There is a big difference between having tires and having the right tires. Although most drivers and car owners may not care much about it, if you are a responsible car owner, you will always want to have your vehicle fixed with the right tires. It becomes even more important to consider the type of tires you are fixing in your family vehicle like Subaru Outback. After all, your family is your life. That means they need to be safe anytime they are on the road.
Most of the mid-sized families have always opted for Subaru Outback, perhaps due to its taller ride height compared to the popular SUVs. Besides, it is a great vehicle to drive in almost all-terrain. Even if it is not that a serious off-roader, it surely performs higher than conventional SUVs and crossover car models.
With the multiple tire brands in the market that fit Subaru Outback, many owners and drivers are caught in a dilemma when buying the tires for this vehicle. However, you relax from the hassle because in this article, we have reviewed some of the best tires you can consider for your Subaru Outback.
You can use the navigation menu below to take a whole look of the article. If you have limited time, please check the comparison table to go to our top recommendations. Let’s get started.
Image | Features | Further information |
|---|---|---|
| - Brand: Goodyear - Weight: 20.4 pounds - Item Dimensions: 24.9 x 24.9 x 8.1 in - Aspect Ratio: 55 - Tread Depth: 10 thirty seconds inches | |
| - Brand: WESTLAKE - Weight: 23.4 pounds - Item Dimensions: 26.6 x 26.6 x 9 in - Aspect Ratio: 60 - Tread Depth: 10 thirty seconds inches | |
| - Brand: Milestar - Weight: 27.2 pounds - Item Dimensions: 28.5 x 28.5 x 8.9 in - Aspect Ratio: 65 - Tread Depth: 10.55 millimeters | |
| - Brand: Milestar - Weight: 23.9 pounds - Item Dimensions: 26.6 x 26.6 x 9 in - Aspect Ratio: 60 - Tread Depth: 10 thirty seconds inches | |
| - Brand: HANKOOK - Weight: 27.3 pounds - Item Dimensions:28.4 x 28.4 x 9.4 in - Aspect Ratio: 65 - Tread Depth: 11.34 thirty seconds inches | |
| - Brand: Goodyear - Weight: 25.8 pounds - Item Dimensions: 28.5 x 28.5 x 8.9 in - Performance: Touring - Aspect Ratio: 65 - Tread Depth: | |
| - Brand: Cooper Tire - Weight: 25.3 pounds - Item Dimensions: 28.5 x 28.5 x 9 in - Aspect Ratio: 65 - Tread Depth: 9.5 thirty seconds inches | |
| - Brand: SUPERMAX - Weight: 30.1 pounds - Item Dimensions: 28.5 x 28.5 x 9 in - Aspect Ratio: 65 - Tread Depth: 10 thirty seconds inches | |
| - Brand: OHTSU - Weight: 25.2 pounds - Item Dimensions: 26.7 x 26.7 x 8.6 in - Aspect Ratio: 55 - Tread Depth: 10 thirty seconds inches |
Types of Tires for a Subaru Outback
You may have noticed that Subaru Outbacks are somehow popular in places with snows and prolonged winters. This could be because of their reliable steed in roads covered with snow.
Nevertheless, some families use this type of car for interior room activities while others use it daily to go to workplaces on smooth highways. Depending on your driving habits and the terrain of your driving, there is a range of tires you may consider that will work correctly with Subaru Outback. Here are some of them:
1. All-season Tires – as the name suggests, these tires are made to thrive in all seasons throughout the year. They are typically engineered for quiet rides, good tread, smooth rides, fuel efficiency kind of life. The downside with these tires is that they are compromised when it comes to facing hard winter and snows.
2. All-terrain Tires – these great tires will give you the comfort you need when driving on the mud, rocks, highways, sand, normal roads, or any beaten paths in the village. They are suitable for your Subaru Outback.
3. Winter Tires – What all-season tires cannot handle, winter tires are perfect in it. They are made to thrive in extreme winters and snowy areas. Their kind of rubber does not stiffen even in those freezing conditions.
4. Performance Tires – These are typically for sports vehicles. In other words, if you are a driver that cares about speed and high performance, you will need to have these performance tires. They are good at gripping the road firmly while accommodating all the engine’s horsepower.
5. Summer Tires – They are often called regular tires because they are useful during summer, autumn, and spring. However, they are not good in cold or snowy weather because their rubber becomes stiff when exposed to extreme winter.
6. Mud-terrain Tires – they got deep tread patterns that give your vehicle stability in deep mud, soft surfaces, or sandy roads. They are great for off-roads errands; they don’t give you the smooth, silent comfort you need while on a regular trail.
7. Touring Tires – if you are the kind of driver that loves comfort, smooth, and superior handle-ability, then touring tires should be your vehicle’s companion. They will offer you minimum noise in all seasons except they do not do well in snowy conditions.
8. Spare Tires – when what you had not planned for happens, these little guys here are your greatest savior. A spare tire can be full-sized, which is a regular tire of your car or a compact tire that acts as a temporary fix for your vehicle. The later may not handle the average speed of your car.
Having known all those types of tires that can fit your Subaru Outback, the question now is, how do you choose the right tire? Well, let’s briefly look at that.
How to Choose the Perfect Tires for Your Subaru Outback
Considering that the automobile industry and market are flooded with tires from all kinds of brands across the globe, most drivers tend to be stuck when it comes to choosing their Subaru Outback tires. However, that should stop after reading through this section.
Picking the right tires for your Subaru Outback will not only ensure that it uses fuel efficiently, but it will keep your family safe no matter the season or terrain you find yourselves. This is one of the most crucial decisions that you need to make as the car owner or driver.
So when next you are considering of having brand new rubbers, the following factors will help you get the best for your Subaru Outback:
Size of the Tire
This is one of the essential elements you should consider when going for a tire. There is a placard that is usually on the driver’s side that indicates a string of numbers and letters. In these letters, there is the width, diameter, and the height of the tire. This is the number you will use in getting a replacement wheel.
When you are doing online shopping for your tire, most retailer’s websites have made it quite easy for you. You only need to enter the model, year, and the make of your car and a list of all the tires that match your car’s tire will pop up.
Original Vs. New Tires
This refers to whether you are choosing a similar tire that your car came with or you are going for new ones. It is always advisable that you look for the original tires that your vehicle came with before looking for new tires. You can quickly get this from the manufacturer of your car.
Timing
One dangerous thing you can do is to wait until your tires are utterly worn-out before you go for sourcing. Unless you know precisely the kind of tire you want and where to get it, always start your search early enough. Researching for tires may not be as easy as you think, especially if you’re an amateur in the automotive industry.
The comfort and handle-ability
Everyone, especially your kids and grannies, will love to drive in a comfortable Subaru Outback. The personality of your vehicle highly depends on the kind of tires it is having.
It can be disconcerting having your vehicle making noise while on the ride. Tires can significantly reduce the road noise if you choose the right size for your car. Besides, your rubbers should make it easy for you to handle the vehicle and apply brakes when need be without fail.
Your Geographical Weather
This could refer to the weather in your state or country. Not all tires have the capacity to go through muddy or snowy roads. This is where you have to determine whether you will need all-season tires, winter tires, or summer tires. If your roads are dump and not much snowy, then all-season tires should work for your Subaru Outback.
Your Driving Style
The fact is that we all don’t drive the same. Some of us love speed, curve feel, and comfort while other drivers prefer slow but sure driving. If you like driving at high speed even in curves and corners, you will need tires that have great handle-ability that ensures you have precise steering. Generally, go for tires that are low road-noise, give smooth rides, and maximum comfort.
Your Budget
With the current prevailing economic crisis, you will need to plan your budget and fix your tires in a tight budget. It is always advisable to spend within your means or budget. The beauty of early planning is that you get to save before buying the tires. It will not be a huge burden for you when the need arises.
Your Driving Terrains
Your Subaru Outback car has the capacity of thriving in all terrains if only you fix it with the right tires. If you are driving on the highway and ordinary roads, ensure the tires give you the comfort, longevity, braking, and the handling you need. For tough terrains and off-road drives, get tires that give you reliable traction, and offer maximum durability.
There are other factors you can consider, but with the above, you already have the right tire for your Subaru Outback. Let’s now have a brief check on the best Subaru Outback tire reviews in 2020.
Top Best Subaru Outback Tire Reviews
1. Goodyear Eagle RS-A Radial Tire – 205/55R16 89H
This is one of the All-Season tires that comes with a size of 205/55R16 89H and other diverse sizes. As the name implies, the Eagle RS-A tire model is from one of the most popular tire brands across the globe known as Goodyear.
This all-season tire delivers high performance for your Subaru Outback, which gives you secure handling and comfort rides in snowy, dry and even wet roads. It has excellent asymmetric treads that enhances traction, gives you quiet rides, and outstanding cornering.
The above size measures 24.9 x 24.9 x 8.1 inches and weighs 20.4 pounds.
Pros
Have a tread-wear indicator
Useful in all seasons
Give comfortable and quiet rides
Provide better handling even when cornering
Relatively cheap
2. Westlake RP18 All-Season Radial Tire – 225/60R16 98H
WESTLAKE is at it again with an RP18 All-season Radial tire that will fit your Subaru Outback and give you those smooth rides. If you are one of those drivers that want to save some few bucks without compromising the tire quality, then you got the right tire for you.
It has been designed with excellent traction on those dry and wet roads while making it easy for you to navigate without hassles. It makes you feel good on the way. It comes with great symmetrical tread designs for efficient water flow and stability of your car.
The tire size 225/60R16 98H measures 26.6 x 26.6 x 9 inches and weighs 23.4 pounds.
Pros
Give comfortable rides
Have quiet and excellent traction
Cheap but of good quality
Give proper handling even in light snow
3. Milestar MS932 Sport All-Season Radial Tire – 225/65R17 102V
From its name, you can tell that this tire is from the Milestar brand and is designed to thrive through summer, autumn, spring, and moderate winter. It is another excellent choice that you can use to make your Subaru Outback more comfortable on the road.
It has relatively wide circumferential treads/grooves that will help when you are driving on a rainy day. It makes it easy for the water to evacuate while driving. A tire size of 225/65R17 102V measures 28.5 x 28.5 x 8.9 inches and weighs 27.2 pounds. Nevertheless, it comes with various sizes that will suit your car.
Pros
Great in rainy seasons
Affordable pricing
Smooth and quiet rides
Comfortable rides
Good traction even on wet roads
4. Milestar MS932 All-Season Radial Tire – 225/60R16 98H
This is one of the most exceptional tires that will give you the steadiness and handling that you want. It comes with angled and other longitudinal treads that ensure that it lasts longer, and the tread life is enhanced.
This MS932 tire model from the Milestar brand is known to have large ribs around it that ensure you have the lateral grip you need in your Subaru Outback.
A tire size of 225/60R16 98H measures 26.6 x 26.6 x 9 inches and weighs 23.9 pounds.
Pros
Consistent and comfortable driving
Precise responsiveness
Extremely steady
Low price
Great in moderate snow
5. Hankook H737 KINERGY PT All-Season Radial Tire – 225/65R17 102H
This H737 KINERGY PT tire model is one of the products of the HANKOOK brand that is slowly becoming an excellent destination for many drivers. It has impressed many with its considerable price and comfortable rides. It gives the driver the handling capacity even in wet and moderate snowy areas. They are also a good fit for your Subaru Outback.
A tire size of 225/65R17 102H measures 28.4 x 28.4 x 9.4 inches and weighs 27.3 pounds.
Pros
Quiet when operating
Inexpensive
No slippage in rain
Comfortable rides
6. Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max Radial Tire – 225/65R17 102T
You can now keep your family safe with this tire while driving during summer, autumn, spring, or moderate winter. From the name, you can tell that this tire offers fuel efficiency because of its low rolling resistance.
Goodyear has made the Assurance Fuel Max tire model with Dual aqua treads that ensures no water logging around the wheel. With its Outer Dry Zone, you can do the cornering and maneuvering easily while maintaining outstanding traction on the road.
Its Wet Zone in the center ensures that you have good traction in light snowy and wet roads. The tire size 225/65R17 102T measures 28.5 x 28.5 x 8.9 inches and weighs 25.8 pounds.
Pros
Reasonable price
Good handling
Excellent in fuel economy
Good traction on wet roads
7. Cooper Evolution Tour All-Season Radial Tire – 225/65R17 102T
Cooper Tire Brand has released this EVOLUTION TOUR 102T tire model into the market for drivers that are looking for smooth and more comfortable rides. They have been proven to be having relatively impressive traction and handling in wet or rainy weather.
They have high performance on light snow and in dry areas, making them great for your Subaru Outback. A tire size 225/65R17 102T measures 28.5 x 28.5 x 9 inches and weighs 25.3 pounds.
Pros
Quite affordable
Smooth rides
Brilliant handling in dry roads
Great performance
8. SUPERMAX TM-1 All-Season Radial Tire – 225/65R17 102T
The SUPERMAX brand designed this TM-1 tire model with the safety of your family and passengers in mind. Besides, they kept performance in mind to ensure you have longer mileage without issues.
These tires come with a unique tread design that ensures you have total control of your Subaru Outback even when cornering. They have a reinforced rib pattern that gives you superior mileage and more precise handling. A tire size 225/65R17 102T measures 28.5 x 28.5 x 9 inches and weighs 30.1 pounds.
Pros
Smooth rides
Excellent traction on rainy days
Relatively cheap
Minimal noise level
9. Ohtsu FP7000 All-Season Radial Tire – 225/55R17 97V
To close our top Subaru Outback tires is the FP7000 tire model from OHTSU. Besides being affordable, they offer you an outstanding driving performance in all-seasons. They have features that ensure you have braking, impressive cornering, and high acceleration.
They offer you smooth rides, stability, and high traction all around the year. This is because of its non-directional tread designs. These tread patterns also ensure there is the ease of rotation, which boost the tire longevity. Besides, its wide circumferential grooves ensure that it performs great in wet weather.
A tire size 225/55R17 97V measures 26.7 x 26.7 x 8.6 inches and weighs 25.2 pounds.
Pros
Give smooth rides
Have reduced noise
Deliver quiet rides
Have outstanding traction on a dry and wet road
Now that you have known the tires to go for, how do you ensure that they last longer after purchasing them? Well, here is the solution.
How to Prolong the Life of Your Subaru Outback Tires
You may have noticed that you will have to improve rides and safe driving when your tires are working correctly. But how do you boost their longevity?
Maintain the right air pressure – always check your tire pressure every month else; you will have poor braking, road traction, quick wears & tears, and probably, bursts.
Rotate your tires after every 6,000-8,000 miles of driving – tire rotation is a nice trick to their longevity.
Balancing your wheels when doing your rotation
Aligning your tires at least twice a year
Have a regular check of your tires for any irregularity like bubbles or inflation
Use the right tire for the right season
Avoid those hard braking, aggressive cornering, and very high speed
Avoid overloading your Subaru Outback
Park your car in the shade or cover it to avoid UV light and rain
These simple maintenance tips can amazingly make your tires last longer than you expect. Why not give them a try?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the typical tire size of a Subaru Outback?
If you are driving Subaru Outback models between the years 1996 and 2001, then 205/60R15 and 205/60R16 will be appropriate. Models produced after that will need a tire size of 225/60R16, 225/60R17, and the latest ones 225/60R18. However, others use 215/70R16 and 225/65R17.
2. Can I install tires on my own?
Yes, you can install the tires on your own if you have the right tools and if the rim is attached to the tire. However, if you lack the tools, visit a garage nearby.
3. How often should I rotate my tires in a Subaru Outback?
Depending on the brand of your tires, you should rotate your tires after every six months or mileage-wise, after 6,000 to 8,000 miles. However, you should follow your manual.
4. Which type of tires is best-matched to my Subaru Outback?
Typically, the best type of tires for your Subaru Outback is All-season tires assuming you are living in a region with normal annual weather conditions. You have noticed that all the top tires we have reviewed above are for all-weather conditions. However, if all your driving is on rough and muddy off-roads, you may need to reconsider your choice. Besides, if your region is snowy around the year, you may need to go for snow tires.
5. Is this car model good for off-road performance?
Yes. With its high-tech design and engineering acumen, Subaru Outback, you can navigate in those muddy and rainy off-road trails safely and securely with confidence. Its Symmetrical 4W Drive with its X-MODE is a great investment in this vehicle that will enable you to navigate through the unknown.
CONCLUSION
Now that you have invested your good money in acquiring a Subaru Outback, you will need to ensure it lasts longer by purchasing the best tires for it. Of course, there are many tires in the market, but we have given you some tips for having a great tire and the best tires you can consider. We hope our buyer’s guide will enable you to land into the perfect tires for your adorable Subaru Outback.
