Subaru Forester is a rather popular crossover – at least in, some countries. It’s a very versatile car. Although it’s much better to use it as a regular family-sized vehicle fit for long trips and constant use, it can also be a pretty efficient off-road mode of transport. That’s right, with proper tires you can travel to the countryside in this Subaru.
There are yet more touring options for all preferences, however. Depending on your concerns, you can pick either a well-rounded optimal solution for all-year driving or an extreme tread for snowy/fast/rainy travels. Subaru can be as versatile as these tires. For your comfort, here are several intriguing choices.
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Let’s start with a powerful contender. If you only intend to use your Forester on paved roads, you’ll want this one. It’s helpless in the countryside, but very efficient on tarmac. The control is outstanding both in summer (dry/wet) and winter (mostly snow). They are very efficient at evacuating water, in particular.
They didn’t forget about the comfort, either. In fact, Nitto spent no effort to make these tires comfortable. They are quiet and smooth, as a result, but not perfect. Plus, they’ll last for at least 100.000 km.
Overall, they give you everything you need as a touring option. For constant driving and long trips, they are superior to most.
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Assurance WeatherReady is a sound all-season tire. It’s great for cautious drivers who risk neither in summer nor in winter. The grip is superb all year round, even considering that it’s pretty hard to make a supply decent snow/ice grip. They aren’t very good for speeding – the handling is poorer than on most tires.
But if you intend to drive carefully, you’ll likely enjoy a quiet smooth ride. It’s not going to be an extremely long experience, though (at least, compared to other options), given a measly 95.000 km warranty.
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Now, if you were looking for something more sport-oriented, Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS is a quality choice. Foresters aren’t usually seen racing around, but they might use extra handling and grip. And gripping the ground is something these tires are best at.
Dry traction is absolutely flawless, and driving on watered roads is also a pleasant experience. Snow, if thin, is good to go, too. The response, of course, is the best feature here – they are always on track, and always obey your commands with care.
But, like all semi-racing tires, they are dead before you know it (only ~80.000 km in treadlife) and produce a lot of noise.
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Falken tires are commonly a bit rougher than competitors. A lot of their tires are either off-road or sports options. This is neither – Pro G4 AS is a simple everyday all-season tire. But their habits remain – the tire is pretty loud and even the smoothness could be better.
But the grip is what’s important this time. In summer, it’s fantastic whether it’s raining or not (courtesy of the 3D siping and grooving). In winter, the same grooving is giving you a bit more grasp onto the ground, but not too much. It’s better in the summer.
Pro G4 is an adequate touring tire. It won’t surprise or disappoint you, but all accounts.
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Ultra Grip Winter tires are low-cost winter performance tires. They aren’t to be absolutely flawless in snow – in fact, if the snow is too thick, they won’t help you. You can expect a decent job, though. In addition to that, results in wet and dry aren’t too bad, either.
In short, for a relatively low cost, UGP will guarantee effective control in winter and even a reliable grip in summer. It’s an outstanding option if you’re looking for something affordable, but not at an expense of performance.
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If you want a proper set of winter tires that don’t just provide good winter mobility, but go even beyond that – then Blizzak is the way to go. Handling is superb both in summer and in winter, but you also get a superior response even in deeper snow. They are basically reliable regardless of the weather conditions, and that’s great.
Now, they do come at a cost, as one of the best winter performance treads at the moment. Stating the price is useless, because it differs from country to country and from dealer to dealer. But, suffice it to say, they are amongst the most expensive on this list.
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Zeon is the first ultra-performance tire on this list. It means that it’s supposed to provide great traction and handling regardless of the precipitation problems. Generally, it’s true – the excessive siping and silica-enhanced compound make sure you get proper grip on dry and especially wet ground.
The responsiveness is the main shtick of UHP tires – they handle well even at high speeds. Considering that these tires are also pretty quiet and smooth even when you’re speeding, Zeon is an absolute bargain. It would be even better, though, if they lasted more than 70,000 km, but you can’t have everything.
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Cinturato P7 is one of the most balanced all-season touring tires. The rubber is made from a silica composition that naturally enhances its strength and gripping qualities. That and several well-positioned horizontal channels make it indispensable in wet environment. Moreover, it handles exceptionally well – crucial for a touring tire.
Interestingly, one of its key qualities is the decreased fuel consumption. It takes less effort to roll this tire, which means less fuel goes to waste and less nature dies as a result. The warranty projects a nice 115.000 km mileage.
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DWS06 is a recent ultra-performance tire. It’s great for all sorts of weather, but it especially excels on icy, snowy and damp roads. It has a lot to do with silica- and silane-rich composition, but you can also notice the main factor right away – the middle cuts.
The central section is filled to the brim with interlocking grooves and sipes. Not only does it help with hydroplaning, but it’s also an aggressive biting pattern that immensely helps with ice. In fact, because of the pattern and since it’s so tough (the compound, again), it’s pretty safe to use it in mild countryside. Basically, it’s neat even off-road.
The longevity is the only issue. 80.000 km of warranty is really not enough, sadly.
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TerrainContact is perhaps the best-suited tire for a Forester. Just like Forester, it can drive well off-road, but it’s not really used there. For occasional trips over dirt or gravel, it’s splendid. However, it bogs down in mud and other such slog.
On-road, however, the tread is exceptional. It’s perfect for dry and wet, and – remarkably – the noise isn’t obnoxious. It’s a comfortable and effective tire that can be used off-road to a great effect. In fact, it’s better on-road than off-road. It’s also highly durable for an AT tire – about 100.000 km of projected mileage.
