Top 10 Best Tires for Subaru Forester 2022 – Buying Guide

Don’t miss this analysis of the Subaru Forester tires if you want to optimize your car’s potential. We all know that Subaru’s top-seller, Subaru Forester, has an enduring reputation for durability and versatility. 

But its tire quality influences how it combats challenging conditions. Make a poor choice of alternative tires, and you can end up hurting your car’s performance.

Below is a well-studied list of the best alternative tires for a Subaru Forester. Dive in to learn more about them!

Ultimate Buying Guide To Find The Best Tires For Subaru Forester

Type

High-Performance Tires

True to its name, these tires are the best at handling high speeds. Their braking distance and responsiveness in dry/wet conditions are outstanding. That is because they have notably softer rubber, which also means shorter tread life.  

Touring All-Season Tires

A convenient choice that works just fine on wet or dry traction as much as on snow and ice, in summer or winter. How well each performs depends on different manufacturing.

You can also expect these tires to last longer than the others. They have harder treads and an extended warranty.

Winter/Summer Tires

These are designed specifically for the polar climate. They are more seasonally adaptive than the all-season genre. 

Summer tires are not ideal for winter and vice versa.

Off-road Tires

Hybrid tires between touring tires and all-terrain ones. These are the ideal choice for an aggressive driver. Those have a specialized tread design that overcomes challenging conditions.

Tire Sizes

Older models accept 15” tire sizes, but more up-to-date Subaru Foresters use the 17” wheels and 18” wheels. 

17” ones will have thicker sidewalls than the other and so will provide better ride quality, reduce cost and absorb shock better. 

On the other hand, 18” wheels have a sleek look and better handling and braking.

Year	Trim	Size
2021	Base	225/60R17
2021	Limited	225/55R18
2021	Premium	225/60R17
2021	Sport	225/55R18
2021	Touring	225/55R18
2020	Base	225/60R17
2020	Limited	225/55R18
2020	Premium	225/60R17
2020	Sport	225/55R18
2020	Touring	225/55R18
2019	Base	225/60R17
2019	Limited	225/55R18
2019	Premium	225/60R17
2019	Sport	225/55R18
2019	Touring	225/55R18
2018	2.0XT Premium	225/60R17
2018	2.0XT Touring	225/60R17
2018	2.5i	225/60R17
2018	2.5i Black Edition	225/60R17
2018	2.5i Limited	225/60R17
2018	2.5i Premium	225/60R17
2018	2.5i Touring	225/55R18
2017	2.0XT Premium	225/60R17
2017	2.0XT Touring	225/60R17
2017	2.5i	225/60R17
2017	2.5i Limited	225/60R17
2017	2.5i Premium	225/60R17
2017	2.5i Touring	225/55R18
2016	2.0XT Premium	225/60R17
2016	2.0XT Touring	225/60R17
2016	2.5i	225/60R17
2016	2.5i Limited	225/60R17
2016	2.5i Premium	225/60R17
2016	2.5i Touring	225/55R18
2015	2.0XT Premium	225/60R17
2015	2.0XT Touring	225/60R17
2015	2.5i	225/60R17
2015	2.5i Limited	225/60R17
2015	2.5i Premium	225/60R17
2015	2.5i Touring	225/55R18
2014	2.0XT Premium	225/60R17
2014	2.0XT Touring	225/60R17
2014	2.5i	225/60R17
2014	2.5i Limited	225/60R17
2014	2.5i Premium	225/60R17
2014	2.5i Touring	225/55R18
2013	2.5X	215/65R16
2013	2.5X Limited	225/55R17
2013	2.5X Premium	225/55R17
2013	2.5X Touring	225/55R17
2013	2.5XT Premium	225/55R17
2013	2.5XT Touring	225/55R17
2012	2.5X	215/65R16
2012	2.5X Limited	225/55R17
2012	2.5X Premium	225/55R17
2012	2.5X Touring	225/55R17
2012	2.5XT Limited	225/55R17
2012	2.5XT Premium	225/55R17
2011	2.5X	215/65R16
2011	2.5X Limited	225/55R17
2011	2.5X Premium	225/55R17
2011	2.5X Touring	225/55R17
2011	2.5XT Premium	225/55R17
2011	2.5XT Touring	225/55R17
2010	2.5 X Base Model	215/65R16
2010	2.5 X Base Model	215/65R16
2010	2.5X Limited	225/55R17
2010	2.5 X Premium Package	225/55R17
2010	2.5 XT Limited	225/55R17
2010	2.5 XT Premium Package	225/55R17

Mileage Warranty

The threshold should be 60,000 miles covered in at least three years. 

10 Best Tires for Subaru Forester – Reviews

1. Continental TrueContact Tour

Best For Overall

Our final winner is a top-quality all-season tire prized for its attractive price.

Firstly, the Silane additives including tread compound mean brilliant wet traction and braking. This material reduces rolling friction more effectively than traditional choices, thus allowing the tire to move with less effort. So energy-saving is a bonus effect, too. 

We can’t turn away from this product’s siped intermediate tread block, either. The detail gives the tire more biting edges and significantly boosts efficiency in wet conditions. And that also guarantees adequate handling on snow traction.

With all the high-quality material picked for this tire, it’s no surprise that it scores high in terms of the noise level. We noticed that the noise control is almost perfect on regular tracks.

If that isn’t impressive enough, its producers offer a 95,000-mileage warranty. A very generous service compared to any other product.

All in all, customers can turn the market upside down and still won’t find a better deal.

2. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady

The Runner-Up

We’ve got to praise Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady on its soy-based tread compound. 

What’s special about this recipe is that soybean oil has a much lower glass transition point than petroleum – the conventional key ingredient in the making of tires. At low temperatures, the soy-based tire section is notably more elastic than the other.

And that explains how this product adapts seamlessly to colder weather. To enhance this strength, its producers add the zig-zag sipes with more biting edges that grip and corner better than other models.

All goodness aside, this tire’s noise level is slightly below our threshold. We expect advanced tires to have firm control of noise level regardless of speeds, but this candidate fails to do so at higher speeds.

3. Yokohama Avid Ascend

Best For All-Season Among Mid-range Tires

Firstly, the tread block bridges are responsible for creating even tread patterns and minimizing noise levels. Besides, the external adaptive shoulders help to even out treadwear, highlighting the work of tread block bridges.

These features are not exclusive and could not rival high-end tires. However, its performance is well above average compared to other mid-range ones.

Secondly, its treadlife is quite extensive, thanks to the tread compound. This rubber compound is more on the hard side, which will extend the treadlife.

Also, many tires choose to sacrifice a cornering grip in return for extended treadlife, but this product has both. That’s because it adopts triBLEND compound technology, which consists of high silica content and Tg-polymer. This material is behind the tire’s competitive performance on wet/dry traction. 

But the tire is only superior compared to the same range’s products. Willing to spend more and you will find much more satisfying products.

4. Goodyear Assurance MaxLife

The Second Best Mileage Warranty

Assurance MaxLife provides the second most beneficial treadlife warranty – the 85,000 mileage is very ambitious. It’s also Assurance Goodyear’s most extended milewear warranty up till now.

We’re also impressed by how skilled it is on dry roads. At a closer look, there are wide circumferential grooves on the tread that tighten its grip in wet and winter conditions. 

Let’s not forget the rib notches, which assist the groves in driving water and slush out of the way. This combination optimizes the tire’s contact with roads. Our assessment is that not many designs can reduce hydroplaning as well as this one. 

Sadly, we notice a notable underperformance in braking distance on snow –  safety warning right here, fellows. 

We later figured out that this was due to the rigid center of the tire. But again, it doesn’t hurt the general rate of Assurance MaxLife. If you’re not living in frequently snowing areas, this product should serve you perfectly.

5. Michelin Defender T+H

Best For Slippery Roads

Let us introduce you to this brilliant product from Michelin Defender. This tire has a modern design with a high silica level that allows great durability. 

Not only that, Defender T + H has satisfying handling on slippery ground. We know that even before using it simply by looking at the zig-zag sipes and the lateral notch and grooves. 

Those designs are vital if you want your tires to evenly touch the road’s surface or prevent hydroplaning effectively.

However, snow traction is compatible with particular special tread designs with sharp, wide grooves. That makes T + H’s typical-touring-tire, narrow grooves a mismatch to snowy roads. So if you need a tire suitable for wet weather, Defender T+H isn’t the one.

On top of all, it has an 80,000 treadlife warranty. That’s a very long-term service, despite some customers’ reports that its tread’s lifespan is, in fact, shorter than advertised.

6. Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II

Best Fuel Efficiency

The tire’s low rolling resistance – the result of the upgraded tire profile and the all-weather traction, leads to its impressive fuel economy. So you can save 4% on fuel consumption and earn an extra 4000 km.

The tire’s high silica level ensures dry traction and is supposed to do the same with wet roads. 

But we’ve received mixed reviews from customers on its wet traction. Although it has textbook features for wet conditions like wide grooves and asymmetric tread patterns, its performance is unstable. 

On explaining this failure, our assumption points to the features’ proportion. So we stick to the idea that a driver living in rainy areas should look for other products.

On top of all, the non-linear response is less comfortable than the usual immediate steering response. Some are OK with this new change as it reduces shock over bumps and potholes, but some others see nothing good about it.

7. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Best For Winter

The tire follows the rule of thumb for winter tires as it features a continuous center rib and stabilized shoulder blocks. These details are mandatory for responsiveness and grip on snow. 

Moreover, its upgraded siping placement boosts surface contact, which allows your car to ride safely on slippery roads.

We are confident that WS90 is for riding on ice when we inspect its tread compound, which is made based on Multi-Cell technology.

 This application disperses water from ice and helps the tire stay in direct contact with the surface. That makes its grip on ice the top in this list.

But keep in mind that you should not use this tire in over 15°C climates. It can be relatively noisy at higher speeds, unfortunately.

8. General Altimax RT43

Best Control On Dry Tractions

You know a tire is a real deal if it has both weather control and responsiveness. 

Its weather control is due to the Double Cushion Silica Composite, a high-density technology that makes the tire consume vibration to create ride comfort. 

Regarding the advanced siping arrangement, this feature explains the tire’s capability on both wet and dry tractions – a strength enhanced by the Reactive Contour, the technology that ensures even treadwear. 

However, our collected data shows that customers should expect its performance on dry roads more efficiently than on wet pavement. 

If any, Altimax RT43 doesn’t excel at any ground; but it’s sure worth every penny. Its quality can easily rival any more expensive tire.

9. Kumho Solus TA31 – Most Affordable Price

Another low-budget Subaru Forester tires recommendation. 

Regarding the tread design, this tire has some of the most favorable details on the market. 

It has wide shoulder blocks for effective grip and an asymmetrical quadrel-groove tread pattern for wet traction and noise and vibration reduction. Lastly, the twin compound for ride comfort and extended treadwear.

However, the rubber is a game-changing factor that decides whether those details shine or not. And Solus TA31’s price is an indication of its moderate material quality. 

That leads to mediocre performance on wet and dry tractions; the noise control is lousy at average speeds, too. 

Moreover, Solus TA31 is a misfit to snowy and icy conditions, judging from the off-standard material and the narrow grooves.

So despite several advanced appliances, the tire barely pars with high-end products, or a few mid-range ones even. 

Also, its producers offer no extended treadlife warranty. But if you are on a budget and won’t mind using this product temporarily before stepping up the game, there is no better deal than this one.

10. Goodyear Eagle LS-2

Best For Dry Conditions

If dry traction is a selling point for you, this product will be your heartthrob.

What makes this tire a solid player on dry tractions is the separated symmetrical tread block at each tire’s side. 

Besides, the computer-designed block sizes allow effective noise reduction and vibration absorption. 

These are the classic designs that preserved Goodyear’s reputation on the billboard for nearly a decade. Indeed, despite Goodyear’s lack of efforts to catch up with the latest technologies, hardly any tire can dethrone its pro-dry-traction designs.

On the other hand, Goodyear has slept on its wet-traction designs for a while. Compared to several latest upgrades, Eagle LS-2’s performance on slippery roads is incompetent. Its circumferential grooves are the only detail exclusive for wet tractions. 

Honestly, this design is no longer one of the best options for hydroplaning prevention. It has no traits specialized for winter performance either.

However, if your priority is the dry lanes and not the other, Eagle LS-2 promises premium service.

Subaru Forester Tires FAQs:

How long should tires last on a Subaru Forester?

If you travel 12,000-15,000 miles each year, it should take around three years. More driving leads to shorter tread life and vice versa.

Are Yokohama tires good for Subaru Forester?

Yokohama Avid Ascend is a decent choice for your SF.

How much do tires cost for a Subaru Forester?

$150 – $350 for touring tires. High-performance can be over $500.

What are the best tires for 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2021 Subaru Foresters to buy?

All of them mostly use 17” and 18” tires. Read the above reviews of most-trusted tires to find the best purchase for your Subaru Foresters.

Conclusion

Continental TourTract is the final winner as it is a perfect combination of all-rounded quality and affordable price. 

Another wise tire choice would be Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady. This product emphasizes winter traction and outshines most premium tires in this aspect. 

However, if your primary concern is the price, take the General Altimax RT43 home with you. Indeed, there’s no tire in this list that can beat its winter resilience.