8 Best Tires For Subaru Crosstrek

The Subaru Crosstrek is built for wet, dry, off-road, and even snowy surfaces. To get the best out of your crosstrek’s versatility, you will need the best tires for Subaru crosstrek. 

Some tires will offer good handling on dry tarmac while others will offer good traction on snow. The key is to find a middle ground without compromising on off-road capabilities. Finding a set of tires that can offer all these can be challenging.

So, which best all-season tires for Subaru crosstrek? This is the question we seek to answer in this article. And to answer it, we have compiled a list of nine tires that are worthy contenders for the title of the best tires for Subaru crosstrek.

At the top of the list is the Falken Sincera SN250;(#ad) this tire performed well on different surfaces and is suited to low temperatures as well. It has a good treadwear warranty of 75,000 miles and a tread design that offers traction on wet and snowy surfaces.

The runner-up is the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus, (#ad) which offers better grip and traction than cheaper models though pricey. All the other models on our list are still great options, though.

Reviews of The Best Tires For Subaru Crosstrek

Falken Sincera SN250

The Falken Sincera SN250 is what you would call an all-season performance touring tire. This means it is designed to perform excellently on dry, wet, and snowy surfaces.

For a quiet and comfortable drive, the tire is equipped with tread-blocks to reduce tire roar at high speeds. Additionally, it manages to remain pliable at low temperatures, which is great for winter driving.

The angled tread grooves combined with the symmetric rib design give good traction and grip on the snow. It also features wide circumferential that give it a good grip on wet and slushy surfaces.

Pros

• The tire is comfortable on wet and dry surfaces.
• Offers good grip and traction on snowy or icy surfaces
• The handling is better than that of cheaper tire brands.
• Features a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty
• Equipped with tread blocks that reduce tire roar at high speeds

Cons

• Its performance on dry surfaces could be better.
• The handling when making tight corners is not the best.

Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus

The Pirelli Cinturato p7 is another all-season tire that is good on snow, wet, and dry surfaces. The tire offers good traction on different surfaces as well as fuel economy.

This tire features a unique polymer for reducing rolling resistance, which in turn helps improve fuel efficiency. Furthermore, a 5-rib tread pattern and wider shoulder blocks help improve grip and traction when cornering.

Like the Falken, this Pirelli tire also has circumferential grooves that channel water away from under the tire. The result is better handling on wet surfaces.

Pros

• Features great handling on wet and dry surfaces
• Offers good grip and traction when cornering
• The tire offers a comfortable and quiet drive.
• It is designed to help improve fuel efficiency
• Has a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty

Cons

• Grip and traction on ice could be better.
• Users have complained of them not lasting.

Bridgestone Ecopia

The Bridgestone Ecopia is a comfortable tire that does not produce any noise on the highway. However, this is not the only thing; this tire has going for it.

From our tests, it was clear that this tire was built with comfort in mind. However, it performed well in other departments also. It offers good responsiveness and grip in the corners.

You also get excellent traction on wet surfaces. Additionally, the tire’s low-rolling-resistance compound provides good fuel economy. Also, the tire does come with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty.

Pros

• Offers excellent handling and braking on dry surfaces
• There is excellent traction and braking on wet surfaces.
• The tire is designed for comfort and is quiet and comfortable. 
• Built to improve fuel economy
• The 70,000-mile treadwear warranty is decent.

Cons

• The handling on snow was not the best.
• Also not the best for off-road

Michelin Premier A/S

For the best performance, you cannot go wrong with the Michelin Premier A/S. Compared to the competition, it has the best traction and grip. The Michelin Premier is perhaps the best all-season tires for Subaru crosstrek.

These Michelin tires are the most responsive in their class. More importantly, the excellent handling and performance of this tire extend to wet surfaces. Thus you will have no problems driving in the rain.

One of its best features is the EverTread Technology; this keeps the tire’s wet surface performance even when the treads wear out. And as you would expect from a Michelin tire, the premier is quiet and comfortable.

Pros

• Offers excellent handling and braking on dry and wet surfaces
• As an all-round tire it offers excellent handling capabilities.
• This is an extremely quiet and comfortable tire.
• It comes with a unique EverTread technology that keeps the tire safe even after the tread wear out
• It offers good traction and grip

Cons

• It is quite an expensive set of tires
• Offers only a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty

Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring All-Season

The sportier version of the popular CS5 Grand touring, the CS5 Ultra touring all-season tire maintains the same low cost as its brother. While it is friendly on your pocket, it’s handling, and performance can match that of pricier tires.

We found its handling, grip, and traction to be excellent on wet and dry surfaces. We cannot say the same for snowy surfaces, though. Nonetheless, considering its price, this is to be expected.

As with any other best all-season tires for Subaru crosstrek, the CS5 Ultra is comfortable and very quiet. As for its warranty, you get a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty.

Pros

• It’s handling on wet and dry surfaces is exceptional.
• Offers excellent responsiveness on dry surfaces
• Has excellent traction on wet surfaces
• The tires have very good braking performance.
• Overall this tire costs less than most of its competitors.

Cons

• Handling on snow is not all that great.
• Also not great for off-roading

Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Tire

The Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 is another great all-season tire. This tire from continental has excellent handling on wet, dry, and snow surfaces.

This tire features a traction groove that improves traction and grip on wet and snowy surfaces. Also, you get an improved cornering and braking performance from this tire. 

In terms of responsiveness, this tire feels responsive and comfortable on a drive. It is also a quiet tire, which is always a plus in our books. The tire comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty.

Pros

• Offers excellent traction on wet and dry surfaces
• Is very responsive
• It offers improved cornering stability than its competitors
• The treads on this tire last long.
• Offers great traction and grip on snow

Cons

• The 50,000-mile treadwear warranty is not the best.

Nitto NT421Q Tire

One of the newest entrants into the crossover SUV tire market is the Nitto NT41Q. So how does this new kid on the block compare to other models? Let’s find out.

This tire features a sporty asymmetric tread, which we love. The sporty design of the tire treads is not just for good looks. This design helps give the tire good stability and traction on the dry surface while providing sufficient grip for wet and snowy surfaces.

An additional circumferential layer gives the tire more cushioning and toughness, making it capable of withstanding bumps.

Pros

• It offers great all-season traction
• The tire’s performance on wet, slippery, and snowy surfaces is great.
• The aggressive tread design gives the tire a nice sporty look.
• It offers a comfortable and quiet ride
• It is designed to be durable and capable of withstanding bumps

Cons

• It is a bit pricey compared to other models?
• Is not the best for off-road performance.

General Altimax RT43 

For those on a tight budget, the General Altimax RT43 will make a lot of sense. This tire costs less than premium brand tires such as Michelin’s. However, it maintains a decent level of handling and performance.

While its handling is not as excellent as that of pricier premium tires, it is still decent for everyday driving. More importantly, the tires are responsive with good grip and traction even on wet surfaces.

This is one of the quietest tires out there and comes with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty. It is one of the most dependable sets of tires you can buy for your crosstrek

Pros

• A very quiet tire considering the price
• Offers good responsiveness
• Offers great grip and traction on wet and dry surfaces
• Costs less than other premium brand tires
• It comes with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty

Cons

• Handling does not match that of its pricier competitors.
• It might not be the best for off-road purposes

How To Buy The Best Subaru crosstrek tires Like A Pro

So what separates the best tires for Subaru crosstrek from the rest. Well, there are a couple of things, all of which you should consider when shopping for tires. These are;

Touring vs. grand touring vs. high-performance tires

The type of tire you select for your crosstrek matters. There are three main choices, touring, grand-touring, and high-performance tires. So which among the three should you choose.

For urban roads and highways, touring tires will do the job. These tires are usually comfortable and durable. Also, they are affordable compared to grand-touring and high-performance tires.

Grand Touring tires, on the other hand, offer better grip and handling, especially when cornering. As such, they are designed for faster and more powerful cars. These tires work well on wet and dry surfaces. If you want to drive fast, grand-touring tires will be a good choice.

High-performance tires are for those enthusiast drivers who want to be more aggressive when cornering. These tires offer better performance, traction, and grip on dry roads. 

For the average drive touring and grand-touring tires will be an ideal choice. While high-performance will appeal more to enthusiast drivers.

Durability

How long your tires will last matters as well. This is especially if you plan on using your crosstrek frequently. One indicator of durability is the treadwear warranty. The best all-season tires for Subaru crosstrek will feature a treadwear warranty of 75,000 miles.

A lower treadwear warranty does not inspire confidence in a tire’s durability. Thus, the longer the warranty, the better.

Noise & Comfort

When it comes to noise and comfort, you want a tire with low noise levels, and that offers a comfortable drive. There are two key indicators of this, rolling resistance and tread design. Rolling resistance is the amount of force required to move a tire over a surface.

Less rolling resistance translates to a comfortable drive. 

Performance

The performance of a tire will depend largely on the surface. Some tires perform better on dry surfaces than on wet surfaces. For most people, such tires will be sufficient for everyday driving. However, if you will be driving on wet surfaces, you also want a tire that performs well on wet surfaces.

The performance of a tire on a wet surface will depend on its tread design. Tires such as the Falken Sincera SN250 have a tread design suited for wet surfaces. 

Traction and grip

These are two words you will hear being used when referring to car tires. So why are they important? Traction and grip ensure a stable driving experience. Traction depends largely on the material used to make the tires.

The tougher the rubber, the more the traction. For wet or snowy surfaces, the tread and groves also used matters. A tread design that helps remove water from under the tire is important for maintaining traction on wet surfaces.

Price

As mentioned earlier, touring tires are cheaper than grand-touring and high-performance tires. Thus if you are on a tight budget, these tires will be an ideal option.

Weather conditions

Different tires are designed for different weather conditions. Some are designed for hot weather, while others can be used in the cold. Knowing how a tire handles in different weather conditions is key.

For instance, not all tires perform in extreme colds. Tire manufacturers will often indicate the kind of weather conditions their tires are designed for. The Falken Sincera SN250 is one of the tires that can be used at low temperatures.

How To Determine Tire Size

Tires come in a variety of sizes designed to fit different types of cars. It is important to choose a tire size that can fit in your crosstrek. The tire sizes designed to fit into the Crosstrek are; the 225/55R17, 225/60R17, and 225/55R18.

But what do these numbers mean? The first number refers to the width of the tire from sidewall to sidewall measured in millimeters. As such a 225/55R17 tire has a width of 225 millimeters.

The double-digit number that comes after the slash refers to the ratio of the tire’s cross-section height to its width. This means that a 225/55R17 tire has a cross-section height 55% of its width.

Typically the bigger the aspect ratio the bigger the sidewall. The letter R that comes after the aspect-ratio number refers to radial. This means the layers run in a radial manner to the tire.

The last number denotes the diameter of the tire and is used to determine the size of wheel the tire will fit. Thus a 225/55R18 tire will fit an 18 inch wheel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The best tires for Subaru crosstrek are those that can offer you the best handling on different surfaces, wet, dry and snowy. The tires we selected on our list performed admirably on these different surfaces. 

 

Last Updated on February 17, 2024 by Rifen