Top 10 Best Tires For Subaru Outback In 2024

While not as popular as other Subaru lineups, the Outback series still worms its way into the brand’s best-selling rankings for years. However, just like any Subaru or SUV/crossover in general, the car needs to pair up with high-quality tires for maximized handling characteristics across all terrains and situations. 

With stringent testing and rigorous score negotiations, our COR Wheels team has agreed upon the 10 best Subaru Outback tires by the time of this writing. Scroll for more oversights and commentaries!

A. How to Choose The Best Tires for Subaru Outback

1. Understanding The Subaru Outback

Subaru Outback has an SUV design – but is lighter and smaller than typical SUVs due to its main structure being built on car platforms instead of the truck chassis. As such, it can still retain the general driving comfort often seen in standard cars, so you’ll need versatile tires that can balance year-round traction and riding subtlety in daily driving situations and on highways.

The car has a payload capacity of up to 1200 lbs (lower or higher depending on the model year) and can tow a whopping 2700 lbs. Hence, unless you have low loading demands, remember to match your Outback models with sturdy tires of at least 87 in load index. 

While not exactly meant for extreme off-road ventures (meaning off-road tires of all kinds are out of the question), the Outback can still handle light off-the-beaten trails and gravel roads thanks to the decent ground clearance and equipped AWD (all-wheel-drive system) that can work with various weather changes. Thus, you should opt for tires with rough sidewalls and larger shoulders than average to cope better with possible punctures and sidewall damage along the way.

Subaru Outback is indeed more agile than some of its siblings, but that does not mean this SUV can deliver the same high-performance driving levels as smaller, sportier cars. Remember to leave high-performance tires out of your consideration lists while browsing.

2. Choose The Right Type of Tire for Your Subaru Outback

The following tires will work best with Subaru Outback, though your further niche preferences need to be taken into consideration to ensure the best fit:

a. All-Season Touring Tires

Do you want decent traction handling and grip maintenance with excellent riding comfort all year round? All-season tire options will be an excellent choice, and they are usually much cheaper than other tire types, too. Note, however, that aside from the standard models, there are two other variants catering to extra performance and loading qualities:

• Choose Grand touring all-season tires if you aim for better steering response and handling while still enjoying the same ride comfort as standard tires.
• Crossover/SUV all-season tires are specially tailored for SUVs like the Subaru Outback, allowing you to load moderate cargo onto paved roads, highways, and other on-road textures. Most of them are quite smooth and breezy, though the comfort levels also fluctuate across pricing ranges and tire brands/ tire manufacturers. 

b. On-Road All-Terrain Tires

Do you venture on light off-road trails occasionally? Then you should definitely opt for on-road AT tires, as they deliver excellent on-road traction while also featuring some extra features catering to gravel roads, rock textures, and mud trails. These tires are usually pricier than all-season models, but the market does offer some budget options you can consider.

c. Snow/Winter Tires

Coupled with the Outback’s AWD system, dedicated winter tires will breeze you through harsh winter conditions in little to no drama. Premium models even afford decent summer traction – but note that it is not really common among middle- to lower-range snow tires. 

B. How Did We Test and Pick The Best Tires for A Subaru Outback

196 best-selling tires on the marketplace were selected for our 2023 COR Wheels Tire Test. 

After a shortlist was established after the first testing rounds, we installed their 225/65R17 tire size versions on our Subaru Outback 2022 Base for further narrowing. Our scores were then directly cross-referenced with customer feedback (collected from another survey) to single out the 10 best overall performers.

C. Best All-Season Tires for Subaru Outback

1. Michelin CrossClimate 2

Best uses: heavy towing, tight corners, rough textures, long wintertime traveling, all-year usage, deep water

Lauded as one of the most reputed Michelin models, Michelin CrossClimate2 dominates all dry endeavors thanks to the strong, capable V-ramp chamfers that bond excellently with rugged and smooth roads alike in little to no dramas. Unplanned accelerations only result in brief, minor drifting around the flanks at best and remain breezily gentle all throughout, to the point that you can even carry cargo slightly heavier than the car’s designated payloads (1200 lbs) without suffering from major plummeting like some other touring tires on the market.

CrossClimate’s punctual steering feedback also deserves all the praise, which stays pliant to all inputs and translates their edges well into humid, wet conditions. Thanks to the integrated 3D SipeLocks, rainwater redistributes itself easily without any help from the circumferential grooves, fostering even, consistent tire rolls for you that leave very little room for any unwanted hydroplaning. On straight-line wet roads, you can even manage the same traction confidence as on dry paths at maximum payload capacities!

There are also very few complaints regarding CrossClimate2’s snow performances, which strike confidently through thick snow using the 3PMSF-labeled biting edges and need no snow chains to swallow unpredictable chokes around corners and through ascents. Better yet, the tire does not have to sacrifice riding comfort or treadwear rates for such impressive all-year aggression, smoothing out impacts so well that you can even engage in extremely spirited brakings on rougher textures despite the lack of prior experience.

Some of you might complain about the premium charge – but frankly, judging CrossClimate2’s boundless certainty on all terrains, that pricing is totally well-deserved. Noise control does feel fainter on wet surfaces and at heavy cargo (from 900 lbs), but composes itself well enough to land on the favorable side for your noise-sensitive demands.

---

2. Falken Sincera SN250 A/S

Best uses: budget choice, light, casual summer dry roads, light towing, low-speed endeavors

If you mostly engage in casual, light driving situations and want to keep your tire budgets within control, a set of Falken Sincera SN250 A/S should do.

Sure, the lack of in-built grooves and compound layers put the tire in a lower position than some other grand touring tires on the market. But its solid ribs and 3D sipes are more than enough to compensate for that oversight, allowing our Outback to pull surely and gently through well-paved roads with minimal to moderate steering inputs. We were able to reverse, park, overtake vehicles, and change lanes swiftly at regular 40-45 MPH while still having sufficient margins for occasional understeer accidents from time to time. Better yet, towing tasks only push your car slightly off track beyond 1000 lbs and do fine at any other number below that benchmark.

On another note, this budget tire clearly has to sacrifice wet-focused features to foster dry traction, so you should not be surprised by its significant traction drop around flooded corners and moderate water depth (4 inches onwards). If you are a seasoned driver, revving to 50 MPH from time to time is still possible – but otherwise, we strongly suggest keeping things civilized at 25-30 MPH to sidestep unwanted slippage and frequent hydroplaning under the sipes.

Needless to say, winter performances were horrendous; we could not even drive our Subaru through the lightest snow without constant jitters and shakes. Our ice tests even had to stop short after only 10 minutes on the track! 

Noises are frequent whether on snowed or snowless terrains, and the way the tire caves in instantly under temperature extremes also gives off a bad hunch regarding its long-term usage. So, all in all, you should only use this tire for non-twisty roads during dry, warm summers.

---

3. Vredestein Quatrac Pro

Best uses: dry paths (even with tight curves and high speeds), flooded roads (below 9 inches) moderate towing, medium snow depths, long rides

The stiff tread blocks and stable shoulders did a spectacular job gumming our Vredestein Quatrac sets onto the roads, trampling the borderline traction losses in subtle yet decisive cuts before they could infiltrate further into the contact patch. 

Thus, the Subaru Outback rarely plummets, skitters out of line, or delays its steering feedback, paving the way for your wilder experiments with diverse control techniques across tougher and more tightly-spaced curves. If desired, you can even surge to 60 MPH in seconds while not losing contact with the corner liners. Intentional oversteering or late brakings are also totally doable for any average driver as a result.

Minus slightly longer stalls and a few wet chokes at deeper water (beyond 9 inches), our tests through wet surfaces were relatively the same as on dry roads. The tire shows little to no hesitancy rolling over slippery, damp puddles, and its high-density sipes distribute flowing water with so much ease that heavy tire drags are reduced to faint, very distant threats at cargo loads of 700-1000 lbs. Packing the passengers to full capacity slows down the wet responses a little, but is not enough to truly compromise the Subaru’s momentum along the way.

On snowy roads, QuaTrac Pro is quite good with shallow snow depths (below 5 inches) and can still deliver decent clawing actions through deep snow packs and inconsistently textured surfaces. Icy traction might not be as competitive – but overall, still manageable at 20-25 MPH. 

Our biggest complaint mostly lies in the treadwear rates. While they are not bad in the grand scheme of things, the absence of internal integrity in lower temperatures is admittedly a bit disappointing, especially given the premium price.

---

4. Michelin Defender2

Best uses: dry roads (both with dynamic handlings and regular driving rates) straight highway endeavors, light and deep snow, moderate towing, long tread life.

Defender2 weaves together the wide circumferential and pass-through grooves for one of the best, most optimized footprints you have ever seen, which kills off drifting symptoms the moment your Subaru rolls on the main streets. This confident aggression is not deterred by wild, fluctuating steering inputs and even less affected when subjected to constant, back-to-back switchbacks, offering ample opportunities for dynamic handlings and low-angled leans. 

While we felt it not as sure-footed on wet roads, Michelin Defender 2 still behaved generally well, owing its solid grounds to the well-integrated lateral notches that keep hydroplaning and intrusive water safely within the lines. Except for more pronounced chokes when we traversed on highways and at higher speeds (55 MPH onwards), we didn’t lose control of the Subaru’s momentum or slide into unpredictable shakes through deep puddles and flowing water.

For a non-winter tire (not to mention a standard touring model), the Michelin Defender2 is a total crowd-pleaser during wintertime, managing consistent and pleasant grip through snow changes at 40-45 MPH in little to no problem. Rev a little lower than 35 MPH, and you can even manage consistent tire rolls on ice paths while suffering from very little traction fluctuation when moving from snow to ice or vice versa. 

Treadwear rates and noise controls are class-leading, and the tire’s smooth, seamless cushion feel over road bumps also deserves all the praise. The only (minor) drawback is Defender’s slightly muter feedback through tight chicanes and low-radius curves, which can still be handled easily using strong push-pull forces.

---

5. Cooper Endeavor Plus

Best uses: Pave roads, moderate to heavy towing tasks, descents, light snow at casual speeds, light rainy conditions

Endeavor Plus utilizes innovative five-rib designs and lateral grooves for composed and sure-footed footings on pavement grooves.

Its initial shakes in the first few bites only shook up the sidewalls a little and were far from enough to truly throw our Subaru off track, allowing us to regain confidence fast for seamless, breezy strikes through 40-50 MPH cuts. Accelerations and decelerations settle into the sidewalls well while striking a good balance between extra flexes and stability, which promises smooth cornering attempts for you regardless of your steering techniques.

The lack of in-built anti-hydroplaning coats admittedly set our Subaru Outback into more jostles than expected during steep ascents; fortunately, its large lateral notches and dense sipes helped the tire maintain major traction edges well in moderate water depth and deep puddles. You can even use a bit of extra steering force to load moderate to heavy cargo here (up to 1000 lbs) while still keeping feedback delays or heavy sinking at bay.

Its winter performances are not exactly exceptional but still favorable for a cheap touring tire, only suffering from true grip losses on thicker ice buildups or during sharp, abrupt turns. Overall riding quality and durability also leave a good impression – though you might wish the tire could have been quieter when navigating roadblocks or overtaking vehicles right before lane changes.

---

6. Yokohama Geolandar CV G058

Best uses: dry/wet highways, rough textures, sweeping corners, ascents, non-twisty snow roads, long usage, heavy towing/loading

Geolandar CV G058 enjoys huge competitive edges thanks to the large grooves and open shoulders, so we could conveniently pass through highway grooves despite our fluctuating steering inputs and full loading capacity. While 40-45 MPH was still its best operation range, we encountered no trouble revving up gradually higher towards extreme highway limits (75 MPH) in our test, meaning you can adapt easily to unexpected mishaps along the way without sacrificing superior traction maintenance.

Its stable cornering ribs continue to carry well into wet weather, utilizing the large Pass Thru grooves that take no time to spread out thick water into thinner, softer layers that barely affect the sidewall flexes. As a result, you should be able to tackle sweeping corners and ascents well and easily trample drifting down the contact patch using punctual downshifts.

Geolandar’s behaviors on snow and ice also check most of the boxes. They are not exactly outstanding, of course, but very consistent and stable – which is all you will ask for during extended trips or heavy towing tasks. Guaranteed the cargo is kept under 700 lbs, you can even rev to highway speeds through straight-line endeavors without using snow chains!

If you prioritize longer tread life, Geolandar’s class-leading treadwear rates are certainly a highlight feature, withstanding temperature fluctuations and sharp debris so well you will feel as if the Outback is traveling on smooth, very well-paved roads. Impact handling also sat well with most of our members, though the slightly louder squeaks during hard brakings still have room for further improvements.

---

D. Best All Terrain Tires For Subaru Outback

7. Falken WildPeak A/T Trail

Best uses: all off-road terrains (dirt, sand, rock, mud), paved roads, sweeping corners, moderate towing, beginner rides 

The rugged shoulders and strong, aggressive sidewalls turn this Falken representative into a powerful and extremely reliable performer during light off-road endeavors. 

Its behaviors reach especially high peaks on off-road dirt, delivering each punch and thud with admirable preciseness rarely seen in any Falken tire of the same sector. You can perform all basic steering techniques, even affording intentional late brakings and understeering within acceptable recovery timeframes.

The tire’s traction on rocks and loose terrains will also strike your Subaru confidently throughout most rides. Unlike most AT tires that tend to grow weaker on sand/mud than on rocks, you will find the WildPeak A/T Trail settles in relatively the same manner across all three surface textures. Road transitions become extremely smooth as a result, opening the door for extreme loading tasks while still keeping the Outback within safe territories.

Needless to say, the Falken WildPeak A/T Trail is even more brilliant when returning to regular roads, as the sidewalls react very well to asphalts/tarmac and seem totally unfazed by any beginner attempts to avoid roadblocks, dive into deep corners, or rev to extreme speed limits for more spirited road handlings. You will also be very pleased with the tire’s generally good snow manners, thanks to the 3D canyon sipes that balance extra bites and clawing actions with impressive integrity.

While treadwear rates and warranty policies (65,000 miles) are very competitive for this premium-pricing tire, the WildPeak A/T Trail admittedly squeaks louder than expected when plummeting into deep mud or wet, sticky gravel. The occasional chokes on ice buildups might have also thrown the Subaru off if you have little prior experience.

---

8. Nitto Nomad Grappler

Best uses: extreme snow handling, spirited on-road driving, deep water, very heaving on-road towing, light dirt and gravel

Instead of using large wide grooves, Nomad Grappler utilizes the tapered block edges for extra dry grips and traction – which worked very well during our tests and killed off traction losses with so much aggression that we felt encouraged to speed up to 70 MPH just minutes into the rides. Its on-road manners are controlled, predictable, and very easy to adjust thanks to the extremely aligning steering response, ensuring chances of collisions or unwanted flaking slippage will be extremely low for you.

Its reliable and very consistent wet performances also settled well with our members, with strong footings no different from its own dry-road manners thanks to the strong, staggered lateral notches. These features do an outstanding job redistributing and spreading out water layers, easily compensating for the occasional traction losses around wet, high-speed corners in deep water. You can totally get wild with your towing tasks here, judging by the scarce to almost non-existent tire drags throughout the entire ride.

Better yet, Nomad Grappler is very delightful during wintertime, striking confidently through deep snow and thick ice alike in round, power cuts rarely seen in even some middle-range winter tires. The triangular sipes are so well-supported that you can easily wriggle out of sticky snow and stuck patches without snow chains and studs.

Surprisingly, Nomad’s off-road traction is not quite on the same level as its on-road and snow grip. Sure, the car still manages very well at regular driving rates on straight-line roads, but you should expect some struggling at high speeds or through sharp navigation around road obstacles. On loose terrains like sand and mud, the ominous jitters on steep ascents were quite difficult to shake off regardless of the increased steering force on our part.

---

9. Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015

Best uses: casual on-road rides (even with tight curves), shallow puddles, moderate towing, light snow, dirt paths

With deep grooves and focused tread blocks, Yokohama Geolandar G015 undoubtedly has little to no problem on dry roads; traction losses are inevitable at times but control themselves well and regain momentums fast, so you do not even have to worry about potential plummeting or major feedback delays even as a beginner. 

The well-supported ribs will also play mostly in your favor (evident if you tow anything heavier than 500 lbs), compensating for the slight borderline unwavering with exceptional liner alignments that turn tight chicanes and blind curves into a piece of cake.

Minus increased chokes at deeper water, the above-mentioned features still present clearly through most wet-weather endeavors. The lug grooves also keep hydroplaning conveniently at bay – and better yet, you can totally rely on them again once the winter seasons come with light snow. 

G015 strikes both its clawing and water distribution with surprisingly stable integrity despite the lack of snow-focused features, ensuring you can navigate smoothly from ice to snow or vice versa at 25-30 MPH (even with the tires significantly aired down).

However, considering this tire is in the upper-middle pricing range, some of you might feel a bit discouraged by its off-road manner. G015 works pretty well with light gravel dirt trails and soft rock textures but struggles significantly with any other terrains, especially medium-depth sand and mud near riverbeds. Plus, its noise control and treadwear rates are not half-bad but seem to be a bit overpriced compared to some lower-range models.

---

E. Best Snow Tires For Subaru Outback

10. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Best uses: all winter terrains, deep water, casual on-road rides, seasonal usage, moderate towing/loading

Given the increased block edges compared to its predecessors, Blizzak WS90’s exceptional behaviors on snow are unsurprising: we weaved through paved and less-paved snowy roads alike in delightfully smooth cuts, even handling extremely low leans around tight-necked corners that previous Blizzak lineups had failed to do. Even on ice, navigating gentle curves at 40-55 MPH was a general non-issue for us.

While not as powerful as on snow, on-road terrains also bond pretty well with the WS90’s stiff blocks and multi-cell bites, creating sufficient margins for you to spring back from accidental slippage or slackening steering. And judging by the excellent anti-hydroplaning features that have shone brilliantly on our previous snow tests, it is clear regular rainwater can hardly sipe into your tires during casual wet rides across well-paved roads. 

Conclusion

The Subaru Outback is not exactly a demanding or picky SUV, but that does not mean you should go half-hearted with your tire browsing. Keep our buying guides in mind throughout the entire selection process, and do not forget to double-check the tire’s metrics through trustable sources (e.g., our COR Wheels Tire Test reports) to ensure your budget is well-spent on the best all-season/all-terrain Subaru Outback tires.