7 Best Winter Tires For Your Subaru Outback, Crosstrek, Forester, WRX/STI

In winter, having the right tires on your Subaru is more important than ever, giving you “bolt on” traction, confidence and control. When you combine Subaru’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive with the right set of winter tires, you’ll have a vehicle that will get you home safely.

Winter tires are strongly recommended below 44 degrees because their combination of deeper treads and soft rubber compounds delivers superior traction on all road surfaces. Approximately 97 percent of the tires in the U.S. are "All Seasons.” They come standard on every Subaru (except WRX, STI and BRZ, which wear summer performance tires). With All Season tires, your Subaru Outback, Crosstrek, Forester or WRX/STI will perform admirably in a variety of temperatures and conditions.

However, if you live in an area where snow and ice regularly accumulate, winter tires will noticeably reduce wheel spin and sliding on slick surfaces. Just like you wear different shoes for track running than you do for hiking, your Subaru will perform better if you change its shoes too. Winter tires are a must for WRX, WRX STI, and BRZ if you live in a snowy area.

We’ve done a little shopping and found the best tires for your Subaru. Here are seven of the best winter tires designed to get you through the harshest winter driving conditions. Click on each to see which is best for your specific Subaru and if it’s available in your area.

When shopping for winter rubber, look for an Alpine pictograph (a snowflake inside a mountain) on the tire’s sidewall. When you see this icon on the sidewall of the tire, you can be assured it meets more stringent winter traction performance requirements. This includes snowy, slippery roads and low temperatures. All the tires listed below have the highest winter rating.

7 best winter tires

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS 80 is highly rated and offers the latest in winter performance for coupes, sedans, minivans and crossovers. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2A is a tire for drivers who require driving comfort, tangible fuel savings, and non-studded winter tire technology with the best safety characteristics. Continental WinterContact SI is the ultimate winter tire with powerful grip in rain, snow and ice using their PolarPlus Technology in tough winter conditions.

The Michelin X-Ice Xi3 is built to take on snow and ice providing superior winter performance, enabling you winter driving performance even in the harshest conditions. Pirelli Ice Zero FR is a good choice for those who drive in Nordic winter conditions looking for a high level of stability and control with a superior driving comfort.

Yokohama iceGUARD W. Drive V905 delivers balanced winter traction. With its increased edge effect and all-new compound, the W.drive V905 will keep your car ready for the wintery roads. The Gislaved NordFrost 200 is an ideal choice for drivers of cars and SUVs requiring a high end tire that delivers strong performance on snowy and icy roads: They offer a smooth, quiet ride at a lower price than many competitors.

Make sure you get four winter tires that are the same size and of identical category in order to maintain optimal driving performance. Buying the right winter tires can give you instant “bolt on” traction, confidence and control for your Subaru Outback, Crosstrek, Forester, and WRX/STI.

Photo credit: Subaru CA