If you wonder why the Subaru Outback is so successful, the answer is simple. It’s fun to drive, easy to park, inexpensive, and extremely safe, thanks to its fantastic all-wheel-drive system. The ideal combination for a family station wagon.
That said, the real question should be, what are the best tires for a car as dependable as the Subaru Outback? You will find the answer in this article.
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Subaru Outback All Terrain Tire Size Overview
Using the correct tire size is vital for the proper performance of your Outback, which is why we have prepared the following information.
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 225/60R16
- Trim(s): Base, H6, LL Bean, Limited, VDC
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 225/55R17, 225/60R16
- Trim(s): Base, LL Bean, Limited
- Trim(s): all versions, including Limited and Premium
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 225/65R17, 225/60R18
- Trim(s): all versions, including Limited, Premium, and Touring
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 225/65R17, 225/60R18
- Trim(s): all versions, including Limited, Premium, Touring, Onyx Edition, and Wilderness
Choosing New All Terrain Tires For Subaru Outback
Choosing the best tires is all about asking yourself the right questions in order to determine with the greatest accuracy what you expect from your new set of tires. Durability? Best price?
As long as you keep your objectives in mind, it will be easier to choose a tire. Below we submit to your consideration the most important aspects to take into account.
What’s Your Weather Like?
The weather in the area where you live plays a key role in your tire choice. Contrary to what some people think, having an AWD system does not guarantee your grip on slippery surfaces. That’s the job of the tires. For this reason, you should choose the most appropriate tires for your type of climate. Tires with better traction in wet, snow, and ice are what ensure you get the most out of your Outback’s AWD system.
What Do You Use Your Subaru Outback For?
The next thing to consider is how you will use your Outback. Will it be a family station wagon? A passenger transport vehicle? Additionally, you should consider the type of roads where you will drive your car. Do you plan to use your Outback for commuting from home to work, or will you also ride dirt roads? This will determine if you need all-season or all-terrain tires.
Comfort, Performance, Budget. Pick Two.
Finally, you should keep in mind the tradeoffs you will face when choosing tires. The cheapest tires tend not to be the most durable, all-terrain tires tend to be louder than all-season tires, the best performing tires tend to be more expensive, etc. Fortunately, we’ve made your job easier by creating a curated list of the best tires for your Subaru Outback, where we balance all of these factors.
Comparison of the Best All Terrain Tires For Subaru Outback
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The Best All Terrain Tires For Subaru Outback
Ready to choose the best tires for your Outback? In this section, you will find the best tires depending on your use case and requirements.
Best Overall
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.60 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.55 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.45 / 5
Treadwear: 4.45 / 5
Offroad Performance: 4.40 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.30 / 5
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There is no doubt that Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S is the best multi-purpose tire you can install on your Subaru Outback. Despite being all-terrain tires, they give you a smooth and quiet ride along with astonishing durability over 80k miles. Moreover, the advanced compound and tread design of the Discoverer AT3 4S allows you to enjoy powerful and predictable braking in dry, wet, snow, and ice.
In terms of off-road performance, this is one of the best tires in its class, so you don’t have to worry about staying on the road if you want to venture onto dirt roads. All in all, this tire offers you the best tradeoff between grip, comfort, and durability, which is why we have chosen it as the best overall tire for the Subaru Outback.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 620 A B
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 Years / 65K Miles
Price Range: $180 per tire
Runner-up
Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.60 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.50 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.30 / 5
Treadwear: 4.35 / 5
Offroad Performance: 4.45 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.40 / 5
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If off-road performance is most important to you then the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus is your best option. If you compare its ratings with those of the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S, you will find that they are similar in wet and dry conditions. However, when it comes to grip in snow, mud, sand, and dirt, the Scorpion All Terrain Plus has an edge over its rival.
This is due to the more aggressive tread pattern and compound that Pirelli used on this tire. It is worth mentioning that to achieve this great off-road performance, Pirelli had to sacrifice durability and comfort. That said, both tires offer outstanding off-road performance; they just cater to different needs.
In short, if you will be using your Outback mostly off-road or you live in areas where the climate is humid and cold, then the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus is for you.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 640 A B
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: Unlimited / 50K Miles
Price Range: $171 per tire
Best Cheap Tires for Subaru Outback
Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner AT
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.45 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.20 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.15 / 5
Treadwear: 4.05 / 5
Offroad Performance: 4.00 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 3.75 / 5
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One factor that cannot be overlooked in a station wagon is price, which is why we included the Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner AT. These tires come with a generous 6-year or 55k-mile warranty which, coupled with their ridiculously low price, make them worthy of the best value for money on this list.
In terms of performance, the Wrangler TrailRunner AT provides adequate grip both on and off-road, with the notable exception of its performance on snow/ice. However, the above is not necessarily a dealbreaker since if you live in a cold area, you will need winter tires anyway. All in all, if you are looking for reliable tires with excellent durability and value, then the Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner AT will not disappoint.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 580 A B
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 Years / 55K Miles
Price Range: $155 per tire
4. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.55 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.35 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.15 / 5
Treadwear: 4.15 / 5
Offroad Performance: 4.50 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.30 / 5
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When it comes to all-terrain tires, it is impossible to leave out BFG. In that sense, the T/A KO2 is considered by many enthusiasts as one of the best multi-purpose tires out there. BFGoodrich designed this tire with two goals in mind, offering a tire with an unsurpassed level of traction on any kind of terrain and outstanding durability. For this, the All-Terrain T/A KO2 features a racing-derived cut-, chip- and tear-resistant tread compound that, together with its upper shoulder Sidewall Armor, make it one of the toughest tires on the market.
Possibly the only downside to this tire is that it is not as quiet as others on this list, but in our opinion, it is a low price to pay for its amazing grip in dry, wet, mud, and snow. That said, if you are looking for a premium tire for your Outback, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is one of your best alternatives.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: None
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 Years / 50K Miles
Price Range: $228 per tire
5. Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.45 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.40 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.35 / 5
Treadwear: 4.15 / 5
Offroad Performance: 4.00 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.10 / 5
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You can think of the Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 as an all-terrain tire that has a more balanced approach than the BFG KO2. While it certainly does not provide the same level of off-road traction as the KO2, this tire provides one of the best driving experiences in its class.
Its more civilized ways make the Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 an excellent choice for drivers who need a tire with all-season comfort for on-road driving, but that offers the flexibility of all-terrain tires. In short, the Geolandar A / T G015 is a tire that favors daily use in the city/highway but with enough tenacity to allow you to hit dirt roads if necessary.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 600 A B
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 Years / 50K Miles
Price Range: $198 to $204 per tire
Conclusion
No one disputes that the Subaru Outback is one of the most versatile and safest SUVs on the market. For that reason, you must be careful in the type of tires you use on it. Throughout this article, we have explored factors such as weather, use case, and expectations as the starting point for making your selection.
We have also provided a list of the best options available based on these factors for your convenience. All that remains is for you to do your homework and enjoy the results in your Outback!