The Best Tires for Subaru Outback: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews

Last updated: June 18, 2020, by Tire Deets

The Subaru Outback is an amazing family vehicle. Even before crossovers and SUVs became popular, the Outback is the perfect vehicle for those who can’t choose between a station wagon and ladder-frame SUV. It’s a midsize family wagon with taller ride height.

And with Subaru’s acclaimed symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, the Outback offers rugged performance in all-terrain driving. Of course, the Outback is not a serious off-roader, but it’s more capable, realistically more practical, and basically cheaper than a conventional crossover vehicle.

With impressive on-road and off-road capabilities, it’s hard to choose the best new tires for the Subaru Outback. But the question should focus on the type of tires instead of choosing based on brand. And because of this, selecting the right type of Subaru Outback tires depends widely on your driving habits.

There’s a reason why the Subaru Outback is popular in places with long winters. It’s a reliable steed when the roads are covered with slush or thick snow. Equipped with the right set of winter rubber in the snow, the Outback has the capability to outperform a comparable small crossover.

But not all places are covered in snow. There are people who buy the Outback for the interior room and have no inclinations to go off-roading, while others use it as a reliable family vehicle for everyday driving.

We compiled a list of the best tires for Subaru Outback. It contains the best choices from the most popular OEM brands. And while OEM tires are known for durability and ride quality, these are also the most expensive tires for Subaru Outback you can buy. But in terms of all-weather performance, ride silence, and handling, OEM tires are worth the money.

However, we also included a list of the best cheap tires for the Subaru Outback. If you’re looking for affordable Subaru Outback tires that won’t compromise on safety and vehicle handling, check out the lower section of this article to find our top choices.

The Best Tires for Subaru Outback On the Market

1. Michelin CrossClimate SUV

Best all season tires for Subaru Outback

Let’s start with one of the best all season tires for the Subaru Outback. Michelin’s CrossClimate SUV is an all-season touring tire designed for crossovers and SUVs. In fact, this is an OEM tire for luxury SUVs such as European models of the Mercedes-Benz GLS and GLE.

If you live in places with long winters or extended cold climates, it’s good to know the Michelin CrossClimate SUV meets severe snow standards, symbolized by the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol (3PMSF) in the sidewall. Mind you, this is not a proper winter or snow tire. But in places where snow tires are impractical due to changing weather, you are better off with the Michelin Cross Climate SUV.

This is not a cheap tire to begin with. A stock set of 18-inch tires will start at $215 each. This tires for Subaru Outback is also one of the most expensive in this list, but it comes with a wealth of features. The tire is equipped with a sporty directional tread pattern. It has solid transverse ribs to deliver enhanced traction and better handling over dry roads. When the weather gets ugly, there are 3D self-locking sipes that literally bite the pavement for added traction.

The shoulders of the tire have hi-tech emerging grooves. These are additional biting edges that appear near the surface when the treads begin to wear. This design enables the Michelin CrossClimate SUV to deliver relentless traction year after year.

But there’s more. Michelin’s CrossClimate SUV also delivers pampering comfort, a silent ride, and sporty handling. Like we said, this tire is expensive. But when it comes to features and all-weather performance, it’s hard to beat. 

2. Michelin Latitude Tour HP

Best touring all-season tires for Subaru Outback

Let’s say you live in places with calmer weather. If this is the case, Michelin’s CrossClimate SUV is a bit of overkill. You might want to consider the Latitude Tour HP instead. It’s a premium touring tire for crossovers and SUVs and designed to deliver unwavering comfort. In fact, this is an OEM tire choice for popular luxury brands like Lexus, Acura, Porsche, and BMW.

But the Michelin Latitude Tour HP is not just about comfort. It’s an all-season tire with symmetric tread design. While the treads are conservative in nature, the tire is meant to provide the perfect balance between dry and wet handing, responsiveness, and snow traction. Yes, this all-season tire is actually designed to work in light snow or ice.

It has a continuous center rib to enhance high-speed stability, steering accuracy, and handling. The tire has stable shoulder blocks for better cornering as well. Equipped with four wide circumferential grooves, the Michelin Latitude Tour HP is an exact fit to the Subaru Outback.

But there’s a catch. It’s more expensive than the CrossClimate SUV. But if you do a lot of highway driving in your Outback, you’ll appreciate the sporty handling and ride comfort of the Latitude Tour HP.

3. Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport AS

High-performance standards tires for Subaru Outback

Bridgestone specifically developed the Dueler H/P Sport AS for luxury-performance crossovers and SUVs. Again, this Subaru Outback tires is not a budget option as an 18-inch set starts at around $195 each. It also has a conservative symmetric tread design that looks rather bland at first glance. If you’re the type who likes sporty grooves in a tire, the Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport AS may not be to your liking.

But then again, looks can be deceiving. Bridgestone is one of the best tire makers in the world, and one of their top products is the Dueler H/P Sport AS. Unlike other Dueler models with rugged features, the H/P Sport AS is actually a rugged tire to begin with. But Bridgestone softened up the rough edges to produce a tire that offers elevated levels of comfort and refinement with brilliant all-season capabilities.

Bridgestone utilized a high-silica tread compound that reduces weight and rolling resistance. It also improves traction and grip over wet, snowy, or icy pavement. The tire comes with high-stiffness closed shoulders to improve handling, cornering, braking, stability, and steering feel. There are high-angle lateral grooves that work together with the deep circumferential grooves to channel water away from the contact patch.

The Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport AS remains one of the top choices for the Subaru Outback.

4. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady

Best all season tires for Subaru Outback

This tire is known for offering Goodyear’s best all-weather traction. It also happens to be a magnificent choice for the Subaru Outback. The Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady is purportedly ready for anything, and it shows.

The stylish symmetrical tread pattern has an ace up its sleeve: the sweeping traction grooves near the outside shoulders. This design effectively disperses water from the face of the tread to improve traction and grip in demanding weather conditions. Goodyear utilized an all-season tread compound infused with soybean oil. This helps the rubber to remain pliable even constantly and repeatedly exposed to chilly weather. In fact, this Subaru Outback tires earns a severe snow certification for its admirable winter performance.

Traction is ensured courtesy of evolving traction grooves with Tredlock Technology. The tire is built using Goodyear’s Weather Reactive Technology to consistently deliver higher amounts of grip in changing weather conditions. The sipes will lock together when cornering for better handling. But if the weather turns cold, the sipes are open to provide more biting edges.

The Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady starts at $193 for a set of 18-inch tires. It’s expensive when you think about it, but you also get the necessary peace of mind in changing weather conditions.

5. General AltiMAX RT43

Best all season tires for Subaru Outback

The General AltiMAX RT43 is easily one of the most exceptional grand-touring tires, especially given the budget-friendly pricing. It’s no coincidence, then, that it’s also one of the most popular tires among passenger-car owners, including drivers of the Subaru Outback.

In all honesty, the AltiMAX RT43 doesn’t dethrone the premium competition. However, I think it offers the most compelling set of characteristics for the money. In terms of performance, the tire doesn’t disappoint – handling and braking on dry surfaces are excellent.

Moreover, the tire performs outstandingly well in the rain. Hydroplaning resistance is top-notch, and there is a lot of traction to play with. To my surprise, the AltiMAX RT43 is also usable over light snow, something that other similarly-priced competitors fail to achieve.

And, if that wasn’t enough, the AltiMAX RT43 is also very comfortable over bumps, something that your family will certainly appreciate. Noise is also well-suppressed on most surfaces, but you can hear an occasional hum on rough tarmac.

In terms of durability, the AltiMAX RT43 doesn’t dethrone the premium competition by offering more than an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty. Still, at 75,000-miles for T-rated models and 65,000-miles for H- and -V-rated models, the AltiMAX RT43 is comparable to equally-priced alternatives.

6. Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus

Best touring all-season tires for Subaru Outback

For a lower price than the Toyo Open Country Q/T, you can have the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus. This is Pirelli’s premium all-season grand touring tire for luxury crossovers and small SUVs. This tire is lighter and more energy efficient than comparable all-season touring tires. It also offers lower rolling resistance to deliver longer wear.

Pirelli utilized a high-silica and low-oil tread compound in the Cinturato P7 All Season Plus. This allows the rubber to have lower rolling resistance while still maintaining strong braking and an all-weather grip. The tire has a continuous outboard shoulder to deliver sporty handling and better cornering. The inside shoulder comes with multiple inboard tread blocks with variable pitch sequencing to reduce tire roar. Pirelli gave the tire a series of engineered longitudinal and lateral sipes to increase traction over snowy, wet, or slippery roads.

The Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus starts at around $169 each. It’s the lowest-priced OEM brand in this list but still manages to perform like a more expensive tire. 

7. Continental Conti ProContact

Best touring all-season tires for Subaru Outback

The Continental ProContact TX is an all-season grand touring tire. It combines sporty looks, exceptional comfort, and all-weather traction. But then again, this is not a cheaper option if you’re looking for a budget set of tires. Starting at $188 each, the Continental Conti ProContact is in the same league as the Michelin tires in this list. But it does have an impressive blend of useful features making it one of the best tires for Subaru Outback.

Continental started with an all-season tread compound with a symmetrical tread design. The unique notched ribs are engineered to maintain contact with the road surface to enhance agility, steering response, and handling. The tire comes with wider circumferential grooves to increase traction over snowy, icy, or wet roads.

The Continental Conti ProContact is also equipped with PROactive Edge Technology. This means each tire comes with no less than 800 arched edges. This not only provides the necessary biting edges over demanding terrain, but the grooves help the tread pattern to transition smoothly from edge to edge. This maintains a silent and comfortable ride. 

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Best Cheap Tires for Subaru Outback On the Market

Here are your top choices in the budget tire section for the Subaru Outback.

1. Goodyear Assurance All-Season

Surprised? So were we. We weren’t expecting Goodyear to have a budget tire for the Subaru Outback, but here it is. The Goodyear Assurance All-Season starts at around $125 each and offers confident all-weather traction, longer wear, and a comfortable ride. Goodyear is also offering the Assurance All-Season with a 65,000-mile tread life warranty.

The Assurance All-Season is equipped with wider tread grooves and multiple biting edges. Those features are responsible for the all-weather traction and grip of the tire. It also comes with larger shoulder blocks to offer better handling, accurate steering, and straight-line stability. The optimized tread pattern is engineered to reduce road noise over the life of the tire.

If you like an OEM brand tire without the premium price, check out the Goodyear Assurance All-Season. It offers year-round capabilities and superior highway comfort without breaking the bank.

2. Kumho Crugen Premium

The Kumho Crugen is an OEM tire for the Hyundai Santa Fe. It also happens to have one of the lowest prices in this segment. The Kumo Crugen Premium starts at $116 each. That’s a small price to pay for a brilliant and capable all-season touring tire. It also happens this tire has a sophisticated low-profile design to deliver a sportier vibe. All these features make it a sterling budget tire for the Subaru Outback as well.

The Kumho Crugen Premium is constructed from a sophisticated all-season tread compound. The formula is conceived to reduce rolling resistance while enhancing traction and wear. The tire is equipped with a symmetrical tread design with independent tread blocks and wider circumferential grooves. This enables the tire to effectively disperse water and maintain consistent traction in all-weather driving.

It’s hard to find equivalent features at less than $120. If you’re working on a smaller budget for a new set of Outback tires, the Kumho Crugen Premium is worth considering.

3. Sumitomo HTR Enhance LX2

Just when we thought the Kumho Crugen Premium is the cheapest tire we can find for the Subaru Outback, our expectations were shattered with the Sumitomo HTR Enhance LX2. This starts at $102 each but offers a wealth of features for the price.

The Sumitomo HTR Enhance LX2 is an all-season touring tire for sedans and small crossovers. Sumitomo blended a high-silica microparticulate carbon compound in creating the HTR Enhance LX2. This helps the tire to offer better durability and excellent pliability for all-season driving. It has an asymmetrical tread pattern with wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches to provide superior traction in dry, wet, and snowy pavement.

The optimized groove depths enables the contact patch to distribute the weight evenly as the tire rolls on the surface. The result is a smoother and more comfortable ride, longer wear, and steady traction over changing weather/road conditions. The tire also comes with unique zigzag sipes with cross-designed chamfers for superior wet and snow performance.

If you can’t stand the thought of using cheap China-sourced tires from unknown brands, check out the many features in the Sumitomo HTR Enhance LX2.

4. Cooper Evolution Tour

Cooper has something good in the Evolution Tour. It’s a budget tire for the Subaru Outback and offers a nice blend of comfort, handling, and wet traction. It starts at around $120 each and is accompanied by a sterling 65,000-miles tread life warranty.

The Cooper Evolution Tour is an all-season touring tire. It is primarily designed to offer superior comfort and better handling. The tire is constructed from an all-season tread compound. The sporty symmetrical tread pattern is designed using Cooper’s patented StabiliEdge Technology, which is most obvious on the center and intermediate ribs of the tire. This enables the tire to offer responsive handling, stronger braking, and faster cornering in changing weather conditions, whether dry, wet, or snowy.

The tire also comes with 3D micro-gauge full-depth sipes. These act like ‘teeth’ or ‘claws’ that adds more biting edges as the tire rolls on the pavement. This feature maintains consistent and strong traction even when driving over greasy, slippery, or demanding road surfaces.

5. Laufenn S Fit AS

The Laufenn S Fit AS is the wildcard in this list of best cheap tires for the Subaru Outback. While most of the tires in our list are touring tires, the Laufenn S fit AS is an ultra-high performance tire for all-season driving. This is the best low-cost tire if you’re looking for a proper set of sporty tires for your Outback.

And why not? With a stiff chassis, symmetrical all-wheel drive, and rugged underpinnings, the Subaru Outback is every inch a performance vehicle, especially when fitted with the larger 3.6-liter flat-six motor. The Laufenn S Fit AS is a great choice if your driving duties are mostly done in tight city streets and open highways.

The Laufenn S Fit AS starts at just over $102 each. But for the low price, you get a sporty asymmetric tread design molded from an all-season tread compound. The tire comes with four wide circumferential grooves with 3D-designed intermediate notches. This allows the tire to evacuate water from the contact patch. It also has multiple sipes to offer more biting edges when tackling wet or snowy roads.

If you want high-performance tires without paying a premium price, the Laufenn S Fit AS is the best choice for your Subaru Outback.

Conclusion

Based on our list of OEM and budget tires, the best tires for Subaru Outback are standard touring tires for all-season driving. But if you want more comfort and sportier handling, grand touring tires are an excellent option.

It ultimately depends on how much you can afford. We hope this list gave you an idea of what to tires to buy for your trusty Subaru Outback.