CR’s Best All Season And Snow Tires For Your Subaru 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. 

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

According to a new ranking from Consumer Reports, here are the best-recommended picks for winter and all-season tires this winter. 

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

CR's best all-season tire recommendations.

CR says the Continental PureContact LS, $142, is your best choice. This would be a good choice for the Subaru Legacy sedan or Impreza compact hatchback.  

"The Continental PureContact LS is an all-season tire with H and V speed-rated sizes for cars and some SUVs. It has a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty, flat tire roadside assistance, and road hazard warranties, too."

CR says the Vredestein HiTrac, $169, is your best choice for an all-season SUV tire. This would be a good pick for the Subaru Outback, Crosstrek, Forester, Ascent, or Solterra SUVs. 

"The most comfortable tire for family vehicles. An all-around high-performance tire for a family sedan and SUV owners. Great wet performance and good balance across all other parameters."

CR's best winter/snow tire recommendations for SUVs.

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 Outback, Crosstrek, Forester, Ascent, and Solterra all-wheel-drive vehicles. 

"The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is a stud-less winter/snow tire that comes in a wide range of sizes for cars and SUVs. Equipped to ensure that winter driving doesn't become a dangerous pastime, the Blizzak WS90 gives you certainty in uncertain moments."

What are the best tires for the Subaru WRX and BRZ sports cars? 

CR says for the best winter/snow performance tire, they recommend the Vredestein Wintrac Pro, $180. 

"A performance winter/snow tire suited for sports cars and performance sedans and SUVs. W speed rated for sustained speeds to 168 mph."

Regardless of what winter/snow tires you buy, look for an Alpine pictograph (a snowflake inside a mountain) on the tire's sidewall. When you see this icon, you can be assured it meets more stringent winter traction performance requirements. This includes snowy, slippery roads and low temperatures.

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 Outback, Crosstrek, Forester, or another Subaru vehicle.

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this Subaru tire story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

For additional articles related to Subaru models and winter driving, 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 

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