Choosing the right tires for your Subaru Outback is one of the most important decisions you can make for safety and performance. The 2025 Outback, with its standard all-wheel drive, deserves a set of tires that can fully utilize its capability in all conditions, from dry summer highways to snow-covered mountain passes. This roundup examines ten excellent tire options, from dedicated winter specialists to long-lasting all-season models, to help you find the perfect match for your driving needs and local climate.
Your tires are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road, making their quality and suitability paramount. Whether you prioritize year-round versatility, maximum winter traction, or superior wet-weather handling, there is an ideal tire here for your Outback. We have compiled a list featuring top brands like Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, and more to simplify your search and ensure you get the grip, comfort, and durability you expect.
Our Recommended Tires for the Subaru Outback
- Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 Winter/Snow SUV Tire
- Michelin X-Ice Snow 225/45R17 94H BSW
- Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV Winter Performance Tire
- Continental TrueContact Tour All-Season Radial Tire
- Michelin Primacy MXM4 Run Flat All-Season Radial Tire
- Continental ContiProContact Radial Tire
- MICHELIN Defender LTX M/S All Season Radial Car Tire
- Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus Truck & SUV Highway Tire
- Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 All-Season Radial Tire
- Continental CrossContact LX25 with EcoPlus Technology
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 Winter/Snow SUV Tire
For Outback owners who face severe winter conditions, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is a top-tier choice. It is engineered specifically for SUVs and crossovers, providing the confident stopping power on snow and ice that is crucial for safe winter travel. The reliable handling in cold, slippery conditions gives drivers peace of mind.
The tire’s impressive traction on ice comes from its proprietary Bite Particle technology embedded in the tread compound. These microscopic particles act like thousands of mini-studds, digging into icy surfaces for enhanced grip. This makes it an excellent option for those who drive in regions where ice is a frequent hazard.
Michelin X-Ice Snow
The Michelin X-Ice Snow tire is built for drivers who demand a balance of exceptional winter performance and longer wear. It is designed to provide reliable traction throughout the entire winter season, even as temperatures fluctuate. This tire is a strong competitor for those seeking a premium winter driving experience.
Michelin’s focus on consistent performance helps maintain grip on snow and ice over the life of the tire. The construction aims to deliver a smooth and quiet ride, which is a welcome feature for long highway drives in your Outback. It represents a trusted solution for navigating winter roads with control.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV Winter Performance Tire
Coming from a brand born in winter conditions, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV is a performance-oriented winter tire. It promises a first-class grip with stable handling on snow and ice, which is essential for maintaining the Outback’s agile character even in poor weather. Drivers often report an enjoyable and connected driving feel.
This tire is the result of extensive testing in harsh Nordic climates, ensuring it can handle deep snow and black ice with competence. For the Outback driver who does not want to compromise on driving dynamics when switching to winter tires, the Hakkapeliitta R3 is a premium option worth considering.
Continental TrueContact Tour All-Season Radial Tire
The Continental TrueContact Tour is an all-season tire focused on longevity and efficiency. It boasts an impressive up to 80,000-mile limited tread life warranty, making it a compelling choice for Outback owners who put on high mileage. Its EcoPlus Technology is designed to save fuel and extend tread life.
Beyond its durability, this tire provides excellent wet braking and handling. This gives you a confident ride in rainy conditions, a key safety benefit for an all-season tire. It is a solid, well-rounded option for drivers seeking a dependable tire for year-round use with a strong emphasis on value over time.
Michelin Primacy MXM4 Run Flat All-Season Radial Tire
The Michelin Primacy MXM4 is an all-season tire that meets the standards of many luxury vehicles, offering a quiet and comfortable ride for your Outback. Its tread design promotes even wear and provides numerous biting edges for reliable all-season grip. A sunflower oil additive in the tread compound helps maintain flexibility for better traction in colder temperatures.
A significant feature of this tire is its run-flat capability, which allows you to continue driving for a limited distance after a puncture. This can enhance safety and convenience by potentially allowing you to reach a service station without an immediate roadside tire change.
Continental ContiProContact Radial Tire
The Continental ContiProContact is designed as a reliable, all-season touring tire. It aims to deliver a balance of comfort, handling, and all-weather performance suitable for daily driving and longer trips in your Outback. The focus is on providing a smooth and predictable driving experience.
As a touring tire, it is built to offer good tread life and low rolling resistance, which can contribute to better fuel economy. This makes it a practical choice for the Outback owner who values a consistent and economical performance profile throughout the year.
MICHELIN Defender LTX M/S All Season Radial Car Tire
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S is a highly regarded all-season tire for light trucks and SUVs like the Outback. It is known for exceptional longevity, with Michelin’s EverTread Compound providing a long tread life even in severe conditions. This tire is built for drivers who need a durable, go-anywhere tire.
It offers strong all-season performance with a specific emphasis on wet-weather safety. The tread design reduces the risk of hydroplaning and provides shorter braking distances on wet roads. It also maintains capable traction on light snow, making it a true four-season workhorse.
Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus Truck & SUV Highway Tire
The Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus is a highway all-season tire backed by an impressive up to 80,000-mile limited treadwear warranty. It is engineered to deliver quiet, comfortable, and reliable all-season performance for SUVs, matching the Outback’s touring nature perfectly.
This tire represents an improvement over its predecessor, with enhanced fuel efficiency as a key benefit. For the driver who spends most of their time on paved roads and wants a tire that combines long-term value with a refined ride, the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus is a compelling option.
Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 All-Season Radial Tire
The Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 is a modern all-season tire that carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) severe snow service rating. Its specialized tread compound is designed to stay adaptable in both hot and cold temperatures, providing true year-round capability.
It features AquaTred Technology with an enhanced pattern and sweeping grooves to move water and slush away effectively. The unique Evolving Traction Grooves are designed to maintain wet-weather performance over the life of the tire. This is an excellent choice for Outback drivers in regions with varied weather, including significant snow.
Continental CrossContact LX25 with EcoPlus Technology
The Continental CrossContact LX25 is an all-season tire engineered for crossovers and SUVs, focusing on a smooth ride, long tread life, and wet-weather confidence. It incorporates Continental’s EcoPlus Technology, which aims to improve fuel efficiency and extend the tire’s lifespan through advanced materials and design.
This tire is built to handle the diverse needs of a vehicle like the Outback, offering comfort on the highway and dependable traction in various conditions. It represents a balanced approach for drivers who want a tire that performs well across the board without major compromises.
How to Choose the Best Tires For Your Subaru Outback
Picking the right set of tires is the single most important upgrade you can make for your Subaru Outback. It directly changes how the car feels, sounds, and, most critically, how it handles different road conditions. Since the Outback is such a versatile vehicle, your tire choice should match how you actually use it. I always start by asking myself a few key questions.
First, consider your climate and driving conditions. Do you face harsh winters with heavy snow and ice? Then a dedicated winter tire or a severe snow-rated all-weather tire is non-negotiable for safety. If you live in a milder area with mostly rain and dry roads, a top-tier all-season tire will serve you well year-round. For those who frequently leave the pavement for gravel forest roads or light trails, an all-terrain tire with a more aggressive tread is a fantastic option that still works on the highway.
Next, think about your priorities for comfort and performance. Touring tires prioritize a quiet, smooth ride and long tread life. Performance-oriented all-seasons will sharpen handling and steering response at the possible expense of some ride comfort and treadwear. I look at the tire’s UTQG treadwear rating as a general guide for longevity, though it’s only comparable within a brand’s own line. The traction and temperature grades are good indicators of capability.
Finally, don’t forget the specs. Your 2025 Outback likely uses a 225/60R18 size, but always double-check your door jamb sticker. Ensure the load index and speed rating meet or exceed Subaru’s original equipment specifications. Getting this right is crucial for your vehicle’s safety systems, like ABS and stability control, to function properly. Reading through a dedicated resource like the 10 Best Tires For Subaru Outback 2025 – The Tire Reviews can give you a great shortlist of models that fit these criteria, saving you hours of research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use all-terrain tires on my Subaru Outback?
Absolutely. Many Outback owners successfully run mild all-terrain (A/T) tires. They provide excellent grip on dirt, gravel, and in light mud, and often have a more robust sidewall. The trade-off is usually a slight increase in road noise and a minor reduction in fuel economy compared to a standard all-season tire. If you spend a significant amount of time off paved roads, they are a great choice.
How often should I rotate the tires on my Outback?
Subaru recommends rotating your tires every 6,000 miles. This is especially important for maintaining the life of your tires due to the symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. Uneven wear can cause unnecessary strain on the drivetrain. I make it a habit to do it with every other oil change to keep it simple.
Are winter tires really necessary if I have all-wheel drive?
Yes, this is a critical point. All-wheel drive helps you go, but it doesn’t help you stop or turn. Winter tires are made from a special rubber compound that stays flexible in freezing temperatures, providing significantly better traction for braking and cornering on cold, icy, or snowy roads. For true winter safety, dedicated snow tires are the best investment.
What does the “Three Peak Mountain Snowflake” symbol mean?
That symbol on a tire’s sidewall means it’s a “Severe Snow Service” rated tire. It has passed a specific test for traction in severe snow conditions. You’ll find this symbol on dedicated winter tires and also on a growing category called “all-weather” tires, which are designed to be left on your car year-round but still provide legitimate winter performance.
My new tires are louder than the original ones. Is this normal?
It can be, depending on what you switched to. The original equipment tires on your Outback were chosen by Subaru for a balanced, quiet ride. If you moved to a more aggressive all-terrain or a performance-oriented tire, some increase in road noise is typical. Checking user reviews on tire websites or a detailed guide like the 10 Best Tires For Subaru Outback 2025 – The Tire Reviews will often mention noise levels, helping you set the right expectation.