Subaru Impreza owns a symmetrical all-wheel drive system. As a result, this sedan is perfect for everyday travel and speed sports.
For immersive driving experiences, you'll need a well-balanced tire for all-season comfort and outstanding performance.
However, finding the ideal model is no easy task. So, I have tested and selected the 10 best tires for Subaru Impreza for your reference and selection.
Contents
- In-Depth Reviews of the Best Tires for Subaru Impreza Available in 2024
- 1. Michelin CrossClimate 2
- 2. Bridgestone WeatherPeak
- 3. Continental PureContact LS
- 4. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack
- 5. Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+
- 6. Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
- 7. Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus
- 8. Continental ExtremeContact Sport
- 9. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
- 10. Continental VikingContact 7
- Buying Guides: How to Choose the Best Tires for Subaru Impreza
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Final Thoughts
In-Depth Reviews of the Best Tires for Subaru Impreza Available in 2024
I will provide objective suggestions for each product on both pros and cons based on my actual experiences. Don't skip any reviews because certainly, you'll find your perfect model.
1. Michelin CrossClimate 2
Best for Overall
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 is my favorite Grand Touring All-Season tire. I have accompanied the CrossClimate 2 on many long-distance road trips. During the journeys, I have overcome many harsh roads with Michelin tires.
The CrossClimate 2 has maximum damping. It helps me control the steering wheel well, even on the most challenging roads.
But beyond the excellent ride quality, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 is also a reliable tire for year-round travel.
The tire's all-season handling power comes from a flexible, adaptive compound, directional design, and integrated tread stiffness technology.
Compared to most all-season tires I've used, the CrossClimate 2's performance is noticeably better.
It's tough enough for confident handling on dry roads and harsh conditions. When accelerating or braking, it provides a reasonably reliable dry grip.
In more adverse conditions such as slippery roads, although there are no circumferential grooves, the CrossClimate 2 is still has excellent hydroplaning resistance.
This is probably the best all-weather tire that I have ever used in the rain. It offers excellent traction in the rain, along with an extremely short braking distance. I love this tire so much, and I feel very safe driving on wet roads, even in heavy rain.
I also tried using the CrossClimate 2 in winter conditions with light snowfall. And this tire model continues not to disappoint me.
On slippery roads like light snow and ice, built-in 3D SipeLock technology still maximizes power. It offers pretty commendable traction thanks to its many biting edges.
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 is smooth and reliable, an excellent model in the Grand Touring All-Season category.
Unfortunately, it does not inherit the popular advantage of this tire line, which is minimal noise. Although equipped with PIANO noise adjustment technology, the Michelin tires are still noisy when I drive on the concrete surface at high speed.
Of course, it's not too noisy to disturb my journey. Overall, when I'm just driving in the city with paved roads or highways, it's surprisingly quiet.
Pros:
- Excellent to use in the rain
- Excellent wet brake
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Handles well on light snow
- Impressive dry performance
- Good vibration absorption
Cons:
- Not too noisy
2. Bridgestone WeatherPeak
Best All-weather Tires for a Quiet Ride
Get $80 off a set of 4 Bridgestone tires
Valid through April 7, 2024
Available at TireRack.com - DiscountTire.com
Get $30 back by mail when you spend $500 or more
Valid through April 30, 2024
Available at TireRack.com
If you are looking for a tire that offers perfect ride quality, the Bridgestone WeatherPeak is the name you should not miss.
In my first test drive, this Grand Touring tire surprised me with its smoothness and quietness. It behaved subtly throughout the journey through many potholes and uneven terrain. On the highway, I could barely distinguish between tire noise and wind or engine noise.
The WeatherPeak also leads to comfort. It damps well and provides a solid ride for high efficiency. But to be the ideal model for the Subaru Impreza, it must also come with perfect performance for everyday driving. And the Bridgestone WeatherPeak is such a tire.
I especially appreciated WeatherPeak's light snow performance. With its snow spout and deep slots, Bridgestone tires are one of the few all-season tires that handle well in winter.
WeatherPeak's wet and dry road performance is also commendable. It provides enough traction to move confidently on dry roads. The tire's steering response on these roads is entirely predictable, meeting my expectations well.
However, I was not impressed with the braking distance on dry roads after about 4,500 miles that I used with this tire. It seems to be longer than the Michelin CrossClimate 2 tire I used before.
On slippery roads, the tire continues to maintain excellent performance. In particular, after many years, WeatherPeak's traction on tricky terrain has not decreased significantly. The reason may come from the biting edges that still work well when the tire is worn.
The Bridgestone WeatherPeak offers many unique advantages. Yet, when pushed up, it no longer holds stable handling, that's the only thing I complain about this tire.
Pros:
- Comfortable and quiet ride
- Handle well on dry roads
- Good traction on wet roads
- Short braking distance on wet surfaces
- Excellent in not-so-harsh winters
Cons:
- Need to improve dry braking distance
- Handling is unstable in some cases
3. Continental PureContact LS
Best for Rain Traction
I always recommend the Continental PureContact LS to drivers who live in an area with a long rainy season. This Grand Touring All-Season model performs well in all weather conditions, especially on slippery, flooded roads.
The power of this model comes from a proprietary additive compound and deep grooves. On adverse terrain, the above equipment maximizes power. I hardly experienced hydroplaning or loss of control when accelerating on wet roads.
I am especially impressed with the handling and braking distance of this tire on wet roads, the braking distance is very short, it is even shorter than the Michelin CrossClimate 2 tire that I have used before.
Most excellent wet traction tires I've tested don't stand out too much on dry or snow roads. The Continental PureContact LS, however, is an exception.
The tire offers impressive traction on dry roads, which reminds me of sports tires. When driving at limited speed, the PureContact LS maintained a fairly reliable grip, helping me always to move safely.
Besides, the PureContact LS' performance exceeded my expectations on light snow with the tire's grip and acceleration are also exceptionally high.
However, with about 3 to 4 inches of snow, it is a big challenge for Subaru Impreza. I wasn't able to move my car with such deep snow.
To my satisfaction, the Continental PureContact LS has performance on wet, dry, and snowy roads. My only complaint is that the ride quality is not excellent, I see this very clearly when going through rough roads.
However, I was impressed with the tire noise. It's very quiet when I'm driving in the city, even on the highway, where I usually travel at 60 - 65 mph.
Pros:
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Excellent wet grip
- Impressive traction on dry roads
- Short braking distance on wet roads
- Works well on light snow
- Stable handling at limited speed
- Quiet ride, even on the highway
Cons:
- Need to improve the quality of the trip
4. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack
Best Touring All-Season Tires for Comfort and quiet ride
Get $80 off a set of 4 Bridgestone tires
Valid through April 7, 2024
Available at TireRack.com - DiscountTire.com
Get $30 back by mail when you spend $500 or more
Valid through April 30, 2024
Available at TireRack.com
All-season touring models have always been renowned for their excellent ride quality. And the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is one of them.
Over the years, I have tested many models of tires. But not many products offer the same excellent driving experience as the Turanza QuietTrack.
Luxury, sophistication, smoothness, and low noise are the unique experiences it can bring. Despite being a rather demanding person, I can hardly complain about its ride quality.
Moreover, this Bridgestone version also inherits other advantages of touring tires, such as daily driving performance and impressive longevity.
It has good dry traction, perfect wet drainage, with very short braking distances on wet surfaces. I am very secure when using this set of tires in the rain, because of its advantages. It would be difficult to find a performance model as comprehensive as the Turanza QuietTrack.
My only complaint about this tire is its snow performance. Of course, I can still use tires on light snow, maybe less than 3 inches, this is the depth of snow I have used with this set of tires and still ensure good grip, the ability to corner is still good, but just need to drive more carefully.
With deeper snowfall, it's a big challenge. My Subaru Impreza easily got stuck in the snow. Therefore, I recommend using specialized winter tires when there is heavy snowfall in winter.
Pros:
- Excellent in rainy conditions
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Short braking distance on wet surface
- Good traction on dry roads
- Works well on light snow
- Provides a quiet and comfortable ride
Cons:
- Poor performance on heavy snow
5. Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+
Best for Sharp Steering
As an extreme performance tire from a famous brand, I had high expectations for the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+'s handling. And it did not disappoint me.
Unlike the travel tires I introduced earlier, the Potenza RE980AS+ responds significantly better. With an excellent driving feeling on-center and offers the responsive steering I've always wanted on my Subaru Impreza.
The Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ is more than just a sports tire. It's also an excellent choice for everyday driving because of its reliable handling on all roads.
I appreciate its dry grip and slippery road performance. Although front-axle thrust starts at high speeds, the Potenza RE980AS+ is generally predictable and easy to drive.
Similarly, Bridgestone's snowy performance is also relatively good. Compared to other tire models that I have used before, the Potenza RE980AS + has significantly better braking distance and traction.
The Potenza RE980AS+'s only problem with daily driving is noise. Like every other high-performance tire, its noise is easily perceptible. However, this drawback is not too big of a problem for me, because it's not too noisy on the highway.
Pros:
- The steering wheel is super responsive
- Good grip on dry roads
- Easy to drive on slippery roads
- Excellent cornering on wet surfaces
- Good performance on light snow
- Comfortable, very enjoyable ride with performance tires
Cons:
- A bit noisy, but not annoying
6. Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
Best for Light Snow Traction
I've spent years testing extreme performance tires that handle light snow well. Finally, I found the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4, one of winter's best UHP models.
Unlike other segment options, Pilot Sport All Season 4 has reinforced outer shoulder blocks, asymmetric tread, and full-depth slots.
This equipment has delivered quite impressive snow performance. Pilot Sport All Season 4's traction on light snow roads is even better than some of the 3PMSF all-season tires I've used.
On early winter days, with light snowfall, the depth of the snow on the road that I usually drive to work is about 1 to 2 inches, and my Subaru Impreza easily handled such a snow surface with an extremely short braking distance and the grip when cornering is very good.
And of course, I don't plan on using this tire on deep snow and ice, in part because it's an all-season tire and my Subaru Impreza has very low ground clearance. For sure, I will replace a set of specialized winter tires when the snow is heavier.
Besides, this tire not only helps me drive safer in mild winter conditions with light snowfall but I was also impressed with its wet and dry performance.
This version offers an impressive driving and handling feel on dry roads. Meanwhile, wet roads effectively remove the water layer separating the tire surface and road surface. The Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4's slippery handling surpasses many in-class versions by staying connected in all cases.
In short, this tire model meets my daily driving needs quite well, especially in the not-too-harsh winters. It would be even more perfect if the manufacturer provided some improvements in terms of overall noise and ride quality on rough surfaces.
Pros:
- Handle well on light snow
- Extreme performance
- Suitable for daily driving needs
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance and maintain perfect wet traction
- Impressive driving feeling on dry roads
Cons:
- Uncomfortable on rough roads
7. Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus
Best for Performance All-season
The all-season high-performance tires are always the ideal choice to get the most out of the Subaru Impreza. And the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus is one of the best performance tires worth the experience.
Sportiness is my favorite feature of this tire. It handles well and is flexible. However, it responds a bit slow to steering input, compared to the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ tires I've experienced before.
Of course, overall, its responsiveness is still excellent when compared to other all-season tires.
On the dry track, the performance of the tire is very impressive. It offers surprisingly short braking distances when I start braking at 45 mph. When I tried pushing to the limit, the tire maintained quite well its inherent advantages and responded quite deftly.
On slippery roads, the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus continues not to disappoint me. Its ability to grip the road is excellent, making traveling at high speed in heavy rain conditions no longer too dangerous.
I usually drive on the highway to work, so I love these tires when I use them in the rainy season.
Snow performance is also the strength of this particular tire. It has impressive braking distance and grip. Although the steering is a bit vague, every tire behavior is pretty predictable and easy to adjust for me.
Another commendable advantage of Continental tires is smoothness and quietness. Even on rough terrain, small growls didn't affect my driving experience.
The Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus is the best all-season performance tire I've ever tested.
Pros:
- Very comfortable and quiet ride
- Excellent traction on wet surfaces
- Very good handling and acceleration in the rain
- Excellent performance on dry pavement
- Predictable and easy to drive on light snow
Cons:
- Need to improve responsiveness
8. Continental ExtremeContact Sport
Best Summer Tires for Subaru Impreza
The Continental ExtremeContact Sport is the best max-performance summer tire I have ever used.
But unlike the products I introduced earlier, with this tire, the manufacturer focuses on improving performance in the dry and wet conditions of the summer. The two most significantly improved aspects are responsiveness and comfort.
At first contact, I was impressed with its asymmetrical five-rib design and wide spike blocks. This design can offer excellent grip and handle at high speeds.
In particular, it has pretty light steering with linear input response. When I tested it with the Subaru Impreza, it provided a solid steering feel in the center, which gave me perfect control over everything.
Comfort is also why I pay special attention to the Continental ExtremeContact Sport. This summer tire model absorbs vibration thoroughly to provide a very smooth ride.
Accompanying the ExtremeContact Sport, the slight noise on the highway is not enough to distract me while driving. On the street, however, the quietness of the tires surprised me, as I wouldn't expect that from a max performance summer tire.
The ExtremeContact Sport has excellent performance on dry and wet roads. It surprised me in terms of traction and braking performance on dry roads. Besides that the excellent acceleration and cornering at high speeds ability on dry roads is what I am extremely impressed with about this tire.
The tires make me feel like I'm driving on the track, it's really fun.
In addition, I am especially impressed with the traction and extremely confident handling in the rain of this tire, which gives me a lot of peace of mind when driving in heavy rains and slippery roads.
So far, after about 5,500 miles with this tire, the tire wear seems to be as I expected, and I predict the mileage with it is much longer than the Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 tires that I have used before.
Besides, the manufacturer has provided the ExtremeContact Sport with a 30,000-mile tread warranty, which is very impressive for a high-performance summer tire.
Pros:
- Comfortable and quiet ride
- Responsive steering
- The steering feel is firmly in the center
- Good handling at high speed
- Excellent wet and dry traction
- Impressive dry and wet road braking performance
Cons:
- Do not use in snow and ice
9. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Best for Snow and Ice
Get $80 off a set of 4 Bridgestone tires
Valid through April 7, 2024
Available at TireRack.com - DiscountTire.com
Get $30 back by mail when you spend $500 or more
Valid through April 30, 2024
Available at TireRack.com
If you need the best handling on the snow or slippery ice, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is the model you should consider.
I've been with the Blizzak WS90 through a bad winter. At low temperatures, the tire compound retains the required flexibility and grip.
I did not detect the coating separating the tread and the icy surface. Thanks to that, the Blizzak WS90 connects well with the road surface on heavy snow and ice, providing a safer ride.
I'm really happy using this snow tire in winter in Idaho with light snow surface. They provide very impressive traction in snow and on ice with very short braking distances.
In my experience, the snow cornering ability of the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is better than the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 tires that I have used before.
However, I do not use the Subaru Impreza on days with heavy snowfall because its ground clearance is too low to be able to move on deep snow surfaces. If you intentionally drive your Subaru Impreza out onto a road with a snow surface about 5 inches or more deep, your vehicle could become stuck in the snow.
The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 excels on heavy snow and ice. But you can still wholly use it on dry streets.
I used to drive every day on the road with Bridgestone winter tires. Its grip and braking performance are pretty reliable.
Of course, the experience I got can't be compared with all-season or touring tires. But at least the Blizzak WS90 has done something that not many specialized winter tires respond well to.
The daily driving experience will be perfect if the manufacturer overcomes its high-speed noise. From what I feel when driving on the highway, this noise is not too loud, I can still talk to my wife in the cabin. In general, the noise did not affect my journey.
Pros:
- Excellent grip and traction on both snow and ice
- Reliable grip on dry and wet roads
- Stay connected to the road surface
- Short braking distance on wet surface
- Flexible tire compound at low temperatures
- Smooth ride
Cons:
- Need to improve the noise
10. Continental VikingContact 7
Best Winter Tires for Comfort and Quiet Ride
With the design characteristics, most winter tires are noisy and uncomfortable. However, the Continental VikingContact 7 is an exception. The VikingContact 7 surprised me with its quiet and smooth operation and on the road.
That is also why the manufacturer has equipped the VikingContact 7 specialized compounds, particular groove network patterns, and different thickness sipes.
All of the above equipment has enhanced the grip and handling performance of the VikingContact 7 on harsh winter roads.
On the light snow and ice I've driven through, the tires provide very good grip. I feel very confident driving on slippery ice with these tires.
This tire's ability to handle snow and ice conditions is of course not comparable to studded tires, but much better than the CrossClimate 2 all-weather tires I've used before.
Also, I was once stuck on a snow surface about 6 to 7 inches deep when I tried to drive my Subaru Impreza back home after a heavy snow day.
Besides, the tires still provide good traction in dry and wet conditions with a comfortable ride. I was able to accelerate and corner relatively quickly without any problems. This really exceeded my expectations.
Yet, on the rough road, the above comfort will no longer be at its best. It is also the only downside I found in this particular winter tire.
So far, after about 4,500 miles with these tires after a winter of using them, mostly on the streets and highways, the tire wear seems to be very good, I hope to be able to use it in 4 to 5 more winters.
Pros:
- Comfort and quiet on smooth pavement
- Impressive ice braking performance
- Excellent snow performance
- Safe handling in rainy conditions
- Impressive traction on dry surfaces
- Durable tire
Cons:
- Becomes noisier on rough roads
Buying Guides: How to Choose the Best Tires for Subaru Impreza
If the above suggestions are still not able to help you make a final decision, please refer to the information below!
Selecting tires by category is a good idea to help narrow down your search.
- Touring all-season tires
The Subaru Impreza is a comfortable, stable sedan. When equipping this model with four-season travel tires, the above advantages continue to be maintained and promoted.
In particular, all-season touring tires are also excellent for daily driving. They are durable, reliable even in wear, and the overall performance is good enough for street and highway travel.
- All-weather tires
The biggest downside of the all-season touring tire is the unremarkable performance in the snow. Even some tire models do not handle light snow well.
The all-weather tires will be an excellent choice to overcome the disadvantages. All-weather tires usually have a flexible tread compound, grooves, and a reasonably large tread depth.
All of the above have helped this tire perform better in winter and meet the severe snow service requirements of the industry.
- High-performance all-season tires
For sporty Impreza models, there is no better choice than high-performance tires. The all-season high-performance tires handle responsively and have a high grip. Even extreme performance tires can also meet the rigors of the track.
However, you must remember that high-performance tires will not be too comfortable and durable. This tire generates quite a bit of noise on the highway, and the tread life usually does not exceed 60,000 miles.
- Summer tires
High-performance summer tires are ideal for use on dry or wet roads in hot areas. They will provide impressive traction and excellent handling performance.
Yet, similar to the four-season high-performance tire, its tread life is not too high, and the noise is also quite loud.
- Winter tires
Winter tires are a must if you live in an area with harsh winters. This tire will help you move safely on slippery terrains such as heavy snow or ice.
In warm weather, its performance will degrade. You cannot even use specialized winter tires in high-temperature conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When looking for the right tire for the Subaru Impreza, you must have had many questions. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
- How often should I rotate my Subaru Impreza tires?
You should rotate your Subaru Impreza tires every 5,000 - 7,500 miles.
- What's the correct tire pressure on my Subaru Impreza?
The recommended tire pressure for the Subaru Impreza is 32 psi.
- Can I use the Subaru Impreza for off-roading?
The ground clearance of the Subaru Impreza is not too high, but it is enough to move on gravel roads. However, the Subaru Impreza is not the best choice, with more severe roads like trails.
- When should I replace my tires?
You should change your tires every six years. To ensure safety, replace the tire as soon as its wear is excessive.
Final Thoughts
For the safest and most comfortable driving experience with the Subaru Impreza, I would choose the Michelin CrossClimate 2.
If I had to find a tire that offers excellent handling in the summer, the Continental ExtremeContact Sport would be the first name that comes to mind.
Also, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is the tire I trust to use in the harsh winter.
As you can see, the best tires for Subaru Impreza will depend on your needs, the area's weather conditions, and quite a few other factors.
Therefore, you should carefully consider the important elements, then refer to my objective reviews. You will find the tire that best suits your Subaru Impreza!
Wouldn't you like to own the best tires for Subaru Impreza? Let's do it now!
I’m Ivo Gievski, the content writer for Tireer. We built our website with over 15 years of experience and extensive research in the automotive and technology sectors. My dedication to delivering high-quality content is unwavering, and I strive to continuously hone my skills to stay ahead of industry trends and provide readers with informative, engaging, and valuable insights.