CR’s Best Tires For Your Subaru AWD Models This Winter

Recently, I wrote a Subaru tire story on when having all-season tires on your all-wheel-drive Subaru is the worst idea. If you own a Subaru Outback, Crosstrek, Forester, or another all-wheel-drive model, you are probably asking, "Why do I need snow tires if I have all-wheel-drive? Or can I get by with the all-season tires on my new car?"

I answered the question in a previous article: Do you need winter or snow tires with your all-wheel-drive vehicle? It all depends on where you live and how much extreme or severe weather you will experience. 

What are the best winter tires for customers in cold climates for an Outback, Crosstrek, Forester, or another Subaru all-wheel-drive model? 

According to an updated ranking and recommendations from Consumer Reports (by subscription), here are the best-recommended picks for winter and all-season tires for your Subaru this winter. CR's testing reveals the ones that stand out for performance, safety, and tread wear. 

If you don't live where the snow is measured in feet, not inches, and in a warm climate, you can drive on all-season tires. 

CR's best all-season SUV tire recommendations.

CR says the Michelin CrossClimate, $254, is your best choice. This would be a good choice for the Subaru  Forester, Outback, Ascent, Crosstrek, Solterra, and Legacy. 

CR says, "Many all-season SUV tires perform well overall in our tests, but the top tire is the Michelin CrossClimate2, followed by the Vredestein HiTrac and the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3. The top-rated CrossClimate2 offers impressive snow traction and ice-braking performance without sacrificing grip on cleared roads. It comes in a variety of sizes to fit many popular SUVs. This pricey tire has an outstanding 95,000 miles of predicted tread life."

This Is What Subaru Season Looks Like @SubaruReport @torquenewsauto#subaru #forester #crosstrek #outback #snowday #snow #subaruawdhttps://t.co/LOKLJpqSfP
— Denis Flierl (@DenisFlierl) December 26, 2023

CR's best winter/snow tire recommendations for all Subaru vehicles.

For Subaru owners who live in cold climates where you see snow and ice, CR recommends the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, $131. The Blizzak WS90 is an excellent choice for any Subaru all-wheel-drive vehicle. It's also a good pick for the rear-drive Subaru BRZ sport coupe.

CR says, "The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 provides excellent snow traction and ice braking, as expected. Dry braking, resistance to hydroplaning, and ride comfort are above average. The Michelin X-Ice Snow ties the Bridgestone's Overall Score. But its handling score is below average, and it costs more."

Why do you need snow/winter-rated tires if you have an all-wheel-drive Subaru?

CR says, "Winter/snow tires offer superior winter grip, allowing them to go, stop, and take corners better than other tires in cold and inclement weather. But they typically wear faster than all-season tires because the rubber is formulated to stay pliable at freezing temperatures, and the tread is designed to bite into snow and ice." 

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— Denis Flierl (@DenisFlierl) December 6, 2023

"Look for the three-peak mountain and snowflake symbol on the sidewall that indicates winter/snow capability. Most winter/snow tires don't carry a mileage warranty and are intended only for seasonal use, so we don't assess their tread life."

When you get new treads for winter, you should get four winter/snow tires of the same size and identical category 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, or another vehicle.

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed the Subaru winter/snow tire story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

For additional articles related to new Subaru models, here are a few of my top stories you may enjoy. 

My Must-Read Top Picks

• 8 Cheap And Easy Prep Tips To Get Your Subaru Ready For Winter
• 10 Winter Driving Tips And Why Having An AWD Subaru Doesn’t Guarantee Safety
• The Top-11 Cars For Winter 2023 - Subaru’s 3 Snow-Loving Models 

Check out When All-Season Tires On Your Subaru Is The Worst Idea. Please watch this video from the Torque News YouTube channel based on my previous report.

I am Denis Flierl, a 12-year Torque News senior writer with 20+ years of Subaru and automotive journalism experience. I enjoy bringing you, the Subaru fans and customers, the most up-to-date Subaru news, reviews, and new model information. You'll find the latest Subaru stories on the Subaru page. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

I’ve got you covered! - I cover all Subaru all the time - It’s called the “Subaru Report.” Check back daily for my expert Subaru analysis!

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photo credit: Subaru USA