaru Forester are most durable?

Touring all-season tires are your best bet if you don’t want to change your tires often, as they come with the longest treadwear warranties and have the longest treadlife.

Other all-season tires, like performance and all-terrain models, also have very good treadlife and come with solid treadwear warranties, though not on the level of touring tires.

Meanwhile, due to the softer tread compound, winter tires wear much faster, especially if you use them in warm conditions. So, if you own a set, make sure you replace them before the weather gets hotter.

As for summer tires, they should last longer than their winter counterparts, but nowhere nearly as much as all-season tires. Still, you probably won’t be putting summer tires on your Forester, as not many are available in those sizes.

• What’s the correct tire pressure on my Subaru Forester?

The newest Subaru Forester’s tire pressure figures are 33 psi front and 32 psi back. However, older models might not require the same tire pressure, and those figures also vary according to the load. For instance, if you tow with your Forester, Subaru recommends 39 psi of pressure on the rear tires.

To be sure, check the recommended tire pressure on the sticker on the driver’s door or in your Subaru Forester owner’s manual.

Conclusion

The Subaru Forester is a very capable vehicle – it can bring you and your family safely to some very remote places. However, you’ll need a good set of tires to extract the most out of your Forester, and I hope that my list of Subaru Forester tires will help you with that. 

Just make sure that you choose tires that suit your driving habits and then carefully read the review to see if the particular model suits you, and I’m sure you’ll be completely satisfied with the purchase with the list of best tires for Subaru Forester above!