Top 10 Best Tires for Subaru Outback: What are the Options?

Station wagons are still some of the most practical vehicles, especially when it comes to cargo space. However, buyers today also want light off-road capabilities, and that’s where these vehicles fail to deliver.

Not the Subaru Outback, though, as it combines both features in a crossover/station wagon body, accompanied by the company’s excellent symmetrical AWD system.

The Outback is one of the most practical vehicles you can buy, period. But choosing a set of tires for it can be a tiresome experience, simply because it can do a lot of things well.

Should you go for a durable on-road tire and forget about off-roading, or should you make some road performance sacrifices to increase traction on the trail? Heck, you could also go for a set of performance tires and drive your Outback like Colin McRae!

These are all valid questions, but also ones that you should answer. What you do with your Outback is entirely up to you, and the tires you choose should reflect that. So, if you mostly drive on public roads and only occasionally hit some undemanding trails, you should definitely go for regular touring all-season tires.

However, if you go camping regularly and want a more capable off-road solution, I recommend choosing all-terrain tires. Meanwhile, those of you that want to drive at a faster pace should choose performance all-season or summer tires.

Finally, those that live in areas with very harsh wintry conditions and own an Outback should choose a set of winter tires.

And worry not, I’ve included all tire types in my list of the best tires for Subaru Outback. All options I chose below are among the best in their respective categories, with only small disadvantages.

Still, it’s up to you to make a final decision, of course, while making sure it fits your driving style and needs, as well as the Subaru Outback tire size you want. So, without further ado, let’s dig in!

Top 10 Best Tires for Subaru Outback Available in 2024

1. Michelin CrossClimate 2

Best Touring All-Season/All-Weather Tires for Subaru Outback

Subaru Outback owners bought the crossover mostly because it offers a reliable year-round, thanks to the symmetrical all-wheel-drive system.

Hence, there is no better tire for the Outback than the CrossClimate 2; Michelin’s all-weather tire can truly transcend your driving experience by providing outstanding performance in all conditions. It almost feels like magic at times – that’s how good this tire is.

And it all starts with the dry handling, which is akin to that of a summer tire. The CrossClimate 2 provides better lateral grip than its main rivals, accelerates easily out of a corner, and feels very easy to handle at the limit. Moreover, the stopping distances are among the shortest in the category.

The CrossClimate 2 also provides excellent traction in rainy conditions. Again, the braking is excellent (much improved over the CrossClimate+), and the handling feels balanced with a good grip.

But the best thing about this tire is how it handles light snow. The traction is among the best of any all-season/all-weather tire, and the stopping distances are among the shortest. In addition, this is a very easy tire to handle on snow, with a very solid grip and balanced handling.

The CrossClimate 2 does have some disadvantages; for once, it only comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, and it doesn’t go over bumps with the composure of its main premium rivals (though it’s quiet). It’s also expensive, but it’s a Michelin tire, after all.

Overall, though, the small disadvantages shouldn’t detract from the fact that this is an outstanding tire that’s worthy of your Subaru Outback!

2. Continental CrossContact LX25

Best Touring All-Season/All-Weather Tires for Subaru Outback

The CrossContact LX25 is a tire that was specifically designed for crossovers like the Subaru Outback, aiming to deliver safe year-round traction, luxurious comfort, and excellent treadlife.

And when it comes to treadlife, it outright beats the Michelin CrossClimate 2, and it even comes with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty.

But the CrossContact LX25 also delivers in other areas. It’s particularly good in wet conditions, where it handles corner duties with relative ease and high levels of lateral grip.

The tire also performs very well at the limit, thanks to the balanced nature, while the braking distances are comparable to the best in the category.

Furthermore, the CrossContact LX25 delivers very good dry traction and grip and, again, good behavior at the limit. Like most Continental tires, it also delivers in the snow, where it provides the best subjective feel in the category, meaning it’s very easy to drive fast. The braking distances are also among the shortest in the category, and acceleration is great, too.

The tire is also impressively quiet, even when you drive on rough tarmac. However, the ride is a little less impressive – it feels good on most surfaces, but the lack of composure is evident on broken pavement.

But regardless of that, the CrossContact LX25 is among the most capable all-season tires for the Subaru Outback, and you should definitely consider it when buying a new set of tires.

3. Vredestein Quatrac Pro

Best Touring All-Season/All-Weather Tires for Subaru Outback

The Vredestein Quatrac Pro is another all-season/all-weather tire that has a Severe Snow rating (3PMSF symbol), meaning it was tested for higher longitudinal traction on light snow than a regular M+S tire.

But unlike other such tires, the Quatrac Pro manages to provide excellent performance in other areas as well, making it one of the most accomplished tires for owners of the Subaru Outback.

Notably, the tire performs excellently in rainy conditions, on par with the best premium all-season tires. It has exceptional hydroplaning resistance, provides short stopping distances, and accelerates without fuss. In addition, the handling is balanced, and your Outback will be easy to control at the limit.

The dry traction and grip levels aren’t as impressive, but still, the Quatrac Pro is in the upper echelon of the category. For most drivers, the performance this tire provides on dry tarmac will suffice.

But the real takeaway here is the excellent light-snow traction – thanks to the numerous zig-zag sipes, this tire can accelerate and stop on snow better than most all-season tires. It also handles well in the corners, with balanced behavior.

Despite the aggressive tread pattern, the Quatrac Pro is also very quiet, and Vredestein did a great job in making it comfortable over bumps. Still, one glaring issue here is the 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is lower than any other tire in its category.

4. Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport AS

Best Performance All-Season Tires for Subaru Outback

The Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport AS isn’t rated as a high-performance tire at the most popular retailers, but trust me when I say – it can change the way your Subaru Outback drives for the better. This is by far the most responsive and direct all-season tire on this list, with very linear steering and an excellent feel. A real joy to drive on a twisty road!

Luckily, the directness is accompanied by high levels of lateral grip, which is among the highest of any all-season tire for the Subaru Outback.

Moreover, the handling feels very balanced and predictable, with good behavior at the limit. Finally, the braking distances are among the shortest in the category.

But the Dueler H/P Sport AS also impresses in the rain, where the excellent overall traction and grip play excellently with the direct nature of the tire. The braking distances are also among the shortest of any all-season tire.

When it comes to snowy conditions, the Bridgestone is only average in terms of traction, though it’s at least easy to drive.

The real bad points of the Dueler H/P Sport AS are the low treadwear warranty of only 40,000 miles and the somewhat harsh ride over broken surfaces. Still, if you want a more engaging driving experience, this is the tire to go for!

5. Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015

Best All Terrain Tires for Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback is a capable off-road machine, thanks to the AWD system, but only if you have the right tires on your wheels. And there is no better type of tire for that than all-terrain tires! The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 is a very popular option that’s available in sizes that match Subaru’s OEM dimensions and is an excellent tire overall, too.

Crucially, this tire will provide you with excellent traction on dirt and gravel, and it can even work in shallow mud. Besides, the G015 is a mild all-terrain tire, meaning it will still provide you with good road performance.

You’ll be particularly impressed with the lack of noise, so if you thought that would be an issue if you purchase all-terrain tires, you shouldn’t be. The ride is a bit firmer than I’d liked, but still not an issue on most surfaces.

Furthermore, the dry grip and traction are excellent, with very balanced handling and good behavior on the limit. The highway stability is great, too.

Unlike other all-terrain tires, the Yokohama also behaves very well in the rain, with good traction and hydroplaning resistance and easy-to-drive nature.

Finally, the Geolandar A/T G015 is also a very capable winter tire, with good light-snow traction and balanced handling.

The Geolandar A/T G015 comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, excellent for the category. It can be said that this is one of the best tires for Subaru Outback if you go camping regularly.

6. Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail

Best All Terrain Tires for Subaru Outback

The Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail is a slightly more aggressive tire than the Geolandar A/T G015, meaning it will work better in the wild.

Overall, the off-road traction will be higher, and the Falken might also prove to be more durable in those conditions. The company also provides a superior 65,000-mile treadwear warranty – excellent for the money and category.

Furthermore, the Wildpeak A/T Trail impresses on the road with very responsive and linear steering, high levels of grip and traction, and good highway stability. The rain traction is equally impressive as well, especially the wet handling.

However, the Wildpeak A/T Trail is slightly worse on light snow than its competitor from Yokohama, both in terms of traction and handling behavior.

When it comes to comfort, the Wildpeak A/T Trail is a pretty quiet tire considering the category, and the ride is reasonably smooth. However, the tires produce quite the thump on impacts, which hurts the overall refinement.

7. Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV

Best Performance Summer Tires for Subaru Outback

If you want the best possible dry/wet grip and traction for your Subaru Outback, there is only one tire you should be looking at – the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV. This is a well-proven tire among enthusiast drivers and one that will definitely put a smile on your face.

Notably, it provides exceptional levels of cornering grip on dry roads, and it doesn’t require high temperatures like other summer performance tires. Moreover, the handling is very balanced, even at the limit, and the braking distances are out of this world.

The same can be said for the wet traction, which is head and shoulders above any other tire on this list. The Pilot Sport 4 SUV is also easy to drive in the corners when wet and even provides excellent hydroplaning resistance.

The only area where I’d like to see improvement is the steering response, which is slightly worse than other performance tires. However, it’s still much better than any other tire on this list.

8. Michelin X-Ice Snow

Best Winter Tires for Subaru Outback

The Michelin X-Ice Snow is one of the most balanced winter tires, with very good traction in freezing conditions, regardless of the surface. Notably, it provides high levels of grip and traction on dry surfaces, with strong braking and good handling.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of the X-Ice Snow is the comfort; the ride quality is superb, even on some very harsh roads, and the tire also leads the category in quietness, even beating some regular all-season tires.

Furthermore, the rain traction is excellent, with good handling and braking. This is one of the best snow tires for Subaru Outback, Michelin also made some improvements in snow and ice traction, and that was evident in our testing. This is a tire with exceptional traction and handling over light and deep snow, and it also brakes well on ice.

9. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Best Winter Tires for Subaru Outback

The Blizzak WS90 is another impressive winter tire that focuses on delivering the best possible snow and ice traction. And indeed, you’ll have no problem steering your Outback even in a snowstorm, thanks to the exceptional traction, braking, and handling. The ice traction is also leading the category.

Like the X-Ice Snow, the WS90 also works great as a daily driver, thanks to the balanced handling on dry roads and some of the shortest braking distances in the category. The rain traction is equally impressive, with short braking distances and a natural feel in the corners.

The Blizzak WS90 is also fairly quiet for a winter tire, though it is slightly louder than the X-Ice Snow. The ride quality can be harsh over sharp creases, though this shouldn’t be an issue for most people.

10. Continental VikingContact 7

Best Winter Tires for Subaru Outback

The VikingContact 7 finishes my list of the best Subaru Outback tires, but also the list of the best winter tires, period. Compared to the X-Ice Snow and Blizzak WS90, the Continental is slightly worse on dry roads, particularly when it comes to steering feel, but this is a non-issue for most people.

Crucially, the tire provides strong grip and traction on wet roads, with exceptional hydroplaning resistance and balanced handling. The snow traction is also impressive, competing with the previous two winter tires for class-leading honors. The ice traction is also impressive, both in terms of acceleration and braking.

Furthermore, the VikingContact 7 is very quiet, even at higher speeds, closely matching the Michelin X-Ice Snow. The ride is also smooth, though the tires produce a noticeable impact noise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How often should I rotate my Outback tires?

It is generally recommended to rotate the tires each 5,000-8,000 miles or at every oil change. As for the rotation, an X pattern is the best option for the Outback.

• Which tires for my Subaru Outback are most durable?

Generally, touring all-season tires have the best treadlife and come with the longest treadwear warranties. On average, a touring all-season tire should last up to 50,000 miles before it reaches the minimum 2/32-inch of tread depth.

However, that’s only true if you drive your Outback mostly on paved roads, as rough terrains can easily damage the softer casing of touring all-season models.

Meanwhile, all-terrain tires might not last as long if you use them on the highway, but they can definitely take a beating when you hit dirt and gravel roads.

• Should I replace all four tires at once?

It is absolutely recommended to replace all four tires at once, even if some of them have enough tread depth remaining. A vehicle with old tires at one end and new tires at the other will feel very unbalanced in the corners and might surprise you with snap oversteer/understeer.

Besides, the Outback has a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, meaning it always uses all four wheels, so having old tires on one axle could seriously hinder its traction abilities. The system also ensures even wear on all tires, so chances are you’ll need to replace all tires at once, anyway.

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

Subaru recommends 35 psi for the front and 33 psi for the rear tires on the 2015-2022 Outback models. However, the correct tire pressure for 2010-2014 Outbacks is 32/31 psi, while for 2005-2009 models is 32/30 psi.

You can always check the correct tire pressure on the side sill of the driver’s door or in your Outback owner’s manual.

Conclusion

So, there it is, guys and girls, the most comprehensive list of the best Subaru Outback tires out there! Before saying goodbye, I’ll again want to stress that there are no winners and losers in this list, i.e., the first tire isn’t necessarily better than the last one. 

On the contrary, each model I listed here has its merits and fits the lifestyles of various Outback owners. Therefore, you should choose a tire that fits your way of life, regardless of its position. Start with choosing the right tire type for your needs, and then read the reviews carefully before making the final decision!